Lead Firefighter (Crew Chief)

In this position you will work as a member of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center (MWEOC), Fire Services Branch. MWEOC is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, approximately 60 miles west of Washington, DC. The ideal candidate for this position will have experience in leading Fire and EMS companies during emergency and non-emergency situations with an extensive Fire and EMS background in Hazardous Materials.

All MWEOC staff have emergency assignments and are considered deployed in place. Exercises and activations are planned and unplanned, and may require long hours, nights, weekends and holidays. All MWEOC employees are: (1) required to use a government-issued electronic device (to include cellular phones); (2) subject to recall during emergency situations; and (3) required to perform work in locations both above and below ground. What will I do in this position if hired? In this position, you will serve as a Lead Firefighter (Crew Chief), responsible for leading teams in Fire and EMS emergencies. Typical assignments include: Leading a crew of three or more fire and EMS personnel assigned to a company such as a pumper or aerial ladder truck in firefighting and rescue operations. Directing firefighting crew in the operation of firefighting vehicles and equipment. Directing assigned crew members in the performance of structural firefighting duties for a variety of facilities which may include research and/or large industrial complexes, and the performance of hazardous materials (HAZMAT) technician containment and control and/or Basic Life Support and Advanced Life Support duties. Leading assigned crew members and performing emergency rescue and immediate first aid measures to mitigate further injury and prepare the victim(s) for transport to medical facility. Assigning crew members to perform maintenance of firefighting equipment and fire station facilities. What else do I need to know? At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites. All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee's official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions. Please ensure you meet the qualification requirements described below.

To ensure the accomplishment of our mission, DHS requires every employee to be reliable and trustworthy. To meet those standards, all selected applicants must undergo, successfully pass, and maintain a background investigation for Top Secret/SCI as a condition of placement into this position. This may include a credit check after initial job qualifications are determined, a review of financial issues, such as delinquency in the payment of debts, child support and/or tax obligations, as well as certain criminal offenses and illegal use or possession of drugs (see: Mythbuster on Federal Hiring Policies for info). Background investigations Federal jobs visit OPM Investigations. Key Requirements: You must be a U.S. citizen to apply for this position. You must successfully pass a background investigation. Selective Service registration required. Current federal employees must meet time-in-grade requirements. You must be able to obtain and maintain a Government credit card. You must be able to deploy with little or no advance notice to anywhere in the United States and its territories for an extended period of time. Please review the Additional Information section for additional key requirements. Please see below requirements of position: Must be able to drive a government vehicle. Maintain current EMS certification upon hiring such as EMT-B or EMT-P. The position does allow for higher level certification. Work rotating shifts including weekends, holidays, & overtime when necessary or directed. Participate in tests & exercises during non-duty work hours (nights, weekends, holidays) when recalled. Report for duty during inclement weather, natural disasters, & other emergency situations as directed by the Fire Chief & may have to remain on duty after the official shift ends, (mandatory overtime, subject to recall duty). Wear a uniform & safety apparel per established policies & procedures. Wear various Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) (respirators, masks, self-contained breathing apparatus, armored vests, & equipment). Subject to periodic annual medical examinations following appointment to determine fitness for continued performance of duties. Completion of an annual Job Performance Test. Participate in cardiovascular physical fitness program. Perform temporary duty travel for obtaining specialized training & other fire and emergency services or duties. Meet & maintain physical agility & stamina standards established for the position.