Lead Firefighter (Basic Life S

About the company

This Lead Firefighter (Basic Life Support) position is in the Facilities Management service at the VA Maine Healthcare System, located at the Togus, ME location. This position is full-time at 72 hours per week.

Your tasks

This position involves rotating shift work, seventy-two (72) hours per week. The Fire Department operates 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, utilizing a two-platoon systems in which employees are assigned to alternating shifts. The Lead Firefighter is subject to overtime call back and mandatory overtime to ensure mandatory compliance with minimum crew manning requirements. Position is considered "essential" as regards reporting during inclement weather or other adverse conditions. For at least 25% of the time, this position performs single-grade interval Work Leader duties. Distribute and balance the workload among employees in accordance with established work flow or job specialization, assure timely accomplishment of the assigned workload, and assure that each employee has enough work to keep busy; Estimate and report on expected time of completion of work, and maintain records of work accomplishments and time expended and prepare production reports as requested. Instruct employees in specific tasks and job techniques and make available written instructions, reference materials and supplies. Maintain a current knowledge and answer questions of other employees on procedures, policies, directives, etc. and obtain needed information or decisions from supervisor on problems that come up. Amend or reject work not meeting established standards, refer to supervisor questions or matters not covered by standards and problems in meeting performance standards; Monitor working conditions such as seating, ventilation, lighting, safety, etc. Principal Duties of the Lead Firefighter: Leads a crew that performs structural firefighting duties for a variety of facilities that may include research and/or large industrial complexes; performs pre-fire planning by physically going through structures to become familiar with the layout, fire hazards, and location of fixed fire protection systems; leads a crew that participates in controlling and extinguishing fires by operating hoses, ladders, and hydrants. Provides stand-by and other protective measures as required for hazardous operations such as confined space entry, "hot work" (burning, cutting, welding), demolition, etc. Leads a crew of three or more firefighters assigned to staff a pumper or rescue vehicle in firefighting and rescue operations; studies field maps to become familiar with ground areas, specific locations, etc. Recommends leave approvals; resolves simple informal complaints, referring the more serious problems to the supervisor; informs supervisor on performance, progress, and training needs of crewmembers, as well as disciplinary problems; makes suggestions to supervisor as requested concerning promotions, reassignment, recognition of exemplary performance, and personnel needs. Instructs employees on specific tasks and firefighting techniques, and provides written instructions and/or reference materials and supplies. Reviews engineering plans and specifications for new construction, alteration, and extension of existing, structures; develops and maintains a variety of documentation such as fire prevention inspection schedules and data files on assigned facilities. Required to use knowledge of basic hydraulics, formulas, and physics pertaining to motion of liquids, friction loss and flow rates; attends periodic classes to keep proficient in emergency medical procedures, operation of fire hose lines and nozzles, use of forcible entry tools, ventilation of structures, rescue equipment and other fire and emergencies skills needed to maintain proficiency. Work Schedule: TBD; This position involves rotating shift work, seventy-two (72) hours per week. Position Description/PD#: Lead Firefighter (Basic Life S/PD042150 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Notifications: Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees. Interchange Agreements with Other Merit System: Employees who occupy medical or medical-related positions and were appointed under 38 U.S.C. 4701(1) or (3) [formerly 38 U.S.C. 4104 (1) and (3)] must be serving in a full-time position without time limit and have served continuously for at least one year in this other merit system to be eligible to convert to the Title 5 System. Some exceptions to this rule may apply if you have previously acquired tenure under a Title 5 appointment. Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held. This position is a AFGE Bargaining Unit position.

Requirements

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/20/2026. 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-9 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-8. 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. Note: Time-In-Grade requirements also apply to former Federal employees applying for reinstatement as well as current employees applying for Veterans Employment Opportunities Act of 1998 (VEOA) appointment. Selective Placement Factors: The applicant must possess the following accredited certifications in National Pro Board or International Fire Service Congress (IFSAC) (in Accordance to VA Directive 7718):

• Certification as a Firefighter 1 and 2 in accordance with NFPA 1001
• Certification as Operations Level Responders in accordance with Chapter 5, Core Competencies of, NFPA 472
• Certification as a Fire Inspector 1 and 2 in accordance with NFPA 1031 within 24 months
• Certification as a Fire Officer 1 in accordance with NFPA 1021
• Certification as Apparatus operator pumper (driver/operator) NFPA 1002
• Certification as Hazardous materials awareness and operations NFPA 472
• Certification in NREMT EMT or higher NREMT certification level (AEMT or Paramedic) VA directive 1695, OR State of Maine License for EMT

VA Fire officers are expected to act as Hazardous Materials Incident Commanders and must be trained to meet the competencies for the level of Incident Commander in accordance with NFPA 472, Chapter 8 Must possess a valid State Driver's License. NOTE: We cannot accept photographs; therefore, please do not submit a copy of your license with your application package. If an interview is requested, you will be required to provide a copy of your current, valid-state issued Driver's License.

You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-07 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Experience that demonstrated the particular knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA's) to perform successfully the duties of the position. Such duties may include (1) controlling or extinguishing fires as a member of an organized military, industrial, volunteer, or governmental fire department or brigade; (2) rescue operations; (3) detection, reduction, or elimination of potential fire hazards; (4) operation of fire communications equipment; (5) controlling hazardous materials incidents and/or (6) developing, implementing, or providing training in fire protection and prevention. 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 performance of fire and safety inspections throughout the Campus routinely requires considerable walking, stooping, bending and climbing on a daily basis. May be required to lift and carry heavy objects, including equipment over 50 pounds and victims of fires or other emergencies.

Work Environment: The duties require incumbent to work in a wide variety of buildings and areas which may be dirty, dusty, and greasy. Incumbent is subject to temperature extremes. There is a possibility of exposure to toxic chemicals and explosions. Incumbent is required to wear special prescribed protective clothing on occasion in performance of duties. 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/.

There is no educational substitution at this grade level.

You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the 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 identification 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) Must pass pre-employment physical examination. 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, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.