Fire Fighter Recruit/2023-Certified #2212-300500-01

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 875,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

Public Safety

Performs general firefighting work in fire suppression and rescue activities, including responsibility for serving as a first responder Emergency Medical Technician for calls within the City of Charlotte; may occasionally drive fire apparatus.  Work involves responsibility for the protection of life and property through firefighting, rescue, first responder and related duties.  Assignments are given by a superior officer at both emergency scenes and the firehouse.

• Responds to fire alarms with a company; lays and connects hose; holds nozzles and directs water streams; climbs ladders; uses chemical fire extinguishers, bars, hooks, lines, and other equipment.
• Ventilates burning buildings by opening windows and skylights or by cutting holes in roofs and floors.
• Provides medical assistance to fire victims or as fire responder to emergency situations, until arrival of county medical unit.
• Performs salvage operations such as applying salvage covers, sweeping water and removing debris.
• Participates in fire drills and attends training classes in apparatus operation, firefighting, emergency medical and related subjects; studies assigned materials relating to firefighting and fire prevention.
• Inspects buildings and premises for familiarization; checks for fire hazards; participates in the inspection and maintenance of fire hydrants.
• Operates fire apparatus and assumes command of a fire company on an occasional basis.
• Performs general maintenance and cleaning work in the upkeep of departmental apparatus, equipment, and structures; cleans kitchen, locker room, sleeping quarters, walls, and floors; washes, hangs and dries hose; washes, cleans and polishes apparatus.
• Maintains fitness and personal health to meet annual NFPA 1582 medical requirement.
• Performs related work as required.
• Works in shifts, including nighttime, for a minimum of 24 hours (average of 10 days per month, including weekends and holidays). There are three shifts (A-shift, B-shift, and C-shift) and firefighters work to provide continuous service. An example work schedule is WORK-off-WORK-off-off-WORK-off-WORK-off-off-off-off. This cycle then starts over after the 4-day break.

• Ability to wear full protective clothing and equipment, including SCBA, while carrying fire equipment and performing physical tasks.
• Ability to remove ladder from fire apparatus
• Ventilate roof with power tools
• Search for victim in limited visibility
• Remove victim or injured partner from the scene
• Extricate victim from vehicle
• Crawl through smoke filled structure pulling the charged hose line
• Ability to hook up to hydrant
• Able to move heavy objects to gain access to fire and/or free trapped persons
• Knowledge of personal protective devices
• Thinking and reasoning ability
• Knowledge of rescue and extrication operations
• Basic mechanical knowledge
• Knowledge of hose practices and ability to hold a charged attack line
• Oral and written communication skills
• Arithmetic ability
• Emergency medical knowledge
• Function as an integral component of a diverse team in dynamic and stressful situations
• Ability to perform and communicate critical, time-sensitive, complex, problem solving during physical exertion and/or in -stressful environments
• Ability to sustain prolonged concentration, problem-solving, and decision-making skills during physical exertion and/or working in stressful environments
• Maintain a harmonious work environment as part of a diverse team
• Interact with the public and colleagues in a professional and respectful manner

Physical Requirements:

All applicants must pass a physical ability test (FPAT) during the hiring process. For more information on the physical ability test please visit our website https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx. All applicants must also pass the NFPA 1582 physical during the hiring process.

Light to heavy lifting and carrying; some crouching, stooping, squatting, crawling, reaching, pushing, and pulling when performing tasks. Must have the agility and physical strength to do prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions.  This includes the ability to lift, move and maintain position on items (e.g., charged hoses) up to 90 pounds; push objects up to 25 pounds; pull objects from 25-50 pounds, and lift or pull victims weighing more than 150 pounds. Ability to perform mental and physical tasks over prolonged periods of extreme physical exertion without a warm-up period, scheduled rest periods, meals, access to medication(s), or hydration. Adequate vision, hearing, and speech required.

General Information:

The 2023-Certified process is for an accelerated Academy class, with a tentative start date at late Summer or early Fall of 2023. All newly hired Fire Fighter Recruits in this process will go through an initial training program of approximately 13-14 weeks, Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00am to 5:00pm. The training academy curriculum is required of all new hires, regardless of previous education or experience. In order to graduate from the training academy, recruits must meet all standards established by the department, including but not limited to:

• Attendance in all classes and training functions
• Successful completion of all academic portions of recruit training
• Participation in physical fitness training and achievement of goals set forth by the Fitness Coordinator and Training Staff
• Adherence to all standards, rules, guidelines, and requirements as established by department General Orders and by Training Staff expectations

After submitting an application, application status and Notices that have been emailed to applicants are stored for 24/7 access in their JobAps Applicant Profile at https://jobapscloud.com/oec/Charlotte/. Click on My Applications at the top of the screen. Enter the Username and Password you created when you built your Applicant Profile. If you cannot remember your Username or Password, use the recovery options provided there. Once logged in, you can view your Applicant Profile as well as the current status of all of your Unsubmitted, Submitted, or Unfinished City of Charlotte employment applications. **To the right of each Job Title is the current status/step in the process that your employment application is currently in, and by clicking the date under Last Notice you can open, scroll through, and review the Notices sent to you via JobAps regarding that application.** It is each applicant’s responsibility to monitor their emails, INCLUDING Junk/Spam folders, as well as their JobAps Portal, for updates and invitations for the duration of the hiring process.

Initial Testing Information:

There is no Written Exam for this process. Soon after the application period has CLOSED (01/26/2023) and all completed applications have been received, invitations to register for the Fireground Physical Ability Test (FPAT) will be emailed to applicants along with instructions on submittal of a Candidate Application Packet of required documents . The Timed FPAT Exams (REQUIRED) will be held on any or all of the following dates: February 16, 17, 18, 2023. There are no makeup dates. Applicant FPAT appointment dates and times will be selected at registration on a first-come, first-served basis and filled in consecutive order. Applicants should visit https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx to watch a video about and familiarize themselves with the FPAT.

NOTE: In lieu of taking the FPAT during the 2023-Certified process, the CFD will accept an applicant’s 2023-A FPAT Certificate ONLY; no other CPAT/FPAT Certificates will be accepted.

Eligibility Requirements:

• The Charlotte Fire Department requires its Firefighters to have a valid driver's license as a condition of employment; all applicants must have a valid driver's license to apply.
• Must be at least 18 years of age by the date of applications: January 5, 2023
• Must have a high school diploma/GED by the date of applications: January 5, 2023
• Must currently be employed as a full-time, paid, municipal firefighter for at least the past three (3) years; this does NOT include volunteer or part-time experience
• Must hold the NC Firefighter I and II (2013 edition) or NC Firefighter (2019 edition) certification, OR hold the ProBoard or IFSAC equivalent certification AND obtain NC reciprocity by the date of hire
• Must hold the NC EMT Basic certification, OR NR EMT certification OR equivalent certification AND obtain NC reciprocity by the date of hire
• Must hold the NC Hazardous Materials Operations/Level 1 Responder certification, OR hold the ProBoard or IFSAC equivalent certification AND obtain NC reciprocity by the date of hire
• Must be able to provide Performance Appraisals for 2020, 2021, 2022
• Must meet medical requirements set forth in National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1582 Chapter 6: Medical Evaluations of Candidates

Automatic Disqualifiers Include, but are not Limited to:

• Reason(s) other than Honorable discharge from military
• Admission and/or conviction of felony offense
• Admission and/or conviction of misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
• Illegal drug use (including marijuana) within twelve months before or after the date of applications: January 5, 2023
• Pattern of illegal drug use including distribution
• Pattern of theft
• Six or more points for moving violations on driving record during past three years. Three-year period calculated from date of conviction for each violation: January 5, 2020 to present. Court decisions such as Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) will be counted as convictions.
• Conviction of DUI / DWI within the last five years. Five-year period calculated from date of conviction for each violation: January 5, 2018 to present. Court decisions such as Prayer for Judgment Continued (PJC) will be counted as convictions.
• Prior to receiving a Formal Offer of Employment, candidates are required to be in full compliance with the GO 209.01A-Body Art-Tattoo Policy linked on the Charlotte Fire Department website at https://charlottenc.gov/fire/employmentopportunities/Pages/default.aspx which includes the following: 1) No tattoos above the shirt collar to include the neck, face, or anywhere on the head, or anywhere below the wrist to include the entire hand (with exception to a single tattoo on the ring finger in place of a wedding band). 2) No tattoos that express hate or defame any group of citizens to include, but not limited to, race, gender, sex, color, or national origin, or any tattoos that are vulgar, profane, drug related, offensive, racist, gang related, or sexually explicit.

Base starting salary for all incoming Fire Fighter Recruits is $49,102 annually.

• Fire Fighter Recruits receive a 5% incentive for an Associate’s degree OR a 10% incentive for a Bachelor’s degree; an official transcript is required.
• Fire Fighter Recruits who have served at least 2 years of Active-Duty military OR 6 years in the Reserves/National Guard, who do NOT have any educational degrees, may be eligible for a 5% military incentive; DD-214s/NGB Form 22s are required.

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, sex offender registry check, and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

During the selection process, candidates will be required to participate in various testing and assessments. Final candidates must pass the NFPA 1582 physical examination and pre-employment drug-screening test.

The City of Charlotte now requires proof of COVID-19 vaccination as a condition of employment for any new City of Charlotte employees. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer and, as such, will consider reasonable accommodation as required by law. Proof of vaccination is NOT required until a candidate receives and accepts a Conditional Offer of employment, at which time the candidate will be advised that proof must be submitted to CFD HR prior to the first date of employment.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Apply online by the deadline, including full work history and list of relevant certifications.

By submitting this application, you are agreeing that you have read and understand the above information, to the best of your ability.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job. Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call 704-336-2285 for assistance or email CityHrJobPostingsNotify@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where there are workstations available to submit your online application. The office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202 and the hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug- and alcohol-free workplace.

If you have any technical issues with submitting your application, click here.

Direct any questions about this position to 704-336-2181.