Firefighter/EMT-Paramedic

About the Department

• Accepting applications through mid-March
• Virtual Interview, Formal Interview & EMS Skills Test conducted in April
• Pre-Employment (background, psych & medical) conducted May through July
• Academy begins September 1st
• Academy ends mid-December

** First review of applications will be on Monday, March 16th, for any applications received by midnight on Sunday, March 15th.  Applications received on or after March 15th will be reviewed and considered as needed, and this recruitment may be closed at any time after March 15th without prior notice. **

All Applicants:

• Submit an online application through the City's website
• Attach the following certifications to your application:
  • Hazardous Materials Awareness
  • NFPA Firefighter I 
  • NFPA Driver or Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC)
  • Current EMT-Paramedic license or proof of enrollment in paramedic school.
    • Candidates currently enrolled in a paramedic program must successfully graduate on or before September 1, 2026.

• Submit to Albany Fire through National Testing Network (NTN):
  • FireTeam test scores (test scores must be dated within the 12 months preceding the date of application)
  • Valid CPAT card (applicants must have successfully completed the CPAT within the 12 months preceding the date of application)
    •  Visit:  National Testing Network

SALARY INCENTIVES & BENEFITS:
Salary Incentives: The following shall be applied to base salary upon hire as applicable and assigned.

• Paramedic License Incentive:  $410.18 semi-monthly; $9,844.26 annually
• 3% Bilingual Incentive (Spanish or American Sign Language)
• Longevity Incentive:
  • 3% at 10 years of service
  • 6% at 15 years of service
  • 9% at 20 years of service

Specialized Team Incentives:  The following shall be applied to base salary upon hire as applicable and assigned. 

• Hazardous Materials Team: $164.07 semi-monthly; $3,937.70 annually
• Technical Rescue/USAR Team: $164.07 semi-monthly; $3,937.70 annually
• Water Rescue Team: $164.07 semi-monthly; $3,937.70 annually
• Fire Investigation Group: $123.05 semi-monthly; $2,953.28 annually

Schedule:

• 1:3, 2:3 schedule (24 hrs on followed by 72 hours off; then 48 hrs on followed by 72 hrs off)

Benefits include:

• Full medical, vision and dental coverage for employee and all eligible dependents with City paying approximately 95% of premium. Currently, the employee-paid premium is $136.50 for employee-only and family coverage. 
• 72 hours of personal leave frontloaded per fiscal year
• 12.5 hours of vacation leave per semi-monthly pay period, with progressive increases
• 6 hours of sick leave per semi-monthly pay period
• Excellent retirement benefits:
  • City-paid participation in the Oregon Public Employee Retirement System (OPSRP and IAP)
  • City-paid contribution into pre-tax deferred compensation plan

• In addition, other benefits such as education reimbursement, employee assistance program, basic life insurance, long-term disability, and flexible spending accounts for healthcare and childcare expenses.

Position Duties

The Albany Fire Department provides fire suppression services and the following rescue services: motor vehicle collision, swift water, confined space, trench, and industrial. All emergency services personnel are also trained to HazMat Operations level to deal with hazardous material emergencies. Some are trained to the Technician level to participate on the State's Hazardous Material Response Team, which covers Linn, Benton, Lincoln, and portions of Marion and Polk Counties.
 
Positions may be funded by a five-year serial levy, grant, or an intragovernmental agreement with Millersburg. The goal is to continue funding for all positions; however, funding beyond the levy and/or grant period is uncertain at this time. It is possible the City of Albany could choose not to fund a position at the end of the current funded period. Any layoff of employees is by seniority as specified in the current collective bargaining agreement.

• Responds to fire, medical, and other emergencies; operates within the Incident Command System; and provides emergency medical care and transportation.
• Performs firefighting and other emergency activities, including driving emergency apparatus, extricating trapped victims, removing persons from dangerous premises, fire suppression, operating pumps and related equipment, laying hose, salvage and overhaul operations, and other fireground activities.
• EMT Paramedic: Performs emergency aid activities in accordance with Department EMT/Paramedic standing orders, including driving ambulances, administering advanced life support treatment, and transporting patients.
• Exercises independent judgment in determining appropriate actions to take during emergency response activities and in performing program area activities or duties as assigned.
• Performs job duties in compliance with Department operating procedures and city, county, state, and federal laws and ordinances.
• Establishes, promotes, and maintains positive working relationships while promoting the Fire Department's mission, vision, and value statements.
• Participates in and may conduct drills and training for development and maintenance of firefighting, EMS, and other related skills.
• Supports Life Safety Division programs through public education and assisting with fire cause determination.
• Maintains apparatus, equipment, and facilities to ensure safe, efficient, and effective operations. Performs housekeeping and minor repairs to Department equipment, apparatus, facilities, and grounds.
• Assists in developing plans for special emergency and non-emergency operations.
• Operates radio and other communication equipment.
• Participates on internal and external job-related committees and attends meetings as a representative of the Albany Fire Department.
• Communicates effectively and coherently in all activities.
• Expected to protect the privacy of all patient information in accordance with Department privacy policies, procedures, and practices as required by federal and state law, and in accordance with general principles of professionalism as a healthcare provider.
• May access Protected Health Information (PHI) and other patient information only to the extent that it is necessary to complete job duties.
• Expected to report, without the threat of retaliation, any concerns regarding Department policies and procedures on patient privacy and any observed practices in violation of those policies to the designated Privacy Officer.
• Represents the City of Albany by responding to the public, citizens, its employees, and others in a prompt, professional, and courteous manner while continuously maintaining a positive customer service demeanor. 
• Regard everyone, internal and external, as a customer and deliver the best service possible in a respectful and patient manner.
• Serves as a member of various City committees as assigned.
• Assists other staff in the performance of their duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular job attendance and adherence to working hours.
• Operates a motor vehicle safely and legally.

Minimum Qualifications

Other Qualifications

• Must be 19 years or older at the time of employment.
• Candidates must either currently hold a State of Oregon EMT license or obtain licensure by the time of job placement.
• Possession of or ability to obtain a valid Oregon driver's license prior to assuming duties; no record of suspension or revocation in any state; and three years of licensed driving experience.
• Possession of: Hazardous Materials Awareness and NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) Firefighter I certification at time of application; or equivalent.
• Possession of: NFPA Driver or Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC) certification; or equivalent.
• Must meet the City's physical qualifications and pass a background check, medical and psychological exams, and drug screen prior to appointment.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak the English language; preference may be given for bilingual skills.
• Must be able to work all shifts, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Use of cigarettes is prohibited, and the use of any tobacco product is prohibited while involved in City of Albany events.
• The individual shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of the individual or others in the workplace.

Successful candidates who currently hold an EMT-Basic, EMT-Advanced, or EMT-Intermediate certification or are enrolled in a paramedic program, must obtain their Oregon EMT-Paramedic certification prior to the completion of the 12-month training period. Candidates currently enrolled in a paramedic program must successfully graduate on or before September 1, 2026. Continued employment is contingent upon obtaining and maintaining a valid Oregon EMT-Paramedic license as well as current standing order privileges from the Fire Department Medical Director. 

Out of state applicants: National Registry certification as an EMT or Paramedic and the ability to qualify for State of Oregon reciprocity, or possession of licensure from another state and the ability to qualify for State of Oregon reciprocity is acceptable. The Oregon Health Authority determines equivalencies and more information about applying for reciprocity can be found on OHA's website. Successful candidates are required to obtain EMT certification reciprocity through OHA before the end of the 12-month training period.

Work Environment
In the performance of the job duties, the employee will work in outside day or night weather conditions, congested traffic, and unsafe road conditions. Employee will work in atmospheres that are an immediate danger to life and health; will work near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places, and with explosives. Employee may be exposed to wet and/or humid conditions; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; vibration; risk of electrocution, extreme heat or cold; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive hazards. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate, except during certain firefighting or EMS activities when noise levels may be loud.

Physical Demands
The factors described herein are representative of, but not all-inclusive of, those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Detailed information may be available in a supplemental Job Task Analysis document.

The work is heavy work which requires exerting up to 100 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds of force frequently, and/or up to 20 pounds of force constantly to move objects. Additionally, the following physical abilities are required:

1. Balancing: sufficient to maintain body equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing or crouching on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces. The amount of balancing exceeds that needed for ordinary locomotion and maintenance of body equilibrium.
2. Climbing: sufficient to ascend or descend ladders, stairs, scaffolding, ramps, poles and the like, using feet and legs and/or hands and arms. Body agility is emphasized.
3. Crouching: sufficient to bend the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine.
4. Feeling: sufficient to perceive attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips.
5. Fingering: sufficient to pick, pinch, type, or otherwise work, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.
6. Grasping: sufficient to apply pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
7. Handling: sufficient to pick, hold, or otherwise work, primarily with the whole hand.
8. Hearing: sufficient to perceive the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound. 
9. Kneeling: sufficient to bend legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees. 
10. Lifting: sufficient to raise objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. 
11. Mental Acuity: sufficient to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.
12. Pulling: sufficient to use upper extremities to exert force in order to draw, haul or tug objects in a sustained motion.
13. Pushing: sufficient to use upper extremities to press against something with steady force in order to thrust forward, downward or outward.
14. Reaching: sufficient to extend hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction.
15. Repetitive Motion: Substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
16. Speaking: sufficient to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.
17. Standing: Particularly for sustained periods of time. 
18. Stooping: sufficient to bend body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist. Occurs to a considerable degree and requires full motion of the lower extremities and back muscles. 
19. Talking: sufficient to express or exchange ideas by means of the spoken word including those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly.
20. Visual Acuity: sufficient to observe violations of codes, to effectively operate standard office equipment; ability to read and write reports, correspondence, instructions, drawings, etc.; and to operate motor vehicles and/or heavy equipment, by both day and night.
21. Walking: sufficient to move about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or move from one work site to another.

Tools & Equipment Used
In the performance of job duties, the employee will use ambulance, fire, and related vehicles; patient care, moving, and handling equipment and devices; rescue, extrication, and fire suppression tools and equipment; a computer and various software programs; calculator; digital camera; telephone; cellular telephone; radio communication equipment; copy and fax machines; and other related tools and equipment.

Safety Equipment: This is not an exhaustive list. Hearing protection (including earmuffs), safety glasses, steel toed boots, gloves (nitrile, latex, leather), hardhat, knee pads, dust masks, traffic cones, safety vest, fall-restraint equipment when required.  Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), and in all situations, required full Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Develops safe work habits and contributes to the safety of self, co-workers, and the public.

City of Albany, Oregon provides government administrative services.