Airport Technician Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighter (ARFF)

About the role

Responsible for performing a variety of tasks requiring skilled and semi-skilled abilities involved in the operation, maintenance and improvement of airport roads, structures and related facilities under the general supervision of the Operations Manager and for performing Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), emergency medical response and all other duties required by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) part 139 regulations.

Responsibilities

• Operate a variety of airport maintenance equipment including trucks, front-end loaders, graders, snow plows, forklifts, sweepers, spreaders, aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles, boilers and various other equipment.
• Repair runway/taxiway and associated systems, roads, bridges, culverts, docks and other airport facilities such as buildings, equipment and signs.
• Perform general and skilled maintenance and repairs to buildings and systems that may involve painting, sandblasting, carpentry, plumbing and electrical work.
• Perform snow/ice removal and control operations using snow/ice removal and control equipment and materials.
• Operate manual and power hand tools including saws, jack hammers, pumps, brush cutters, generators, compressors, welders and various other equipment.
• Perform minor equipment repairs and maintenance and provide assistance to the equipment mechanics.
• Provide the primary response to emergencies at the airport involving disabled aircraft or other life‑threatening situations.
• Apply trained rescue and lifesaving emergency medical procedures for the health and benefit of the general public at the airport.
• Work with other unit members to analyze the extent of an emergency and determine an appropriate course of action.
• Operate specialized aircraft rescue and fire fighting vehicles including the use of specialized rescue procedures, materials and tools.
• Provide required primary aircraft rescue and firefighting coverage for scheduled air carrier operations at the airport.
• Respond to structural fires and rescue of endangered persons in the terminal or other airport facilities.
• Pursue and ensure satisfactory completion of any necessary initial and recurrent ARFF and emergency medical training as provided by the Borough.
• Issue and cancel Notices to Airmen regarding airfield surface conditions, obstructions or lighting problems.
• Perform surface friction measurements on all aircraft movement areas during freezing weather.
• Provide instruction to other employees of this or a similar job classification in all aspects of procedure and technique relating to the duties required by this job description unless such instruction requires a specialized certification which the employee doing the training does not have.
• Perform related other duties as directed by the Operations Manager.
• Serve as Acting Operations Manager as assigned by the Airport Manager.
• Serve as temporary airport lead person, as assigned by the Airport Manager.

Requirements

• Valid State of Alaska driver's license with an acceptable driving record.
• Current CPR (or BLS) card.
• ETT certification within 1 year of hire (or willingness to pursue and obtain ETT certification at the earliest opportunity).
• Within one year of hire, and periodically thereafter as required: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting per FAA FAR139.319.
• High school diploma.
• Rescue and emergency medical training preferred.
• Two (2) years of facility maintenance experience strongly desired; any combination of related education and/or related experience will be considered if the candidate possesses the demonstrated ability.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of use of various power tools, including jack hammers, saws, etc.
• Ability to operate and assist in the routine maintenance of heavy equipment and vehicles in all types of weather.
• Ability to perform all assigned manual labor tasks, both skilled and unskilled, under rigorous conditions.
• Physical stamina and endurance.
• Ability to follow oral and written directions, willingness to apply oneself, and ability to remain current on airport geography, facilities, systems and procedures.
• Specific vision abilities: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• Ability to use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, power tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch; and taste or smell.
• Ability to drive vehicles.
• Physically capable of performing emergency medical assistance while applying CPR and Basic Life Support (BLS) procedures.
• Ability to transport a victim in an emergency.
• Physically capable of operating emergency equipment such as quicky‑saws, extrication equipment, cutting axes and tools, and SCBA equipment.
• Ability to rapidly negotiate steps and ladders to the top of the ARFF vehicles and be able to lift and rapidly deploy and place in service at least 300 feet of fire hose without assistance.
• Ability to rapidly transport, erect, and climb fire extension ladders used in fire and other emergency rescue responses while in full turnout protective clothing and equipment.
• Ability to rapidly climb at least five flights of stairs while carrying one fifty‑foot section of two‑and‑one‑half inch fire hose.

Benefits

• Health, vision and dental benefits provided by the Borough through Meritain Health, effective the first of the month following your start date; premium $25 per pay period with opportunity to “buy back” via the Healthy Merits Wellness Program.
• Participation in the Alaska Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).
• Paid Time Off (PTO) accrued at a rate of 176 hours or 22 days per year for the first two years, thereafter at higher levels per Borough Code (KGBC 3.30.030).
• Eleven paid holidays every year and two annual floating holidays.

Pay

$28.35 - $30.54 hourly (starting salary, depending on qualifications)

Schedule

Permanent Full‑time