Assistant Fire Chief

The position is located in the VA Butler Medical Center's Fire Department reporting to the Fire Chief. The incumbent serves as the Shift Supervisor of the VA Butler Healthcare Fire Department and is responsible for ensuring compliance with established regulations and procedures and justifying the program to regulatory entities. A wide range of non-firefighting related activities must be prioritized and acted on in a way that does not compromise fire protection.

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 10/17/2025. 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-09 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-07. 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 - National Pro Board or IFSAC certified (NFPA 1021) in Fire Officer II, (NFPA 103 for) Fire Instructor II, Pumper Driver/Operator, Hazardous Material Technician, Pennsylvania Emergency Medical Technician and Fire Inspector II; PA Drivers License. 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-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: 1) Provides immediate supervision of shift operations and carries out policies/instructions of the Fire Chief, 2) Reviews work performed by subordinates for the accomplishment of the objectives, work methods used, and adherence to established policies and procedures, 3) Assigns firefighters to positions and structures assignments to provide experience and training.4) Assist the Fire Chief with Estimating budget requirements and departmental capabilities and 5) Manages the deployment of vehicles with specialized equipment which includes hazardous material response, confined space rescue, high angle rope rescue, and hazmat decontamination equipment.. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Fire Management Manages Human Resources Planning and Evaluating 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 physical demands of the job range from sedentary paperwork to extreme exertion. The incumbent is expected to be able to accomplish work that involves high level of strength and endurance. The incumbent is required to participate in the physical fitness training program, to meet performance standards on an annual basis, and annual physical examination in accordance with NFPA 1582, NFPA 1583. While wearing personal protective ensembles and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), Performing fire-fighting tasks (e.g., hoseline operations, extensive crawling, lifting and carrying heavy objects, ventilating roofs or walls using power or hand tools, forcible entry), rescue operations, and other emergency response actions under stressful conditions, including working in extremely hot or cold environments for prolonged time periods. Wearing an SCBA, which includes a demand valve-type positive-pressure facepiece or HEPA filter mask, which requires the ability to tolerate increased respiratory workloads. Exposure to toxic fumes, irritants, particulates, biological (infectious) and nonbiological hazards, and heated gases, despite the use of personal protective ensembles and SCBA. Depending on the local jurisdiction, climbing six or more flights of stairs while wearing a fire protective ensemble, including SCBA, weighing at least 50 lb (22.6 kg) or more and carrying equipment/tools weighing an additional 20 to 40 lb (9 to 18 kg). Wearing a fire protective ensemble, including SCBA, that is encapsulating and insulated, which will result in significant fluid loss that frequently progresses to clinical dehydration and can elevate core temperature to levels exceeding 102.2°F (39°C). While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, searching, finding, and rescue-dragging or carrying victims ranging from newborns to adults weighing over 200 lb (90 kg) to safety despite hazardous conditions and low visibility. While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, advancing water-filled hoselines up to 2 1/ 2 in. (65 mm) in diameter from fire apparatus to occupancy [approximately 150 ft (50 m)], which can involve negotiating multiple flights of stairs, ladders, and other obstacles. While wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA, climbing ladders, operating from heights, walking or crawling in the dark along narrow and uneven surfaces that might be wet or icy, and operating in proximity to electrical power lines or other hazards. Unpredictable emergency requirements for prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without benefit of warm-up, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration. Operating fire apparatus or other vehicles in an emergency mode with emergency lights and sirens. Critical, time-sensitive, complex problem solving during physical exertion in stressful, hazardous environments, including hot, dark, tightly enclosed spaces, that is further aggravated by fatigue, flashing lights, sirens, and other distractions. Ability to communicate (give and comprehend verbal orders) while wearing personal protective ensembles and SCBA under conditions of high background noise, poor visibility, and drenching from hose lines and/or fixed protection systems (sprinklers). Functioning as an integral component of a team, where sudden incapacitation of a member can result in mission failure or in risk of injury or death to civilians or other team members. Work Environment: The work is performed in all settings imaginable, encompassing multi-storied health care and office facilities, residential occupancies, warehouses and physical plants. Work may require exposure to extreme weather conditions, noise situation, and hazardous situations. Normal weekly work schedule for position is a rotating 72 hour tour of duty per week, Sunday thru Saturdays 8am to 8am. However, incumbent is required, in this position, to exercise flexibility to rotate from this normal schedule in order to fill in on crews to cover leave. The incumbent will also be assigned the duties of the Fire Chief when the Fire Chief is not on site. Incumbent works in a variety of environments to include high intensity situations, such as extreme heat and smoke environments. Incumbent is required to wear protective ensemble to include self - contained breathing apparatus. 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/.