About This Position
If you have experience providing leadership to firefighters performing emergency duties of a specialized and hazardous nature, and are a knowledgeable, talented, and motivated individual, consider joining the Division of Fire and Rescue Services (DFRS).
This position is located in the Division of Fire and Rescue Services, Security and Emergency Response, Office of the Director, Office of Research Services (ORS).
Qualifications
You qualify at the GS-09 level, if you meet one of the following qualification requirements: You must demonstrate in your resume at least one (1) year of qualifying experience equivalent to at least the GS-08 level in the Federal service obtained in either the private or public sector, performing the following types of tasks: 1) providing emergency response services on incidents involving fires, emergency, basic life support, or hazardous materials. 2) providing guidance on incidents involving chemicals, biological agents, radiological agents, and specialized rescue emergencies. 3) conducting readiness assessments, inspections, tests, and drills of emergency response and hazardous materials operations. 4) providing leadership and direction to other firefighters.
You will receive credit for all experience material to the position, including experience gained in religious, civic, welfare, service, and organizational activities, regardless of whether you received pay. Do not copy and paste the duties, specialized experience, or occupational assessment questionnaire from this announcement into your resume as that will not be considered a demonstration of your qualifications for this position. To determine your qualifications and referral status, we may review your resume and supporting documentation and compare it against your responses to the vacancy questionnaire.
Ensure you support your self-ratings with the information you provide in your application. We may verify or assess your qualifications at any time. Inflated or unsupported qualifications may affect your rating.
Any misrepresentation or material omission of facts may be sufficient cause to end further consideration of your candidacy. Persons listed as knowing your past accomplishments or experience in your application may be contacted for verification purposes at any time. Verification may, but need not, begin before receiving an offer.
In addition to the previous requirements, you must demonstrate possession of the following selective factor to qualify for the position: Current certification by the State of Maryland or the National Registry as an Emergency Medical Technician. Preview assessment questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922322
Major Duties
If selected for this position as a GS-0081-09, Lead Firefighter your duties may include, but are not limited to the following: The incumbent leads a platoon of nine firefighters (GS-0081-06/07/08) for emergency response activities from instructions given by the Assistant Fire Chief or by instituting Standard Operating Procedures until the arrival of higher-level supervisors. Under the direction of the Assistant Fire Chief, the incumbent forwards assignments to subordinates to complete their daily tasks. Ensures constant monitoring of all in-station alarm systems and communication devices during normal sleeping hours.
Prepares reports for supervisor(s), as required by the Division. Provides guidance within the National Incident Management System to the Incident Commander on incidents involving chemicals, biological agents, radiological agents, and specialized rescue emergencies. Implements the DFRS Emergency Response Plan, selects the right equipment, and completes the right procedures.
Ensures the inspections, testing, and calibration of personal/chemical protective equipment. Leads the staff to ensure compliance with departmental Standard. Responds to medical emergencies and leads corresponding drills.
When necessary, the incumbent drives and operates all the firefighting equipment, including (1) class "A" fire pumper(s), (2) ambulance, (3) aerial tower/quint, (4) hazardous materials unit, (5) hazardous materials support unit, (6) mass decontamination unit, (7) incident command vehicle, and (8) support vehicles.
How You Will Be Evaluated
You will be evaluated based on how well you meet the qualifications listed in this vacancy announcement.
Your job-related qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your score on the required assessments. This vacancy will use the following assessment(s): Accomplishment Record You will be assessed on the following competencies: Emergency Response Fire Management Leadership To be considered well qualified for the purposes of the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) you must be able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position upon entry and substantively exceed the basic qualifications by scoring at least an 80 on the assessment and meet all eligibility, physical, medical, suitability, and all other requirements.
Additional Information
This position is designated as an "emergency essential" position and the selected candidate will be considered an "emergency essential" employee and will be required to be available, ready, willing, and able to report for duty under all circumstances (e.g., inclement weather, government closings and holidays, lapses in appropriations, non-emergency and emergency situations) for operation 24 hours a day and 365 days per year coverage.
This position may be assigned to work with, handle, receive, or store materials designated as Select Agents and Toxins by the Federal Select Agent Program, and is subject to the terms of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Biological Surety Program (BSP). The NIH BSP requires successful completion of the following: A Bioterrorism Security Risk Assessment: https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/bioterrorism-security-risk-assessment-form Based on your appointment, a one or two-year trial/probationary period may be required. A decision regarding your continued employment with NIH will be made as you near the end of this period.
We may make additional selections for similar positions across the National Institutes of Health within the local commuting area(s) identified in this vacancy announcement. By applying, you agree to have your application shared with any interested selecting official(s) at NIH. Clearance of CTAP will be applied for similar positions across NIH.
The National Institutes of Health participates in the USCIS Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify). E-Verify helps employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers. The NIH maintains a tobacco free work environment and campus.
Must be able to perform the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation. Visit Help Applying for helpful information on the application process. Veterans' Preference only applies to Schedule A (disability appointment), HHS Reemployment Priority List (RPL) Eligibles, HHS Priority Reemployment List (PRL) Eligibles, and Veterans Recruitment Appointments (if applicable).
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please read and follow all instructions in this announcement, complete the online application, and submit the documentation specified in the "Required Documents" section.
Your complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET) on 04/06/2026 to receive consideration. To begin, click Apply to access the online application.
You will need to be logged into your USAJOBS account to apply.
Follow the prompts to select your resume and/or other supporting documents to be included with your application package. See the "Required Documents" section for any additional forms and/or supplemental materials required. Read all Eligibility questions and respond accordingly to any Eligibility you wish to claim.
You will only be considered for those Eligibility questions (Status Applicant, Reinstatement, Schedule A, etc.) you respond in the affirmative to, regardless of what documentation you submit. We cannot assume you intended to respond differently to a question based on other information in your application package.
Complete the application questionnaire. Applicants are asked all questions regardless of their consideration preferences. We will only consider you for the grades, series, locations, specialties, and other considerations that you self-identify as being qualified for or interested in. Preview application questionnaire before you apply: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12922322 Verify all required documentation is included in your application package, review your responses to the assessment questionnaire for accuracy, and then submit your application.
In addition to the required documents, we encourage you to submit a cover letter, copy of your transcripts, and any applicable certifications or licenses. Even though this information is not required at the time of application, we may request this information later. We cannot assume responsibility or grant extensions for personal issues (e.g., troubles navigating the application process, loss of internet, not understanding a question) when applying to our announcements.
For technical difficulties, contact HR Systems Support between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM ET Monday through Friday at [email protected]. If you need any other accommodation or assistance with applying please contact Lori Palmer at [email protected]. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made before the announcement closing date.
Visit our site for information on NIH's EEO program, Reasonable accommodation procedures, laws, policy statements, and the operation of the EEO complaint process.
Required Documents
RESUME: Your resume must clearly demonstrate, in two pages or less, how your skills and experiences align with the "Qualifications" section and support your questionnaire responses. While cover letters provided with your application will be shared with hiring officials, they will not be used for initial qualification determinations. We cannot assume required experience based on your work or academic history.
If your resume exceeds two pages, only the first two will be reviewed. Use a legible font such as Lato, Calibri, Helvetica, or Arial, with 0.5-inch margins. Suggested formatting: 14-point for titles and 10-point for body text.
You may use the USAJOBS Resume Builder or upload your own resume. If uploading, ensure it includes all required information and is organized so we can match the following to each position: Job title Employer name Employment dates (MM/DD/YYYY) Hours worked per week (full-time assumed; part-time prorated) Detailed duties, accomplishments, skills, responsibilities, and supervisory details (if applicable) Series and grade or equivalent (for federal positions) If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you must list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study. If the position requires a certain number of credit hours, you are strongly encouraged to list the relevant courses in your resume.
Do not include a photograph or video of yourself, or any sensitive information (age, date of birth, marital status, protected health information, religious affiliation, social security number, etc.) on your resume or cover letter. We will not access web pages linked on your resume or cover letter to determine your qualifications. For resume writing guidance, please visit the following resources: NIH Help Applying, USAJOBS Resource Center, and the USAJOBS Resume Guidance If the position has an education requirement or you are qualifying on the basis of education, you need to list your education history including the type of degree and your major of study.
APPLICATION QUESTIONNAIRE: You must submit a completed application questionnaire. ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENTATION: To be considered eligible, you must submit the following documentation, if applicable to you AND respond accordingly to the associated question on the online questionnaire. If you do not provide the required information, we will assume you are not eligible or you do not wish to be considered for any preference or eligibility.
SF-50 - A copy of your most recent competitive career or career conditional SF-50 that shows the effective date of your latest position and the full performance level.
You may obtain a copy of your SF-50 from your eOPF. Visit our site on the Career Transition Assistance Program (CTAP) for more information on eligibility and required documentation. Please do not submit any other supplementary documentation that is not requested of you. To protect your personal information, we will only send your resume and cover letter to the selecting official or hiring manager.