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Firefighter

Department of Health and Human Services
National Institutes of Health
Division of Fire and Rescue Services, Security and Emergency Program, Office of Research Services

Summary

If you have firefighting experience and are a knowledgeable, dedicated, and motivated individual, consider joining the Division of Fire and Rescue Services as a firefighter. This position requires a high degree of public trust and confidence. Under the Assistant Fire Chief, you will respond to all fire alarms, incidents involving hazardous materials (hazmat), requests for emergency medical assistance, and rescue victims from all types of structures and motor vehicles.

Overview

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Accepting applications
Open & closing dates
04/16/2026 to 04/22/2026
Salary
$57,736 - $75,059 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7
Location
5 vacancies in the following location:
Bethesda, MD
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Occasional travel - You may be expected to travel for this position.
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Competitive
Promotion potential
8
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Moderate Risk (MR)
Trust determination process
Financial disclosure
No
Bargaining unit status
Yes
Announcement number
NIH-ORS-MP-26-12936029
Control number
865224100

Duties

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If selected for this position as a GS-0081-07 Firefighter your duties may include, but are not limited to the following:

  • Serves as a firefighter, responds to fire alarms for all classes of fires, including those involving radioactive and/or hazardous materials, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents. Assess fire ground conditions for safety.
  • Incumbent will be assigned as equipment driver-operator of motorized apparatus; as such incumbent is required to drive apparatus to the scene, position apparatus as required by the nature and extent of the emergency, lay hose lines as directed, hook up hose lines to be used, calculate pressures required for individual lines depending on size and length of line and pressure required to maintain constant pressure with regard to size and type nozzles to be used, closely observe the operation of pump, and regulates pressures to maintain a continuous flow of water at the volume and pressure required to effectively control and extinguish fire.
  • The driver/operator of the aerial tower is also responsible for truck company operations to include, laddering, overhaul, ventilation, forcible entry, rescue, searching for victims, checking for extension, lighting, utility control, elevated streams, and salvage.
  • Incumbent is responsible for driving equipment and personnel to the scene without creating an undue hazard. Incumbent also operates auxiliary equipment at the scene.
  • Incumbent maintains the fire apparatus and auxiliary equipment carried thereon in first class condition and in a state of readiness to respond immediately to any emergency call.
  • Other duties include inspection and protection of valuable property and research. Work involves operating and maintaining fire, rescue and emergency medical services apparatus and equipment. Performs the full range of fire suppression activities such as confinement, extinguishment, overhaul, salvage, etc., as required to mitigate the emergency. The incumbent is responsible for radio and telephone communications and the proper receiving and relaying of information.
  • Performs fire prevention inspections, and tests equipment such as hydrants, fire extinguishers, and fire detection, suppression and alarm systems. Performs maintenance and recharge work on fire extinguishers and related equipment.
  • As an Emergency Medical Technician with Basic Life Support training, responds to all medical emergencies; at times working under severe conditions and circumstances in providing emergency treatment and stabilization of the critically ill or injured.
  • As a qualified Hazardous Materials Technician, the incumbent is responsible for responding to complex hazardous materials releases (i.e., chemical, biological, radiological).

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

  • U.S. Citizenship requirement or proof of being a U.S. National must be met by closing date.
  • Employment is subject to the successful completion of a background investigation, verification of qualifications, completion of onboarding forms, submission of required documents, and any other job-related requirement before or after appointment.
  • Applicants must meet all qualifications requirements within thirty (30) calendar days of the closing date of this announcement, including time in grade.
  • Males born after December 31, 1959 must be registered with the Selective Service.
  • The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
  • The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
  • Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
  • Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
  • If selected, must pass a pre-employment physical examination which requires an high degree of physical fitness/agility/and dexterity for sustained periods. Immunizations are required.
  • If selected, you cannot have reached your 37th birthday prior to an initial Federal Firefighter appointment. If selected, you will be covered by a bargaining unit (union). You must be able to lift heavy items weighing over 50 lbs or more.
  • If selected, you will be required to work weekend hours, night shifts, regular or rotational shifts, holiday hours. This position has on-call or call-back requirements during emergencies.
  • If selected, you will be required to wear a uniform and may be required to use heavy, cumbersome, restrictive personal protective clothing or gear such as masks, gowns, coats, boots, goggles, gloves, shields, body armor, encapsulating suits, etc.
  • You must be able to stand for prolonged periods on concrete floors and walk over rough and uneven terrain. The selectee must be able to bend, stoop, walk, stand, and climb, and work in cramped positions.
  • The selectee must be able to work outdoors under all weather conditions. You may work in hazardous environments or handle hazardous substances.
  • If selected, you are required to obtain and maintain a valid state driver’s license covering the apparatus currently utilized by the DFRS and be able to obtain and maintain a class B driver’s license or valid license to drive large fire apparatus.
  • If selected, you must be able to obtain and maintain a Public Trust security investigation. If selected, you maybe subject to random urinalysis testing.
  • If selected, you must obtain and maintain the following Licenses/Certifications: Hazmat Technician meeting the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120.
  • If selected, you must obtain and maintain certification by the University of Maryland or the National Certification Review Board at the Fire Fighter I and II level.
  • If selected, you must obtain and maintain certification by the University of Maryland or another certified training agency in Confined Space Rescue meeting the requirements of the OSHA 29 CFR 1910.146.
  • SEE QUALIFICATIONS SECTION BELOW FOR THE REST OF THE CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Qualifications

Conditions of Employment Continued:

  • If selected, you must obtain and maintain Automatic External Defibrillator certification. Must possess a current certification of cardiopulmonary resuscitation training, meeting AHA standards.
  • If selected, you will be expected to complete the following courses: Pumps and Hydraulics, Emergency Vehicle Operations, and Aerial Apparatus Operator and successfully pass each course.
  • If selected, you will be expected to complete the following courses: Advanced chemical, radiological, biological response training, advanced chemical, and radiological biological agents' behavior and toxicology training and successfully pass each course.
  • If selected, you will be expected to complete the following course: Radiation Safety for Firefighters training sponsored by the NIH Division of Radiation Safety, Office of Research Services and successfully pass.
  • If selected, you must successfully complete an annual Job Performance test. If selected, you must participate in the department's cardiovascular physical fitness program to include a physical exercise program and annual physical examination.
  • If selected, you must possess a current certification by the State of Maryland or the National registry as an Emergency Medical Technician. Incumbent who possess National Registry certification, must obtain certification from the State of Maryland within six months of appointment.


QUALIFICATIONS:

You qualify at the GS-07 level, if you meet the following qualification requirement:

You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-[XX] level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks:

1) combating fires requiring the operation of firefighter equipment.
2) rescuing people under difficult and dangerous situations;
3) driving, operating, and positioning on scene firefighting apparatuses of significant complexity.
4) performing initial incident analyses involving hazardous materials.
5) providing pre-hospital basic life support and emergency care that is non-invasive.

You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay.

Do not copy and paste the duties or specialized experience from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position.

We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating. Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.

In addition to the previous requirements, you must demonstrate possession of the following selective factor to qualify for the position:

  • Current certification by the State of Maryland or the National Registry as an Emergency Medical Technician.
Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12936029

Education

This job does not have an education qualification requirement.

Additional information

  • This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
  • NIH may repay certain outstanding Federally insured student loans to facilitate the recruitment and retention of highly qualified people. Recipients will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on organizational need, specific case justification, and budget limitations.
  • This position may be assigned to work with, handle, receive, or store materials designated as Select Agents and Toxins by the Federal Select Agent Program, and is subject to the terms of the NIH, Biological Surety Program (BSP).
  • Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process.
  • If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, based on your adjudication decision. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here: Reasonable Accommodation Information
  • Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

How you will be evaluated

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

You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement. Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents), your responses on the application questionnaire, and your responses to all assessments required for this position. You will be assessed on the following competencies:

  • Attention to Detail
  • Customer Service
  • Decision Making
  • Flexibility
  • Integrity/Honesty
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Learning
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Self-Management
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Teamwork

Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on an assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.

Additional selections may be made for similar positions across the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) within the local commuting area(s) of the location identified in this announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with interested selecting official(s) at HHS. Clearance of CTAP/ICTAP will be applied for similar positions across HHS.

To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP)and the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP), you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least 80 points on the assessment(s) and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.

National Institutes of Health

The National Institutes of Health (NIH), a part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is the largest biomedical research funding organization in the world. NIH is made up of 27 Institutes and Centers, each with a specific research agenda, often focusing on particular diseases or body systems. NIH employs approximately 18,000 employees in varied occupations, all supporting research efforts that improve health and save lives. For more information on NIH's mission and goals, and its 27 Institutes and Centers, visit the NIH website.

Virtually explore the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) Bethesda campus, learn about scientific research, and get to know NIH community members who are working to help people live longer, healthier lives: https://www.nih.gov/virtual-tour/.

This position is that of Technician and is under the general supervision of the Assistant Fire Chief, Division of Fire and Rescue Services, Security and Emergency Program, Office of Research Services. The purpose of this position is to provide structural firefighting services, technological emergency response and emergency medical services at the NIH.

Agency contact information

Lori Palmer
Phone
301-594-3598
Email
palmerlom@mail.nih.gov
Address
National Institutes of Health
6701 Rockledge Drive
Bethesda, MD 20892
US

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