Description :

General Definition of Work
Performs difficult skilled technical work serving as shift supervisor, responding to fires and emergency medical service calls, performing fire suppression, emergency medical response and related duties, maintaining station and equipment, participating in continuing training, and related work as apparent or assigned.  Work is performed under the limited supervision of the Operations Manager.  Continuous supervision is exercised over assigned shift personnel.

• Responds to alarms and assists in the suppression of fires, including rescue, entry, ventilating, salvage work and first response emergency situations; provides basic life support service; performs detailed subjective and objective patient assessments within established protocols, stabilization and treatment; coordinates emergency care procedures with physician; prepares and maintains daily operations logs and incident report records.
• Serves as shift commander; assigns and directs work of shift personnel; trains, coaches and counsels the work of assigned personnel; develops staff schedules; inspects the work of and evaluates performance of assigned personnel; recommends rewards, transfers, suspensions and terminations; approves time sheets and leave requests.
• Maintains inventory of and orders supplies and staff uniforms.
• Drives and/or operates various medical and fire apparatus; assists with hazardous materials incidents.
• Performs cleanup and overhaul work; performs water rescue, vehicle rescue and confined space rescue; assists with fire inspections and investigations.
• Assists in maintaining fire apparatus, ambulances and equipment and cleaning fire station and grounds; ensures that emergency vehicles are completely stocked and in good running order.
• Inspects, cleans and maintains fire hose, pumps, hydrants and related equipment.
• Presents programs to the community on safety, medical and fire prevention topics.
• Prepares fire awareness kits for area schools; teaches safety awareness classes to students.
• Provides public service including sports stand-by's and blood pressure checks; draws blood for the Virginia State Police and County agencies as requested.
• Participates in continuing training and instruction program by individual study of technical material and attendance at scheduled drills and classes; assists with and/or conducts training when required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Thorough knowledge of the principles of anatomy and physiology; thorough knowledge of the principles and techniques of emergency care, including diagnosis, proper treatment and transportation; thorough knowledge of equipment and supplies employed in the emergency care of patients and victims of accidents; general knowledge of firefighting techniques and procedures as applied to fire suppression;  thorough knowledge of the street and road system and physical layout of the County; general knowledge of hazardous materials and accident extrication principles and techniques; skill in diagnosing a victim's condition and applying emergency medical care; ability to oversee the work of crew members providing basic life support services; ability to learn technical firefighting principles and techniques and principles of hydraulics as applied to fire suppression; ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions; ability to keep records and prepare reports; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with physicians, associates, hospital staff, vendors, other emergency service agencies and the general public.

Education and Experience
High school diploma or GED and considerable experience in emergency services including experience as a firefighter and emergency medical technician at the paramedic level including some supervisory experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Physical Requirements
This work requires the regular exertion of up to 10 pounds of force, frequent exertion of up to 25 pounds of force and occasional exertion of over 100 pounds of force; work regularly requires lifting, frequently requires standing, walking, sitting, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel, stooping, kneeling, crouching or crawling, reaching with hands and arms, pushing or pulling and repetitive motions and occasionally requires tasting or smelling; work requires close vision, distance vision, ability to adjust focus, depth perception, color perception, night vision and peripheral vision; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, visual inspection involving small defects and/or small parts, using of measuring devices, assembly or fabrication of parts within arms length, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work frequently requires exposure to fumes or airborne particles, exposure to outdoor weather conditions, exposure to bloodborne pathogens and may be required to wear specialized personal protective equipment and bodily fluids and occasionally requires wet, humid conditions (non-weather), working near moving mechanical parts, working in high, precarious places, exposure to toxic or caustic chemicals, exposure to extreme cold (non-weather), exposure to extreme heat (non-weather), exposure to the risk of electrical shock, working with explosives, exposure to vibration and wearing a self contained breathing apparatus; work is generally in a very loud noise location (e.g. jack hammer work, garbage recycle plant).

Special Requirements

• Possession of Emergency Medical Technician/Advanced - Paramedic, CPR Instructor and Firefighter I certifications.
• Possession of or ability to acquire certification as a Firefighter II within one year of employment.
• Possession of or ability to acquire certification of VDFP Instructor I and Fire Officer I within two years of appointment/promotion. **Submit a career development track for obtaining paramedic certification within 3 years of appointment/promotion.
• Valid driver's license in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Contact : Please complete the employment application located on our website.
Applications can also be obtained through the Human Resources Office at 605-1 Pine Street, Hillsville, VA.

Deadline for Applying : Open until filled