The incumbent is assigned to the VA Medical Center Fire Department in the Facilities Management Service at the Tuskegee Campus. The Medical Center is comprised of 78 structures of various classes of construction located on 222 acres. Approximate staff of 2,500 employees as well as a varying number of out-patients on a daily basis. The Fire Department operates primary pieces of Apparatus including a 1,250 GPM Pumper, Rescue/ Special Operations Unit and an ambulance.The Lead Firefighter (Crew Chief), under the general supervision of the Fire Chief, is responsible for 1he administration and supervision of his/her assigned crew. Incumbent supervises staff consisting of four Firefighters (structural). Described duties arc performed independently and work is subject only to occasional spot check or review for confirmation with established procedures and acceptable performance standards. Incumbent consults with the Fire Chief on all administrative matters that is applicable to all shifts.

Performs technical. administrative and professional work involving the administering, operating and supporting services or programs 111 they relate to the operations and life safety programs at the two campuses. Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAHVCS), Incumbent prepares work schedules for all employees under his/her supervision, making the necessary changes needed to keep an adequate number of firefighters on his/her shift and ensuring the overtime is curtailed to a minimal.

Establishes leave schedules to benefit the health care system and the employee. Checks each employee's performance carefully through reports, spot checks and observations during their tour of duty and determines performance ratings for each employee under his/her supervision.

Performs work involving the administration, and operation. of the life safety program such as life safety inspections, life safety training, fire alarm system inspection. etc. Schedules regular inspections, testing and maintenance of all fire equipment such as automatic sprinkler system, alarm system, fire hydrants. extinguishers. fire hoses, etc. The fire prevention program encompasses all the requited inspections and testing of the fire alarm system, inspection of smoke/fire doors, fire extinguishers1 etc. and conducting the training of other staff members in safety and fire protection which consists of the basic fundamentals as required by VA, OSHA, NFPA, state and local regulations. Incumbent is responsible for conducting training methods and procedures used by firefighters in the training of personnel. Incumbent continuously trains all members; on his/her shift in the operation and maintenance of fire engines, along with other related firefighting equipment.

The incumbent coordinates and works closely with the Fire Chief to ensure that the Fire Department complies with all regulations as they pertain to CAVHCS. Ensures that all fire drills arc conducted as required, inspections are made, and the required fire prevention and safety trains is provided to all personnel.

Incumbent coordinates the in9pcctions of the workplace's community care and nursing homes to ensure the safety of the veterans placed and ensures they follow the Life Safety Codes. He/she reports the findings to Social Work and Community Resources and the Health Core System Director through the Fire Chief and Safety.

Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Rotating Shifts, Forty-eight (48) hours on/Seventy-two (72) hours off
Position Description/PD#: Lead Fire Chief/PD10540A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Critical Skills Incentive (CSI): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized
To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/22/2026.

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-7. 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. Special Placement Factor- Age Requirement: Maximum entry age for firefighters is established as provided for an section 3307(d) of title 5, United Stated Code. For initial appointments, applicants cannot have reach their 37th birthday by the day of appointment. Applicants who have passed the designated entry age limited noted, but who have previously served in a covered position may be eligible to re-enter the fir service provided that they meet all applicable qualifications for the position; And will be able to complete a total of 20 years of covered and creditable Federal firefighter service by the time the Federal firefighter reaches the age of 57. Prior service in covered positions and creditable towards retirement may be subtracted from the applicants age to determine if the Federal firefighter meets the maximum entry age. Veterans may be eligible for exceptions to this limit, allowing them to enter federal firefighter positions beyond age 37 without a waiver. Agencies may grant only a rare circumstances for compelling reasons, and requests must be submitted in writing to the Director of Human Resources.

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. Example of specialized experience would typically include but are not limited to: Drives and operate firefighting apparatus of significant complexity, e.g., pumpers, aerial ladder trucks, and crash rescue trucks; Operates pumps, foam generators, boom and ground sweep nozzles, and other similar equipment; and Combat fires or rescue personnel where conditions create very difficult and dangerous situations.

Physical Requirements: Applicants for positions that have duties of an arduous or hazardous nature must meet the medical standards described below. Since individual positions may not include all such duties, a physical condition or impairment may be disqualifying for employment only if there is a direct relationship between the condition and nature of the duties of the specific position to be filled.

Eyes: Corrected distant vision must be at least 20/30 in one eye and 20/70 in the other eye. Uncorrected distant vision is required only if it is likely that corrective lenses may be lost or broken. If so, uncorrected distant vision must be at least 20/100 binocular. Ability to distinguish basic colors is required. Applicants must be free from acute or chronic eye disease.

Ears: Using an audiometer for measurement, there should be no loss of 30 or more decibels in the unaided worst ear at the 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz levels.

Nose, Mouth, and Throat: Applicants must be free from conditions that interfere with distinct speech, free breathing, or with the use of breathing apparatuses or protective equipment.

Lungs: Applicants must be free from any pulmonary or chest wall disease or condition that results in not being able to perform the duties of the position.

Heart and Blood Vessels: The following conditions may be cause for rejection: organic heart disease, valvular or vascular diseases, coronary heart disease, angina pectoris, recurrent syncope, or history of myocardial infarction.

Abdomen: Acute or chronic disease or inflammation of the abdominal viscera, hernia, or significant enlargement of the liver or spleen that interferes with the performance of the duties of the position will be cause for rejection.

Spine, Pelvic, Sacroiliac and Lumbo-Sacral Joints: Applicants must have free movement of spine and pelvic joints.

Neurological System: Degenerative neurological disease or disorder that results in documented evidence of neurological impairment that renders the applicant unable to perform the duties of the position will be cause for rejection. A history of serious mental disease may be disqualifying.

Extremities: Individuals cannot have anomalies in the number, form, proportion, and movement of the extremities that interfere with function. This includes non-united fractures; nonreducible dislocations; united fractures and reduced dislocations with incomplete restoration of function; amputation of arm, hand, leg, or foot; loss of any skeletal portion of the thumb of either hand; loss of more than the two distal phalanges of the ring or little fingers of either hand; any lose joints; pes cavus, weak foot, or clubfoot; flatfoot with symptoms unresponsive to orthotics; loss or deformity of great toe or any two toes on the same foot; torn cartilage or loose foreign bodies within the knee joint; instability of the knee joint; or inadequately healed surgical procedure.

Requirements For Motor Vehicle Operation

For those positions requiring employees to drive motorized firefighting equipment, candidates must possess and maintain a valid State motor vehicle operator's license of the appropriate classification or kind. Applicants also may be required to pass a practical road test and provide information on their driving record. See 5 CFR 930 and the "General Policies and Instructions" section of this Manual for additional requirements for motor vehicle operators.

Mechanical Equipment Operator Qualifications

For those positions requiring the operation of specialized firefighting pumping equipment, mounted pressurized systems, dispensing devices, and/or rescue tools, applicants may be required to demonstrate the ability, before appointment, to operate the specific equipment to which they will be assigned, or similar related types of hydraulic equipment.

Performance Test

Agencies may require candidates to demonstrate satisfactory performance of the minimum physical abilities necessary to perform safely and efficiently the essential tasks of a particular position. The abilities may be demonstrated through prior satisfactory performance in the same or a similar position, or agencies may choose to use a task demonstration. A task demonstration must be directly related to the essential job tasks, and thus, must consist of a sample of operations or steps that reflect a reasonably faithful representation of those selected job tasks. Any demonstration required must be uniformly applied to all similarly qualified candidates; the level of proficiency required cannot exceed that which isrequired in actual job performance; and reasonable accommodation must be provided where necessary.

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.

Central Alabama VA Medical Center-Montgomery

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