Firefighter
National Institutes of Health
Posted: April 16, 2026 (0 days ago)
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National Institutes of Health
Department of Health and Human Services
Base salary range: $41,966 - $54,557
Typical requirements: 1 year specialized experience at GS-6. Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement or 1 year graduate study.
Note: Actual salary includes locality pay (15-40%+ depending on location).
This job is for a firefighter at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, where you'll respond to fires, hazardous material incidents, medical emergencies, and rescues from buildings or vehicles.
It's ideal for someone with prior firefighting experience who is reliable, physically fit, and committed to ongoing training and certifications.
The role demands quick thinking in high-pressure situations while maintaining public trust in a government health research setting.
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.
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-06 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/12934108 Major Duties:
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).
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