Fire fighter job description

This post includes 3 parts: duties list, job qualification and job description writing tips for Fire fighter in details. A complete job description concludes Fire fighter key duties/responsibilities, Fire fighter job qualifications (knowledge, education, skills, abilities, experience…KSA model) and other ones such as daily tasks, key activities, key/core competencies, job functions/purpose…

I. List of Fire fighter duties:

1. Respond with crew and equipment to fires and emergencies.
2. Directs/assists crew with rescue, fire suppression and overhaul.
3. Operate and maintain vehicles and equipment.
4. Direct/assists crew with inspections and operator maintenance of fire vehicles and equipment.

II. List of Fire fighter qualifications

1. Knowledge of alarm communications, fire behavior, self -contained breathing apparatus, forcible entry, ropes, rescue, first aid, fire safety, ladders, fire streams/hoses/nozzles and appliances, overhaul and pump operations. Basic knowledge of fire vehicles and equipment to include inspection, operation, and maintenance..
2. High School education or GED equivalency.
3. International Fire Service Accreditation (IFSAC), National Professional Qualifications Board (Pro-Board) or Department of Defense (DoD) Certification as a Fire Officer I, Fire Inspector I & Fire Instructor I is required.
4. Basic fire fighting tactics & strategies, rescue procedures, pump evolutions, hose evolutions, basic first aid/CPR.
5. Ability to communicate effectively in English, both orally and in writing.
6. Experience working with organizational fire and security policies and procedures.
7. Remote overseas assignment at Ascension Auxiliary Airfield. No family accommodations are available.
8. Must be able to interface with all levels of personnel in a diverse, multi-cultural, team-oriented environment.
9. Problem solving and decision making skills required.
10. Ability to stand and /or be active for long periods of time.
11. Valid U.S. driver''s license and U.S. passport required.
12. This position is assigned to Ascension Island, South Atlantic Ocean.

III. Tips to write job description

1. Too-long job description:

Looking at a too-long job description can frighten the candidates off and drive the away. A job description, no matter how important the job is, should not be included in more than 3 pages. If one focuses on too many things at a time, he shall definitely lose focus on the main items and get overwhelmed by the remaining; So, keep it concisely.

2. Too-short job description:

While too-long can be a problem, too-short is more a problem. It will ruin the meaning of the job description. A too-short one means it lacks necessary details and therefore, the candidate will not be able to understand while reading it.

3. Listing unnecessary functions or job duties:

Just classifying these into the “others” category will save you a lot of effort and space. On the other hand, the job description will become more dilute and easy to be neglected.

4. Key functions

Not listing key functions as required for the job can be a fatal mistake to a job description.

5. Grammar and spelling

Poor grammar and having spelling errors can ruin the job description, too. Never think that as you are the employer, you may have the right to make grammar or spelling errors while requires other not to. A job description with such errors is easily to be mistaken as a fake or ghost ads; as a result, the candidate will turn away from it.

6. Not specific enough:

Be specific and concise; if you don’t address the specific, then what the job description is for. It is for the candidate to understand just exactly what he needs to do or needs to have. Lacking details can confuse the candidates very well.

7. Not having the job description reviewed by others:

This is also a common mistake. One may be subject to bias, but more than one, especially with the help of those external advisor, the job description can be more perfect.

8. Using buzzwords or abbreviations:

In fact, it is not necessary at all to use such in a job description.

9. Using slang or legal words:

Just use common wording to communicate with others and don’t do anything extraordinarily.

10. Not updating the job description:

The same job may require different duties and responsibilities in different times, so, you cannot use the same job description for 2 different times.