Introductory Firefighter, Poudre Fire Authority, CO

APPLICATIONS MUST BE COMPLETED THROUGH NATIONALTESTINGNETWORK.COM

The Poudre Fire Authority is currently hiring for Introductory Firefighter. All testing must be completed by January 31, 2022.

The department requires the candidate PHQ. You can access the questionnaire through your candidate account. The PHQ must be completed by the closing date or you may not be considered further in the process.

Salary Range: $60,785 (2022 pay plan) per year, salaries are paid biweekly (PFB01)

Benefit Information: Health, Dental, Vision and Flexible Spending Account. Participation in statewide Defined Benefit Plan through Colorado Fire and Police Pension Association (FPPA), with employee contribution of 12% and employer contribution of 9% of salary for 2022. Available Roth and 457 Plans at employee cost.

FLSA Status: Non-exempt

Selection Process:

Competitive selection process includes the following elements:

National Test Network (NTN) Application Submission & Screening
Complete NTN Personal History Questionnaire (PHQ)
Schedule and complete NTN written exam(s)
Review of NTN exam scores
Invitation to complete PFA employment application
Screening of PFA applications
Selection of successful applications
Panel Interviews (Oral/Resume Zoom interview, February 28 March 4, 2022)
Second Round Interviews (In-person, April 11-15, 2022)
Eligibility list established for future openings
Administrative Interview(s) will take place as needed throughout the year
EMT-B National or Colorado current certification at time of Administrative Interview and verification throughout eligibility
Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) current certification at time of Administrative Interview and verification throughout eligibility
Post-offer Drug Test
Physical fitness requirements as identified by the Poudre Fire Authority
Background Checks
Fitness-for-duty Physical Exam & Evaluation
Psychological Exam
Credential Verification
Verification of current COVID-19 vaccination
Work Schedule: Average of 56-hour duty week (48/96 schedule). Holiday, weekend and overtime work is required.

Summary: Protects life and property, and controls and extinguishes fires and performs basic Emergency Medical Service (EMS) duties.

Department Overview: The PFA offers great opportunities for a long-lasting career in one of America's top communities. PFA prides itself in protecting life and property by being prompt, skillful and caring throughout its 235 square mile area. PFA is dedicated to recruiting engaged, motivated men and women who possess the values of courage, leadership and duty along with a strong sense of community.

Area Information: The Poudre Fire Authority headquarters is located in Fort Collins, approximately 65 miles north of Denver, Colorado and 45 miles south of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Fort Collins is nestled against the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains and the banks of the Cache La Poudre River, which provides agricultural and recreational benefits to local residents. The area is about 5,000 feet above sea level, and is the 4th largest city in the state of Colorado. Residents enjoy a moderate, four-season climate with an average 300 days of sunshine, 18 inches of precipitation a year, and an average annual snowfall of 55 inches.

Population: 189,000 including 24,000 students at Colorado State University.

Job Requirements
Age : 18

US Citizen : US Citizen or eligible to work in the United States.

High School Grad/GED : HS Diploma or GED Required

Valid COLORADO State Driver's License : Valid driver's license in current state of residence.

Ability to Read/Speak English : Yes

Vision : Correctable to 20/20

Academy Certification : PFA Fire Academy after hire.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND OTHER :

Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license in good standing.
Colorado EMT required for ongoing employment as a PFA Firefighter. (For entry level Firefighter, current National Registry or Colorado Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification is required by the time of the Administrative Chiefs Interview.)
For entry level Firefighter, successful completion of Candidate Physical Abilities Test (CPAT) required prior to the Administrative Chiefs Interview.
Current COVID-19 vaccination. Required as a condition for hire and continued employment.
FELONY, CRIMINAL ACTIVITY DISQUALIFIERS : Criminal background will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

DRIVING DISQUALIFIERS : Candidate must have a driver's license in their current state of residence. Driving records will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

DESIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE :

Education beyond a high school diploma.
Skilled Trade(s) certification. Skills or trades that require mechanical and/or technical expertise.
Transferable work experience.
Volunteer or career fire experience.
BLS or ALS experience.
Experience working and making decisions in a high-stress, team environment.
Experience working within a defined chain of command.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES : The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.

Provides outstanding service and performs duties as necessary to best serve customers in the PFA response area.
Ensures PFA customers receive the highest quality care in all interactions.
Responds to variety of emergency scenes including medical, rescue and fire response calls.
Maintains fire apparatus, quarters, buildings, equipment, and grounds.
Administers medical care to ill or injured individuals at an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) level; performs cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR); and operates automatic external defibrillator (AED).
Maintains knowledge of and skill in policies and protocols for a variety of fire and EMS disciplines.
Uses a variety of tools such as ladders, extrication equipment, hand and power tools to perform emergency response tasks and to protect life and property.
Communicates with supervisors during emergency incidents using radios or other electronic devices.
Routinely participates in training, drills, demonstrations and courses in a variety of disciplines.
Drives and operates firefighting vehicles and equipment.
Inspects buildings for fire hazards and compliance with International Fire Code.
Conducts public education activities and responds to calls or inquiries from the general public.
May provide Advance Life Support (ALS) care as firefighter-paramedic.
Uses computer systems to prepare reports and other communications.
QUALIFICATIONS : The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required.

Service orientation with demonstrated ability to put others above self.
Understanding of the importance of culture and ability to align with organization values, mission and vision.
Ability to receive, understand, and take positive appropriate action from information or instructions presented in verbal, written or diagram form.
Ability to communicate tactfully and diplomatically with the public, superiors, and peers; and must be able to communicate clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing.
Ability to read, comprehend and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions and procedure manuals.
Ability to work in cooperation with others.
Ability to make observations and interpret them in comparison to defined standards such as fire and building codes.
Ability to make presentations and educate individuals or groups.
Ability to operate a variety of tools and equipment.
Ability to maintain self-control during periods of high stress.
Ability to take command of an emergency situation.
Ability to work in a team environment.
Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as proportions, percentages, area, circumference and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry.
Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, fractions and decimals.
Ability to compute rate, ratio and percentage, and to interpret bar graphs. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with various situations where limited standardization exists.
Other duties as assigned.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS : The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to handle or feel objects; operate hand and power tools, and equipment and vehicle controls; stand, walk and sit; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance, maneuver over uneven terrain, and operate on ground ladders, all structure roofs, and high places; stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl and operate in a confined space with limited visibility; and talk, hear and smell. The physical ability test will measure the ability to perform tasks related to the job of firefighter.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds while wearing protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus, operating in super-heated atmospheres and performing an assortment of firefighting duties. These duties may include, but are not limited to, dragging hose weighing up to 150 pounds, carrying firefighting tools weighing 80 pounds, effecting rescue of any victims, and operating power tools weighing over 75 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus with vision correctable to 20/20.

WORK ENVIRONMENT : The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job PFA firefighters are required to work a 24 hour rotating schedule, including holidays and weekends, and overtime and emergency call ins on an as needed basis. Work is performed in a variety of settings, including hazardous environments and medical/trauma situations. Work areas include a closed-office environment while preparing reports; fire prevention and safety demonstrations to a variety of community groups; a variety of building types and conditions while performing inspections; and buildings whose structural integrity may have been weakened by fire conditions. The employee regularly works in outside weather conditions. The employee is regularly exposed to vibration and frequently works near moving mechanical parts and is exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and risk of electrical shock. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places and with explosives, and is exposed to wet and/or humid conditions and possibly the risk of radiation. The noise level in the work environment is usually loud.

EQUIPMENT UTILIZED : A variety of hand and power tools; portable radios to communicate effectively to other emergency responders; and computers and software programs utilized by the department.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.

Applications must be submitted online to National Testing Network (NTN) and all requirements must be completed no later than January 31, 2022.

All candidates will be notified via email by February 11, 2022 as to whether they are being invited to the first round interviews based on their NTN written test scores.

POUDRE FIRE AUTHORITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER