Job Description
Salary : $46,055.36 - $61,833.41 Annually
Location : Big Spring, TX
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2024-00060
Department: Fire
Division: Fire Department
Opening Date: 04/23/2024
Closing Date: 5/27/2024 11:59 PM Central
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
CITY OF BIG SPRING, TEXAS
NOTICE OF EXAMINATION The City of Big Spring Fire Department is accepting applications to establish a Civil Service eligibility list for Certified Firefighter/EMTs and Non-Certified Cadets. Persons who meet the qualifications listed below may apply for the position. Applicants who do not meet the minimum qualifications will not be allowed to take the test.
Job Class Title: Certified and Non-Certified Firefighter/EMT
Starting Salary: $46,055 - $61,833 DOQ*
*Additional pay is provided for individuals that hold certificates from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and/or the Department of State Health Services (DSHS)
Testing Date: May 31, 2024, at 9:00 A.M.
Written Test Location: Howard College, Lecture A8, 1001 Birdwell Lane, Big Spring, Texas 79720
Physical Agility Test Site: BSFD Station 1, 1401 Apron Drive, Big Spring, Texas 79720
Application Deadline: May 27, 2024, at 11:59 P.M.
This position is responsible for suppressing fires and maintaining fire apparatus and equipment. This position is also required to serve as an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT).
ESSENTIAL TASKS (include but are not limited to the following) Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.
- Assists and/or participates in training exercises to maintain certification(s).
- Assists in hydrant, plug and line maintenance.
- Washes, cleans, fuels and services assigned vehicles, equipment including water pumps; disinfects assigned vehicle and equipment after each use of the assigned vehicle(s).
- Requests repairs and service of apparatus and equipment as necessary.
- Completes necessary local paperwork including reports; maintains departmental files and records.
- Ensures that an adequate inventory of supplies is aboard emergency vehicles through regular checks.
- Ensures the proper functioning of all emergency medical equipment and vehicles through regular inspection.
- Responds to sites of life threatening or other emergency medical situations.
- Extrication of victims of accidents, when necessary.
- Renders emergency and life-saving medical assistance to those in need.
- Transports injured or sick persons to the appropriate care facility.
- Inspects buildings; completes pre-fire plans.
- Inspects the working condition of fire equipment on a daily basis.
- Performs housekeeping and grounds keeping duties at the station.
- Provides fire safety information and educational programs to school, church and civic groups.
- Performs other related tasks/duties as assigned by the chain of command.
- Must be a high school graduate or possess a GED certificate.
- Must have reached at least eighteen (18) years of age as of the date of the written test and not have reached thirty-six (36) years of age as of the date of appointment .
- Must be able to read, write and speak English.
- Must possess a valid state issued driver's license and, on date of hire or within three (3) months of date of hire, must have obtained a Commercial Texas Driver's License, either a Class A or Class B, for the type of vehicle or equipment operated.
- If applicable, you must submit a Form DD-214-4 (long form) to verify an honorable or general discharge under honorable conditions from the military.
- For non-certified applicants, you must receive a minimum passing grade of seventy percent (70%) on the Civil Service written examination for an entry level firefighter.
- Applicants must satisfactorily complete the physical agility course set out by the department in one (1) attempt.
- Must pass a comprehensive background investigation and not have any of the listed disqualifications established by the department.
- Ability to meet current requirements set forth by the National Fire Protection Association and the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) to obtain certification as a Firefighter.
- Ability to obtain appropriate state Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) certification within twelve (12) months of the date of hire and maintain certification(s) through continuing education throughout employment with the City.
- The Commission on Fire Protection Personnel Standards and Education may not certify an applicant as eligible for a beginning position with the fire department unless the applicant meets all legal requirements necessary to become eligible for future certification.
- Applicants who pass the entry level Civil Service written examination and the physical agility test will be placed on the department eligibility list. Fire department eligibility lists remain active for a period of one (1) year. The City Manager will make appointments from the current eligibility list unless there is a valid and verifiable reason why the applicant should not be appointed. Any applicant on the eligibility list whose DSHS or TCFP status changes must notify the City of Big Spring Human Resources department, in writing, and supply a copy of a current DSHS or TCFP certificate.
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS Firefighter Cadet - Salary of $1771.36 per pay period (26 pay periods per year). Once certification has been obtained the salary would increase to Firefighter salary of $2,139.54 per pay period (26 pay periods per year). Uniforms are provided by the city. Other benefits include paid vacation, sick leave, and holiday; paid medical and life insurance with
dental and vision options; firefighter pension benefits; educational pay; deferred compensation program; college tuition reimbursement program; and opportunity for promotion through training and examination.
EDUCATION EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT The City of Big Spring will reimburse up to $5,000 of the tuition fees and expenses personally incurred by the employee, in obtaining firefighter certification. The City of Big Spring will reimburse up to $3,000 of the tuition fees and expenses personally incurred by the employee, in obtaining EMT certification. The employee must remain employed with the Big Spring Fire Department for at least three (3) years following the payment.
RELOCATION INCENTIVE PAYMENT The City of Big Spring will pay a Relocation Incentive in the amount of $4,500.00 to a certified Firefighter/EMT who, within sixty (60) days of the date of employment, relocates his or her primary residence to a location that is within the Howard County limits from a location that exceeds that distance. In addition, the employee must remain employed with the Big Spring Fire Department for at least three (3) years following the payment and continuously maintain his or her primary residence within Howard County throughout that period.
NON-CERTIFIED FIRE FIGHTERS The City of Big Spring will hire non-certified cadets at full cadet salary and pay for the employee's tuition and fees for EMS training and fire academy training as necessary. Free dormitory housing is available for cadets during the training period.
FIRE DEPARTMENT BENEFITS FACT SHEET Firefighters Pension Commission Fire department employees deposit 13% of their gross salary and the City contributes 18% into the firefighter's pension account. The amount of income payable upon retirement is dependent upon the member's age at retirement and years of service.
457(b)Deferred Compensation Retirement (In lieu of Social Security)
Employees pay 6.7 percent of their adjusted gross salary; the City matches 5.51% into the retirement plan and 2.19% for a life and disability insurance package for a total matched funds of 7.70%.This Deferred Compensation a tax-sheltered program.
Life Insurance & Disability Package The life insurance package pays the beneficiary four times the employee's annual salary with a max of $200,000.00 and additional life insurance option available. The disability insurance ensures that, in the event of a permanent disability, a maximum of 60% of the employee's monthly salary is paid, up to a maximum of $3,000.00 per month.
Health Insurance The City of Big Spring pays 100% of the cost of employee's health insurance and supplements the cost of dependent insurance. Health insurance coverage is effective on the first day of the month following the date of hire. The in-network office co-pay is $30.00.
The City of Big Spring supplements the cost of dependent insurance. Dependent health insurance coverage is available at the following rates:
Family Coverage $755.06/Monthly $377.53/Bi-Weekly
Spouse Coverage $557.72/Monthly $278.86/Bi-Weekly
Child Coverage $277.05/Monthly $138.53/Bi-Weekly
Payment for dependent health insurance coverage is deducted from employees' bi-weekly paychecks.Pharmacy cards are included in the health insurance package. If dependent insurance coverage is purchased, dependents will also receive the pharmacy card.
Dental Insurance Dental insurance coverage is available to City employees at the following rates:
Employee Only $22.08/Monthly $11.04/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Spouse $44.78/Monthly $22.39/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Children $49.64/Monthly $24.82/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Family $72.40/Monthly $36.20/Bi-Weekly
Payments for dental insurance are deducted from employees' bi-weekly paychecks. Employees enrolled in the dental plan will also be eligible for the discount Vision Access program and receive discounts on vision care services or supplies.
Vision Insurance Vision insurance coverage is available to City employees at the following rates:
Employee Only $7.22/Monthly $3.61/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Spouse $14.43/Monthly $7.21/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Children $13.71/Monthly $6.85/Bi-Weekly
Employee and Family $18.40/Monthly $9.20/Bi-Weekly
Payments for vision insurance are deducted from employees' bi-weekly paychecks.
Longevity Pay After one year of service, longevity pay is paid bi-weekly. After the one (1) year anniversary, employees may choose to bank longevity payments to begin in January of the following year. Employees who bank longevity payments receive a lump sum payment every November.
Workers' Compensation The City of Big Spring meets standard state requirements for Workers' Compensation.
Paid Vacation and Sick Leave Firefighters Vacation Accrual Probationary - 5 days/year
Non-Probationary 1-9 years - 15 days/year
10-14 years - 17 days/year
15-19 years - 18 days/year
20-24 years - 19 days/year
25+ years - 20 days/year
Firefighter Sick Time Accrual Probationary - 5 days/year
Non-Probationary - 15 days/year
Flexible Spending Plan The Flexible Spending Plan allows employees to tax shelter eligible medical expenses. This program provides a tax savings, increasing the employee's take home pay.
Relocation Incentive Payment Certified firefighters are eligible for a relocation incentive payment in the amount of two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) payable on the first pay date following the date of hire.
- The employee must relocate his or her primary residence to a location that is within the Howard County limits, from a location that exceeds that distance, within sixty (60) days of the date of employment.
- In addition, the employee must remain employed with the fire department for at least two (2) years following the payment and continuously maintain his or her primary residence within Howard County throughout that period.
Reimbursement for Previously Completed Training Eligible employees will have been hired by the City of Big Spring Fire Department and will have personally incurred expenses for tuition and fees within the twelve (12) months preceding the date of hire to attend any training school meeting Texas Commission on Fire Protection Standards requirements for a basic fire academy. Employees receiving state certification as a result will be eligible for reimbursement of documented tuition and fees incurred by the employee in an amount not to exceed One Thousand Five Hundred dollars ($1,500.00).
Tuition Reimbursement Program An employee may take college courses which are either related to their job duties or designated in their degree plan and the City will reimburse the employee for those courses according to the City's reimbursment schedule.
Vacation Buy Back Eligible employees can sell back to the City, for cash, up to 68 hours of their accumulated vacation leave.
Employee Wellness Program - Discounted membership fees at the Big Spring YMCA.
- Co pay reimbursement for annual wellness physicals.
- Employee Assistance Program to provide counseling.
- Tobacco Cessation Program
Job Tags
Weekly pay, Holiday work, Permanent employment, Full time, Local area, Relocation, Relocation package, Flexible hours,