Clarification from the agency

Open to Status Candidates (current, permanent federal employees; reinstatement eligible; Veterans; Schedule A; Military Spouse; Postal Service/Peace Corps and other Authorities; and employees eligible under an Interchange Agreement).

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Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Responds to fire and hazardous materials incidents; performs such duties as detection of the presence of hazardous materials, secures the area, identify the hazardous material, control further spills mitigating further danger and coordinating clean-up procedures.
• Drives and operates the Fire Department apparatus and other fire department vehicles to the scene of the incident following predetermined routes or selecting alternate routes when necessary; positions the apparatus considering such factors as wind direction, sources of water and hazards from falling structures.
• Operates pumps, foam generators, nozzles and other similar equipment; determines proper pressures for the distances to be pumped and the number of lines being used; applies principles of hydraulics as they pertain to water flow friction and friction loss; maintains a constant awareness of water levels in self-contained tanks and warns handline and rescue personnel when tanks are close to running dry.
• Completes inspection tasks to include participating in weekly environment of care rounds, quarterly fire drills, presenting at new employee orientation, fire station tours, assisting with fire prevention week, participating in Veterans' children's school visits and presentations, completing additional required reports and work orders, assisting the safety department, contractors, and engineering with special projects and ISLM review etc.
• Inspects new construction for inclusion of appropriate fire prevention materials and equipment; recommends additions such as fire doors and walls, or fixed suppression systems in new or existing structures.
• Completes building inspections and alarm or extinguishing system testing; documents in accordance with the Joint Commission (TJC) VA Central Office (VACO) and (NFPA) requirements.
• Recommends improvement of fire protection and prevention systems and equipment and procedures or regulations.
• Performs radio and telephone communications; operates fire alarm system; prepares written reports and makes required entries in computerized department logbook; files records on equipment, work, tests, maintenance, etc.
• Completes various documentation forms, logs, reports, and inventory control to include: monthly and annual inspection and testing documentation, work orders, daily crew log reports, emergency care provider patient care reports and hot work permits.
• Detects and determines proper corrective action for the moderately complex hazards found at the installation; inspects fixed protection systems and equipment for proper placement; applies the codes of the National Fire Protection Association as well as agency and activity regulations and procedures.
• Conducts extensive fire and life safety inspections, pre-fire planning, and fire prevention activities for all Fort Harrison VA Medical Center buildings to include medical facilities, administration building, patient and employee living quarters, office areas, medical and treatment areas, warehouses, maintenance shops, recreational facilities, food services, vacant storage buildings, areas undergoing renovation, etc.
• Completes assigned inspections on a monthly, biannual and annual basis, and is responsible for completing and documenting all inspections and creating work orders for deficiencies found.
• Responds to all 911 emergency medical incidents, all code blue and rapid responses; completes daily medical equipment and supply inventory.
• Perform initial and on-going focused patient assessment and physical examination to determine priority of patient care based upon initial findings.
• Employs a variety of established emergency medical techniques, methods and equipment to stabilize the patient for transport as soon as possible.

Promotion Potential: The selectee may be promoted to the full performance level without further competition when all regulatory, qualification and performance requirements are met. Selection at a lower grade level does not guarantee promotion to the full performance level.

Work Schedule: Varied (72-hour shifts)
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Position Description/PD#: Firefighter (Basic Life Support)/PD13665A and PD13664A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
• All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
• Subject to background/security investigation
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP)

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1-year probationary period or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your probationary period or trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 02/06/2026.

Time-In-Grade Requirement: Applicants who are current Federal employees and have held a GS grade any time in the past 52 weeks must also meet time-in-grade requirements by the closing date of this announcement. For a GS-06 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-05. For a GS-07 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-06. The grade may have been in any occupation, but must have been held in the Federal service. An SF-50 that shows your time-in-grade eligibility must be submitted with your application materials. If the most recent SF-50 has an effective date within the past year, it may not clearly demonstrate you possess one-year time-in-grade, as required by the announcement. In this instance, you must provide an additional SF-50 that clearly demonstrates one-year time-in-grade.

Individual Occupational Requirement (IOR): The Fire Protection and Prevention Series 0081 has a minimum qualification entry requirement:

• Specialized Experience: Experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills and abilities to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include:
  • Controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer or governmental fire department or brigade;
  • Rescue operations;
  • Detection, reduction or elimination of potential fire hazards;
  • Operation of fire communications equipment;
  • Controlling hazardous materials incidents;
  • Developing, implementing or providing training in fire protection and prevention. AND,

You may qualify based on your experience as described below:

• Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-5/6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: ability to operate fire apparatus and other vehicles; knowledge of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards, VA regulations and directives, and fire department and occupational safety and health guidelines; ability to use and maintain motorized fire apparatus, fire pumps, self contained breathing apparatus, portable extinguishers and other fire prevention and suppression equipment; knowledge of fire and life safety inspection procedures and techniques, including ability to detect hazards and to determine the action needed to eliminate the hazard; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, manage programs and inventory control; ability to perform and maintain calm in emergency and stressful situations; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, employees, patients and the public. AND,

• Selective Factors: Selective factors are a special qualification without which a candidate could not perform the duties of a position in a satisfactory manner. In addition to the meeting the above requirements, you must also meet the following Selective Factors for this position below:
  • Firefighter II (IFSAC or Pro Board)
  • Hazardous Materials Operations (IFSAC or Pro Board)
  • Driver/Operator Pumper (IFSAC or Pro Board)
  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Basic (National Registry or State of Montana)
  • Fire Inspector I/II within 24 months of employment with the VA (IFSAC or Pro Board)

You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position:

• Chemistry
• Compliance Inspection
• Decision Making
• Fire Management
• First Response

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

Physical Requirements: The work requires, on a regular and recurring basis, considerable and strenuous physical exertion such as frequent climbing of multiple flights of stairs, running, lifting heavy objects over 50 pounds, crouching or crawling in restrictive areas during fire and rescue activities. Fire personal protective equipment (PPE) is excess of 65 additional pounds and must be worn, and equipment carried; wearing of this PPE significantly amplifies the physical strain experienced by the employee during physical exertion or during periods of hot or cold weather.

For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE.

Résumé Reminder: Your résumé must include the following information each job listed or you will not be found qualified or referred for consideration:

• Job title
• Duties (be as detailed as possible)
• Month & year start/end dates (e.g. June 2007 to April 2008)
• Full-time or part-time status (include hours worked per week)

Narrative responses are not required at this time. If you are referred for consideration, you may be asked to submit additional job related information, which may include, but not limited to; responses to the knowledge, skills and abilities; completion of a work sample, and/or contact for an interview. Your resume and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your rating or consideration for employment.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

For more information on the "Who may apply" eligibility requirements, please refer to the OHRM Status Candidates and Other Candidate Definitions document.

Placement Policy: The posting of this announcement does not obligate management to fill a vacancy or vacancies by promotion. The position may be filled by reassignment, change to lower grade, transfer, appointment, or reinstatement. Management may use any one or any combination of these methods to fill the position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.