City of Guelph-Probationary Firefighters

Position summary

A probationary firefighter is an integral part of the emergency services team. This position will be responsible for fire suppression duties necessary to save life and property and providing emergency response, rescue and extrication duties within hazardous conditions.

The Fire Department provides an essential service 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to the community.  Firefighters work together as members of a well-honed team. Extended periods of time are spent working together, whether in emergency situations, training or other duties around the fire station.  The Guelph Fire Department takes pride in providing a high level of service and support to our community.

Duties

• Combat, extinguish and/or prevent fires to save life and property. Perform fire suppression duties to extinguish fires rapidly and efficiently under emergency conditions, frequently involving considerable hazard.
• Provide emergency medical response and aid. Perform rescue/extrication operations where necessary to prevent loss of life or further injury, from any cause.
• Support work teams and allied agencies to maintain public safety. Seek direction and authority through the Incident Management System at the emergency scene and collaborating/assisting with allied agencies (e.g. paramedics and police).
• Perform station, equipment and vehicle maintenance.
• Assist with Alarm Room Technician/dispatch duties as required. Provide back-up resources to the communications unit by receiving emergency calls and dispatching resources on an as needed basis demonstrating excellent communications and multitasking skills to input and record pertinent data.
• Contribute to public relations and education efforts. Support fire prevention efforts by conducting demonstrations and inspections.  Actively participate in community engagement & outreach initiatives.
• Commit to lifelong learning, community and personal wellness and continuous improvement. Participate in training exercises and courses to maintain and improve skill set, learning new procedures and techniques.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Minimum qualifications

The following qualifications must be met at the time of applying:

• Completion of secondary school diploma (Grade 12 or equivalent).
• Have a valid First Aid Certificate and a valid CPR Basic Rescuer Certificate (Level C).
• Must possess a minimum DZ drivers licence (or out of province equivalency) with a good driving record. (A current driver’s licence abstract/CVOR would be required at time of hire.) Successful candidates will be required to provide a current driver’s abstract prior to their start date to confirm their licence is held in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last 5 years. The City of Guelph will take into consideration the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
• Must have successfully completed all phases of the testing program with OFAI (Ontario Fire Administration Inc) and hold a current and valid OFAI certificate. For more information please visitOFAI.ca (All costs associated with the test are the responsibility of the applicant.)
• Be 18 years of age or older and legally entitled to work in Canada.

Additional qualifications

• Experience related to the duties listed above, normally acquired through relevant training, experience (including volunteer or community service) and skills in a field closely related to emergency services.  This may include trades, health & safety, medical care, social services and/or heavy equipment operations.  Candidates with an equivalent combination of skills and experience may be considered.  (Note:  Applicants will be assessed according to the skills gaps and requirements of the Guelph Fire Department.  These requirements may change from one recruitment drive to another.)
• Post secondary education in a related field would be considered an asset.
• Must be a strong team player and demonstrate proven interpersonal skills that are consistent with the department’s core values to effectively deal with the public and allied agencies.
• Good verbal and written communication skills.
• Must have a strong mechanical aptitude.
• Good organizational skills with the ability to multitask.
• Computer skills with good keyboarding skills.
• Able to perform strenuous physical labour within high risk and hazardous environments.
• Ability to handle high pressure situations.
• Must successfully pass the Firefighter medical assessment (including Vision and Hearing Test) at time of hire (as coordinated by City of Guelph, Human Resources Department).
• A satisfactory Police Record Check including vulnerable sector check (paid for by the candidate) may be requested at time of offer.

How to apply

Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by Wednesday November 2, 2016. Please note all applicants must complete the online questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter in order to be considered. Proof of qualifications will be requested at the interview stage.

To access the online application system, please click on the ‘Apply for this job’ icon. Instructions will follow.

Apply for This Job

As a second stage in our recruitment process, candidates who meet the minimum qualifications may be contacted by email to complete an additional survey.  This survey would be used to learn more about the skills, experience and qualifications related to this position.  If this is requested, there would be a specific due date to complete this survey.  Please ensure you check your email regularly for future correspondence.

Resumes may be kept on file for future positions beyond this current recruitment.

You can also check the Specialized Recruitment page for further updates regarding the status of our recruitment process for Probationary Firefighters.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer which values diversity in the workplace.  We are therefore happy to accommodate any individual needs in keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.  If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, please contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment.  We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer.