Firefighter - fulltime (internal candidates)

The Inver Grove Heights Fire Department is accepting applications from its existing paid on-call staff for full-time benefited Firefighters.   The City is seeking to fill two current openings. 

Must have two years' experience with IGH Fire Department and have successfully passed probation OR have two years' experience with another Fire Department.  To apply, complete an online application.  You may also include a resume and cover letter.  Note: If you previously applied for a fulltime firefighter position with the City, that application will not transfer, and you must reapply to show interest and any newly gained experience.  The deadline to apply is 4/23/25 at 4:30pm (now extended through 4/30/25).

Key candidate characteristics include trustworthy, humble/humility, high integrity, team player, positive, community and department oriented, committed, dedicated, compassionate, communicator, adaptable, good firefighter, self-motivated, and dependable.

ESTIMATED TIMELINE:     Interviews:  Early May 2025     Psych. Assessments:  Mid-May 2025     Start Date:  July 1, 2025

Hiring range is $27.81/hr. to $29.41/hr. depending on qualifications.  These hourly rates are calculated based upon a 56-hour workweek and 2,912 work hours per year.  Under the direction of a Captain or Lieutenant; the Firefighter is responsible for emergency response and fire prevention and safety efforts; including the protection of life and property from the hazards of fire, chemicals, disasters, and other types of emergencies, providing life-saving medical care of the sick and injured, performance of life-safety inspections, and providing public education. In emergency situations, the work may involve considerable short- and long-term dangers.  

Firefighters perform many duties as part of a cohesive team but must also be able to act without continuous supervision and be able to exercise independent discretion, using sound judgement, based on accepted rules and procedures.Respond to calls for service on duty as well as off duty, as directed, at all hours of the day or night.  Immediately assess safety risks and hazards at all emergency scenes, which include but are not limited to the following:
•Building, vehicle, brush, non-building structures, and chemical fires, including those intentionally set
•Medicals, including critical injuries and illnesses, mental health calls, assaults, and overdoses
•Hazardous materials releases, reactions, and explosions
•Extricating victims from crashes involving passenger, commercial, aircraft, boat, and rail vehicles
•Rescues involving water, ice, high/low angle, tight spaces, and below grade
•Active shooter situations, mass casualties, and civil unrest

Enter structures by any means including climbing ladders, scaling structures, cutting through walls, using mechanical means, or breaking locks, doors, or windows to search for and rescue individuals from fires and other emergency situations, sometimes under extreme circumstances.  Evacuate occupants of burning and hazardous structures and situations and assist them to safety.

Drive and operate every type of apparatus from all three stations. Operate pumps and place aerial ladders and elevated water streams (engines, tenders, ladder trucks, rescue truck, dry chemical special hazards truck, brush trucks).

Work at heights off of ladders, aerial devices, roofs, and in confined spaces while exposed to extreme heat and cold, smoke, toxic gases, and structural dangers.
Inspect, run, and troubleshoot all mechanical equipment regularly (apparatus, tools, and building systems) to ensure constant state of readiness.  Regularly inventory and check all supplies and tools to ensure proper location and working order.

Respond to medical calls to assess nature and extent of illness and/or injury and provide appropriate patient care wearing appropriate personal protective equipment.
•Obtain required information from patients and accurately assess medical conditions.
•Provide skilled medical care and treatment using adjunct medical equipment and drugs, in compliance with IGH FD medical protocols.

As directed, conduct inspections of existing multi-family residential and business properties and create pre-plans of businesses, including critical hazards and high-risk properties.
•Locate hazardous conditions and code violations in buildings; including those that use, store, or handle hazardous materials
•Identify corrective action and conduct follow-up inspections to ensure corrective actions have been taken
•Complete all necessary reports and paperwork

Create and maintain a positive and healthy working relationship with individuals and organizations internal and external to the fire department.
•Establish positive customer service, public relations, and communications with our internal and external customers and those we serve.
•Coordinate activities and cooperate with personnel from other city departments and emergency personnel from other communities.
•Display professionalism at all times.

Perform community outreach and educational duties to develop and foster relationships and partnerships with residents, businesses, school districts, and community groups for improved safety.  Examples include such representative tasks as:
•Conduct various educational sessions for business owners, employees, and students
•Participate in community events such as IGH Days, Yellow Ribbon, school events, etc.
•Provide fire and injury prevention education to all ages, from children to seniors
•Perform CPR and first aid training for various community groups
•Conduct regular educational visits to schools in the city
•Participate in annual Fire Prevention Week events
•Conduct tours of fire stations

Maintain proficiencies and continually learn new skills as appropriate.
•Attend, as well as assist with, preparing and running weekly drills for all fire personnel and attend additional educational opportunities to gain and retain knowledge in all requirements of the job.
•Complete on-going training assigned and obtain and maintain all certifications as required.
•Serve as Field Training Officer for newly hired on-call firefighters as assigned.

Perform housekeeping duties within each station when not responding to calls, at training, or attending other events.

Display responsiveness to the needs of the public and show fairness and objectivity in the treatment of other people speaking in ways that are courteous and non-discriminatory.  Display respect and sensitivity when interacting with people of diverse cultures and backgrounds and display strong commitment to serving the public equitably.

Perform other duties of a comparable level or type, as required.Minimum Qualifications:
•18 years of age or older
•High school diploma or equivalent
•2 years’ experience with IGH Fire Department and have successfully passed probation OR two years’ experience with another Fire Department.
•National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) 100,200,700
•Nationally Registered Emergency Medical Technician at the time of offer
•IFSAC or Pro-Board accredited Firefighter I and II certifications
•IFSAC or Pro-Board accredited Hazardous Materials Operations certificate in 472or 1072
•Valid and unrestricted Driver’s License
•Successfully pass driver’s license check, criminal background check, physical and psychological exams, and reference check (as applicable)
•Current eligible licensed Firefighter in the State of Minnesota
•IFSAC Accredited Fire Inspector I prior to completion of probation
•Other training and certifications may be required by City after employment
•Be willing to work long and varied shifts as assigned
•Maintain clean driving and background records after hire
•Maintain physical ability to perform all parts of job
•Maintain compliance with the City’s drug and alcohol policies

Desired Qualifications:
•Additional experience as a Firefighter
•Experience as an EMT or Paramedic
•Post-secondary degree in Fire Science or closely related field
•IFSAC or Pro-Board Fire Apparatus Operator (FAO) III
•Experience with fire and building codes
•Fluency in Spanish, Hmong, or other non-English languages prevalent in the City of Inver Grove HeightsWork Environment:
Required to work 24-hour station shifts and other shifts as assigned.  Working under time pressure constraints, stress, and risks associated with potential life-threatening situations and service calls, driving apparatus in emergency situations and in extreme weather conditions.  Occasionally working near/on moving equipment, mechanical parts, live electricity, wet/damp/slippery/uneven surfaces, and from unprotected heights.

May come into contact and/or work with hazardous materials, vibration, temperature extremes, unsafe situations, confined spaces, in and around burning/smoke filled structures, infections diseases, lung/skin irritants, and high noise.  Work requires constant attention to safety and health procedures, and proper fire/rescue/EMS techniques. Dealing with pressure, stress, and risks associated with emergency response.

Physical Job Requirements:
Be able to do the following with and without up to 60 pounds of weighted gear:
•Reach and extend hands and arms in any direction
•Ascend and descend multiple flights of stairs and 45-foot ladders while carrying heavy loads
•Balance and possess ability to steady oneself and keep from falling when walking, standing crouching, crawling on narrow, slippery, or erratically moving surfaces
•Work under high stress/pressure
•Assist in carrying and lifting a stretcher with a patient
•Climb up and on the top of the fire truck and balance self
•Lift or carry equipment from floor to overhead
•Walk and crawl long distances while carrying, dragging, or lifting
•Push/pull objects using total body movements
•Walk long distances
•Enter into confined spaces or work from heights

Need to have the following:
•Good grip strength with gloves to handle tools requiring torquing, ponding, and jerking motions with hands
•Excellent driving skills
•General mechanical ability/knowledge of engines and power equipment
•Good visual acuity to read gauges
•Good auditory and comprehension skills to follow directions
•Good verbal skills to relay information
•Quick reflexes

SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:

Additional:  This position will be in the Police and Fire PERA pension program.  Anyone in the present IGHFD Relief Association will be required to resign from the Association no later than the day before they start full-time employment as a Shift Firefighter.

Salary : $28 - $35