Fire Fighter/EMT Recruit

About the role

Join a dedicated team of principled public servants that are committed to building leaders who inspire and achieve excellence through the practice of our core values including innovation, learning, integrity, and stewardship. We are seeking individuals to serve the citizens of Albemarle County as a Firefighter / EMT who are committed to partnering with the community and have demonstrated superior ability as a leader.

Responsibilities

• Responds to incidents requiring firefighting, emergency medical care, specialized rescue, and hazardous material emergencies.
• Advances hose lines into fire area; selects hose size and nozzle, depending on type of fire; deploys and connects hoses; holds nozzles and directs streams of water onto fire; raises and climbs ladders; creates openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance using various hand and power tools;
• Receives and relays information related to emergency calls; operates radio and other communication equipment;
• Enters premises for firefighting, rescue, and salvage operations;
• Assists in investigation of fire cause and determination;
• Uses various types of extinguishing agents;
• Performs necessary rescues; removes persons from danger; responds to calls for lost individuals and participates in searches;
• Administers emergency medical techniques in accordance with established protocols for basic life support;
• Response to emergency medical calls for the sick and injured requiring the use of suction equipment, immobilization equipment, and oxygen delivery systems;
• Responds to hazardous material situations, identifies the type and state of material involved, initiating the appropriate protective action to control or contain any spilled material;
• Deploys various booms, pads, and barriers to contain spills and mitigate runoff;
• Performs fire suppression activities, as necessary;
• Assists in direction of evacuation operations, as necessary;
• Performs fire safety inspections;
• Congducts pre-planning of business establishments within the assigned area;
• Inspects and installs Child Safety Seats;
• Drives, maintains and operates all assigned apparatus;
• Inspects assigned apparatus daily to ensure efficient operation and readiness;
• Washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment as necessary after completion of emergency response operations;
• Performs general custodial duties in the required upkeep of the fire/rescue facilities assigned;
• Cares for grounds around the station;
• Makes minor repairs as needed;
• Participates in classes in firefighting, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, heavy and technical rescue, and other related subjects;
• Participates in daily physical fitness training programs;
• Does related work as required.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• High school diploma or GED required.
• Possession of a valid Driver’s License (for at least 2 years) required at time of employment.
• At completion of the County-sponsored recruit school, the successful candidate must have obtained certifications in Virginia Emergency Medical Technician-Basic; VDFP Firefighter I; VDFP Hazardous Materials Operations; EVOC Level 2; FEMA Incident Command System 100, 200, 700 and 800; Pre-Hospital Trauma Life Support; Safe Kids Child Safety Seat Technician, and others as determined by the Department.
• At the completion of one-year probation, must have successfully completed the ACFR release process for firefighter, EMT-B, and ambulance driver.
• Maintain all required certifications and licenses.
• Must be endorsed by the Department’s Operational Medical Director.

Benefits

• Hiring salary: Starting pay for a new recruit without experience is $57,363 per year with excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities.
• Additional benefits for college graduates: Graduates from an accredited college or university with an Associate's Degree will receive an additional $1,000 per year and those with a Bachelor's Degree will receive an additional $2,000 per year.
• This is a full time, FLSA non-exempt position.
• Internal candidates will receive pay adjustments in accordance with Local Government Personnel Policy, P-60 rates are based on the Fiscal Year 2027 public safety pay scale and are subject to change.

Pay

Nature of work: The starting pay for a new recruit without experience is $57,363 per year with excellent benefits including 13 paid holidays, paid vacation and sick leave, health insurance options with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, VRS retirement, and continuing education/training opportunities.

Schedule

The position is full-time, FLSA non-exempt, and requires rotating shifts, or a set, business hour schedule depending on the position and is considered essential emergency personnel. Any personnel in this position are required to work during emergency situations and are subject to be recalled to work at any time.