Firefighter/EMT - Firefighter/Paramedic
The City of Urbandale is accepting applications for full-time Firefighter/EMT or Firefighter/Paramedic. Under the general direction of the Lieutenant, the Firefighter/EMT - Firefighter/Paramedic performs fire suppression, rescue operations, fire prevention activities (e.g. public education, fire inspections, etc.) and patient care in emergent and non-emergent settings. Firefighters also perform routine vehicle, tool and facility maintenance on a daily basis.
We offer a comprehensive salary and benefits package. Please visit the FIRE UNION CONTRACT for detailed pay and benefit information. Check out our FIRE CAREERS site to see more information about employment with the Urbandale Fire Department.
Work schedule is a 24 hours on/48 hours off rotation averaging 2904 hours per year.
Effective 7/1/2024, starting pay is:
Benefit highlights for this position include:
We offer a comprehensive salary and benefits package. Please visit the FIRE UNION CONTRACT for detailed pay and benefit information. Check out our FIRE CAREERS site to see more information about employment with the Urbandale Fire Department.
Work schedule is a 24 hours on/48 hours off rotation averaging 2904 hours per year.
Effective 7/1/2024, starting pay is:
- Firefighter/EMT - $57,792 annually ($19.90/hour)
- Firefighter/Paramedic - $69,276 (step 1) - $84,284 (step 5) annually ($23.86-$29.02/hour), depending on years of experience
Benefit highlights for this position include:
- Four weeks paid parental leave
- 10 paid holidays + additional personal holiday time per year
- Individual health insurance for only $77.86 per month; or family health insurance for only $238.94 per month
- Dental, vision, and flexible spending account options
- Voluntary benefits including accident insurance, critical illness insurance, LegalShield, and identity theft monitoring and restoration
- Iowa MFPRSI pension/retirement plan + 457 deferred compensation plan with City match
- City-paid life insurance policy plus additional voluntary life insurance options
- Senior Officer Pay
- Tuition reimbursement, up to $10,000, for EMTs to attend paramedic school
Routine Job Duties/Responsibilities:
- Responds to emergencies (e.g. fire, medical, rescue, man-made/natural disasters, etc.). May be required to evaluate the situation and when appropriate, directing the response until relieved by Company Officer.
- Functions as a member of the assigned fire/rescue crew, performing various fire/rescue tasks under the direction of the crew leader or incident command officer.
- Provides emergency medical treatment within the scope of practice and department protocols of current level of EMT or Paramedic certification. Provides accurate medical documentation of all emergency medical treatment provided, including the use of table-based patient care reporting systems. Complete patient care reporting requirements, including patient medical history, incident history, and billing information.
- Participate in regular reviews of EMS documentation through the department quality improvement program, as well as participating in regular incident reviews.
- Ensures fire code enforcement by performing fire/life safety facility inspections, including the field use of tablet-based safety inspection documentation.
- Performs routine truck and equipment maintenance, station maintenance and routine facility duties, including the use of tablet-based inventory and vehicle maintenance program.
- Performs various community education or community risk reduction activities to improve safety for the community and enhance the reputation of the Fire Department.
- Will complete initial certification and meet recertification requirements for programs requiring certification in prevention, community education, or community risk reduction.
- Maintains proper physical fitness through regular exercise.
- Participates in Fire/EMS training. Completes and maintains EMS/Fire/Rescue knowledge and skills proficiency through department provided training, including individual, on-line, credential-based, and in-service training, as well as annual evaluations of knowledge and skills are required.
- May be assigned various operational duties, which may include inventory minor equipment maintenance, regular equipment inspection and testing.
- Complete assigned station duties necessary to maintain and keep clean department facilities.
- Responsible for driving emergency vehicles: Adheres to all department policies procedures governing the safe operation of emergency vehicles and complies with all applicable local, state, and federal traffic laws and regulations.
- Assures the City and Department’s mission, core values, goals and objectives are fully supported and initiated.
- Familiarity with department policies and procedures.
- Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Performs vehicle/squad checks and completes inventory Vehicle and Station routine maintenance and inventory.
- Performs annual equipment testing.
- Perform annual or semi-annual cleaning and maintenance on apparatus, equipment, and facilities.
Typical Qualifications:
Must be able to pass post offer/pre-employment: professional reference checks, drug screen, 411/MFPRSI physical, motor vehicle report and background check, including MMPI evaluation.
- High school diploma or equivalent required; post-secondary education preferred.
- IDPH Iowa EMT certification required; Iowa Paramedic certification preferred (valid National Registry EMT or Paramedic also acceptable).
- FSTB Iowa Firefighter I certification (out of state IFSAC or ProBoard FF I certification also acceptable); Firefighter II preferred.
- Valid Iowa Driver's License.
- Ability to act with honesty, integrity, trustworthiness, and dependability at all times.
- Ability to perform invasive advanced medical procedures in stressful situations.
- Ability to handle confidential information in a sensitive manner.
- Ability to take the initiative.
- Effective oral and written communication skills.
- Effective problem solving, decision making, multi-tasking and sound judgment skills.
- Accurate mathematical skills.
- Ability to concentrate in a diverse work setting.
- Actively support efforts to maintain and improve cooperation, communication and collaboration between employees, partners and the community.
- Ability to work initial 40-hour work week for orientation, then 24-hour shift-based schedule varying days of the week, including regular weekend and holiday work.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to live and work effectively with co-workers during shifts.
- Thorough knowledge of fire/rescue techniques and emergency medical treatment practices.
- Thorough knowledge of city geography.
- Proficiency in the use of emergency medical, firefighting, and rescue equipment.
- Proficiency with computer software and applications, including patient care reporting software, inventory and maintenance software, on-line training, and basic records management systems.
- General knowledge of tools and equipment including: electronic equipment, heavy equipment, fire equipment, air monitoring equipment, emergency equipment and hand/power tools.
- Ability to perform essential duties at designated work site location at designated hours.
Supplemental Information:
PLEASE READ ALL INFORMATON IN THIS SECTION THOROUGHLY
Qualified candidates will be notified of dates and steps in the recruiting process via governmentjobs.com email notifications. Be sure to apply with a valid email that you check regularly and sign up for text messaging updates. Check out our FIRE CAREERS website for more details about the process.
Applicants must upload the following documents, as applicable, and attach them electronically to their application:
- Valid Driver's License
- Iowa or National EMT or Paramedic Certification card
- Fire Fighter I, II, Hazmat Operations, ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications if you have them
- Documents should be attached to your online application if you have completed any of the following items in the past 12 months:
- Successful Central Iowa Fire & EMS Testing Consortium written certification
- Successful Central Iowa Fire & EMS Testing Consortium physical ability evaluation (PAE)
- Successful Nationally Recognized CPAT Card
Candidates meeting minimum qualifications will be asked to take the written exam from IO Solutions, which will be administered through DMACC. Candidates who have completed the IO Solutions written test at DMACC within the past 12 months with another agency can use the same test results if their score is 70% or higher. Passing test results must be submitted by the deadline of April 6, 2025. Please attach your IOS results to your application or email your results to: jbobst@urbandale.org. If you have not taken the IO Solutions test previously, more information regarding the written exam will be sent to qualifying candidates.
A IO Solutions study guide is available for purchase HERE.
Candidates will also be required to take the physical ability test. Candidates who have passed the CPAT within the past twelve (12) months do not have to take the Urbandale physical ability test. You must show proof of a passing CPAT to waive the UFD test. For candidates who do not have a passing CPAT score on file, the physical ability test will be administered on April 9, 2025 - April 11, 2025. More information regarding the physical ability test will be sent to qualifying candidates.
Click HERE for more information on the UFD physical ability test process.
Candidates passing the written test and physical ability test will be invited to the oral board interviews. Interviews will be held during the week of April 14-18, 2025.
More information regarding interview dates and times, along with scheduling instructions, will be sent to those who qualify. Candidates scoring 80% or above on the oral board interview will be placed on the certified list. The certified list will be active for one (1) year from the date of certification. Candidates on the certified list will be eligible for hire as positions become available in the department during the one year time frame.
Post offer/pre-employment background report check and drug test are required. The City of Urbandale is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Persons with disabilities must submit request for ADA accommodations to the Human Resources Department, in writing, prior to the application deadline.
Position Type: Full-Time
Salary Range: $50,000-$100,000