Fire Rescue Trainee

The purpose of this position is to provide structured training and experience necessary for advancement to the role of Firefighter EMT with Hernando County Fire Rescue. Trainees will serve as regular-class civilians and will work in any division within the department as assigned by their supervisor. The incumbent shall complete the required coursework and practical skills to achieve Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards Certification and obtain licensure as a Florida Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) within one year of their hire date.The following statements describe the principal functions of this job and its scope of responsibility but shall not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including working in other functional areas to cover absences or relief, to equalize peak work periods, or otherwise to balance the workload.

• Receives materials and confirms the contents with enclosed packing slips. Enter items into inventory system.
• Forwards packing slips to appropriate financial specialist for payment processing and maintains an outstanding order filling system for back orders.
• Receives station supply orders to be pulled from the supply room and delivered.
• Receives weekly supply orders from each station to be pulled from the supply room and delivered.
• Maintains inventory and is responsible for accuracy of physical counts of medical and station supplies.
• Performs general maintenance at Fire Department facilities including basic landscaping and ground work such as spreading, leveling, and laying rick or aggregate material using shovels, rakes, wheelbarrows, and other hand tools; this work may be labor intensive at times. 
• Operates hand tools and power tools as needed to complete facilities, grounds, and maintenance tasks.
• Assist in the stocking of the EMS supply machines located at the Fire Stations.
• Assembles kits to be placed into the EMS machines (e.g., surgical cricothyrotomy kit)
• Assist with transfer of surplus equipment after appropriate forms have been completed.
• Participate in department-approved physical fitness routines and maintain physical conditioning.
• Attend scheduled training sessions, classroom instruction, drills, and skills assessments as assigned.
• Assist in public education, and community outreach events when required.
• Completes various hands-on assignments that require strength and endurance, including moving heavy equipment, assembling furniture, and setting up for events.
• Operate department-issued vehicles and equipment only when authorized and trained to do so.
• Accept constructive feedback and implement corrective action as part of the developmental process.
• Assist with assigned departmental projects, including tasks related to maintenance, cleaning, and organizing of tools, equipment, uniforms, supplies, and fire department stations/grounds to support operational efficiency.
• Complete assignments accurately, efficiently, and in a timely manner while maintaining a positive and professional demeanor.
• Demonstrate flexibility and initiative by supporting additional duties within the scope of the trainee role, as operational needs require.
• Maintains satisfactory academic and skills-competency standing as required by the Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards Program and EMT Program; prepares for and passes all required written and practical examinations, skills validations, and certification testing within department and statutory timelines; and demonstrates continuous improvement in knowledge and performance throughout the program. 
• Adhere to department policies, procedures, and safety regulations at all times, including the code of conduct, safety rules, and academic policies of the Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards Program and EMT Program.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
• Maintains regular, punctual attendance. 

Emergency Response: County employees are required to report for work during a state of emergency and are subject to recall around the clock for emergency response operations which may include duties other than those specified in this job description.Education

• High School graduate or equivalent (GED)
• Eligible to apply for both Florida Firefighter Academy and Emergency Medical Technician Program. 

Experience

• Entry Level – No experience required. 

Licenses and Certifications

• Must possess and maintain: a valid Florida Driver’s License and be insurable by current insurance carrier.
• Within 1 year of employment, the Trainee must obtain both Florida Firefighter II Compliance and State of Florida Emergency Medical Technician Licensure to be transferred to a permanent position in the Operations Division. 
• Upon obtaining qualifications and transferring to the Operations Division, the employee shall be subject to a 3-year employment contract. 
• Failure to complete the 3-year commitment will result in the employee reimbursing the department for educational expenses. 

Required Competencies

• Knowledge of general math, business English and spelling. 
• Ability to safely operate hand tools and power tools.
• Ability to operate department vehicles to deliver equipment and supplies. 
• Ability to understand and follow moderately complex oral and written instructions. 
• Ability to perform moderate to heavy physical labor and lifting, up to 80 pounds.  
• Ability to perform prolonged and arduous work under adverse conditions, including outdoor labor in varying weather.
• Ability to meet fire department physical fitness requirements.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing. 
• Ability to maintain professional demeanor and a commitment to continuous learning.
• Ability to adapt to new and challenging situations.
• Ability to exhibit reliability, integrity, and respect while working in diverse team settings and public interactions. 
• Ability to comprehend and follow policies, procedures, and practices relative to Hernando County Fire Rescue and the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Physical Demands
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job, including coursework and practical skills training at the Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards Program and EMT program. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Must be able to don and doff firefighting personal protective equipment (PPE), including self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), within mandated time standards.
• Must be able to perform sustained physical exertion while wearing full firefighting turnout gear and SCBA in high-heat, low-visibility, and confined-space training environments.
• Must be able to climb ladders and work at heights, including aerial apparatus and multi-story training towers, as required by Academy coursework and practical evaluations.
• Frequently required to lift, carry, push, pull, or drag objects and equipment weighing up to 80 pounds, including charged hose lines, ladders, rescue tools, and facilities/grounds materials such as bags of rock or aggregate.
• Must be able to perform simulated victim rescue drags and carries consistent with Florida Firefighter Minimum Standards physical ability testing.
• Regularly required to stand, walk, bend, stoop, kneel, crouch, and crawl for extended periods, including while wearing PPE.
• Requires repetitive use of hand tools and power tools, including shovels, rakes, forcible-entry tools, and small engine equipment, involving sustained grip strength and upper body exertion.
• Requires sufficient physical stamina and mobility to perform arduous physical activity, both in academy training settings and in outdoor facilities/grounds work, for extended periods and in varying environmental conditions, including heat, cold, precipitation, smoke, and noise.
• Must meet and maintain department and Fire Academy physical fitness and physical ability standards throughout the trainee program.

Pay Grade: Fire Rescue Trainees are paid $15.00 an hour while attending the training program and all schooling. The Department will cover 100% of all tuition, fees, and other associated training costs.  

PLEASE REVIEW THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS ON POSTING AND COMMUNICATE HOW YOU MEET THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS IN YOUR APPLICATION/RESUME. MINIMUM REQUIEMENTS MUST BE MET TO BE CONSIDERED.
All applications will be carefully reviewed to evaluate qualifications and overall suitability for the position. The relevance, scope, and length of related work experience, training, and education outlined in the application and resume will be considered during the screening process. Selected applicants will be contacted to participate in interviews. Candidates are encouraged to clearly document all pertinent experience, including relevant knowledge, skills, or abilities gained outside of traditional employment, in the additional information section of the application.

Hernando County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, gender, orientation, national origin, age, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, disability, or any other protected characteristic as defined by law.

Hernando County is a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to drug testing in accordance with Federal and Florida State Law. 

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must provide notification to the BOCC in advance to allow sufficient time to provide an accommodation.