Job Summary

This position is located at a VA Medical Center within the Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 6) and is organizationally aligned under the Facilities Management Service. The primary purpose of the position is to execute a comprehensive fire safety program that includes but not limited to fire prevention, fire protection, and fire inspection.

Job Description

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 04/03/2026. 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-7 position you must have served 52 weeks at the GS-6. 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. Specialized Experience (for positions at GS-4 and above): Experience that involved: (l) identifying, preventing, or eliminating safety hazards in work methods or environmental conditions; or (2) safety training or promotion. Such experience must have provided a practical knowledge of occupational and environmental safety hazards, survey techniques, and control and preventive methods. Examples of qualifying specialized experience include: biological technician, medical technician, engineering technician, fire prevention inspector, and environmental health worker. You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-6 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge of recognized standards covering fire protection and prevention techniques and procedures and building safety; agency and installation manuals, rules, regulations; and federal, state, and local fire protection/prevention ordinances and building codes Knowledge and ability to perform inspection and testing of fire protection and prevention equipment in all areas and facilities at the Medical Center for compliance with VA directives and national, state, and local standards and guidelines Knowledge of health and environmental safety requirements as outlined in applicable standards, regulations, and/or technical orders. Knowledge and ability to investigate all fires and accidents and determine causes. Knowledge and ability to schedule and conduct fire and emergency drills throughout the medical center and its satellite clinics. Ability to prepare reports and recommend corrective measures to prevent recurrence. Knowledge of the layout, design, construction, and contents of buildings; locations of fire protection systems. Ability to recognize new or unusual types of combustibles or other hazardous material, determine their fire expectancy and severity, and adapt fire protection/prevention techniques to correct conditions or hazardous situations. Ability to maintain good working relations and to use tact and firmness when dealing with operating officials; and to communicate orally and in writing. Ability to document findings and develop reports and maintain records of all findings in a professional, organized, and useful manner for future reporting and reference. . OR, Education: Applicants may substitute education for the required experience. To qualify based on education for this grade level you must have One full year of graduate education that is directly related to the work of the position. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Communication Fire Management Planning and Evaluating Technical Competence Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. Physical Requirements: The work requires some physical exertion, such as long periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, lifting, or similar activities while performing inspections or demonstrations during training sessions. 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/.