Position Details
Department Overview:
The Park Ridge Fire Department is a mission-driven organization committed to providing excellent emergency response and fire prevention services to its residents and those who visit. The Department provides fire, EMS, and special operations emergency response services to the City of Park Ridge and to surrounding communities through mutual aid agreements and is a member of MABAS Division 3. The Department responds to nearly 6,000 calls annually out two stations. The Department employs 52 fulltime members, 51 are sworn and staffs a minimum of two ALS-equipped suppression companies, two ALS ambulances, and a shift commander each day working a 24/48 schedule.
City/County/Area Information:
Bordering suburb along the northwest side of Chicago in Cook County covering 7.1 square miles.
Job Requirements:
- Age: 21-35
- US Citizen: Required
- High School Grad/GED: Required
- Valid State Driver’s License: Required – Illinois
- Ability to Read/Speak English: Required
- Vision: 20/20
- College: Not required, but will increase preference points
- Academy Certification: Not required, but will increase preference points
- Prior Experience: None
- Necessary Certifications:
- State of Illinois EMT/Paramedic Licensure at time of conditional offer
- CPAT and ladder climb exercise completion within previous 12 months from application date
Additional Requirements:
- Candidate will need to provide State of Illinois paramedic licensure at the time a conditional offer is extended to the candidate. Graduation from the Lutheran General Hospital paramedic program is not required but increases preference points.
- Proof of Basic Operations Firefighter Certification or equivalent, not required but increases preference points
- Proof of miliary service active duty/inactive/reserve duty, including DD214 or other discharge papers, not required but increases preference points
Hiring Process:
- Background check
- Pre-background meeting with Fire Department and HR staff
- Polygraph
- Interview with Board of Fire and Police Commission
- Post-offer drug screening
- Post-offer physical and stress test
- Post-offer psychological testing
Preference Points:
Qualified applicants who provide proof of the following documents at time of application will receive preference points as described below. The maximum amount cannot exceed thirty (30) points.
- Veteran’s Points: Candidates engaged in the military service of the United States for a period of at least one (1) year of active duty and who were honorably discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members on inactive or reserve duty, shall receive five (5) preference points added to their Initial Eligibility List score. Candidates engaged in the military service of the United States for a period of at least one (1) year of active duty and who were honorably discharged therefrom, or who are now or have been members on inactive or reserve duty, shall be preferred for appointment to and employment with the fire department.
- Residency within the City (e.g., proof of voter registration, lease, home ownership): three (3) preference points.
- Education: A bachelor’s degree with a concentration in fire science studies: five (5) preference points; a bachelor’s degree: three (3) preference points; and an associates’ degree with a concentration in fire science studies: two (2) preference points (the degree must be from an accredited college or university listed in the United States Department of Education database).
- ALGH EMS Paramedic Program Graduate: A candidate who has graduated from the Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH) EMS Paramedic Program and is a member of the ALGH EMS System (or its successor Program and System) in good standing, shall receive five (5) preference points.
- Illinois OSFM Basic Firefighter Certification: Candidates who possess a current Basic Operations Firefighter Certification from the Illinois Office of the State Fire Marshal (“OSFM”) (or the replacement or updated equivalent classification) shall receive three (3) preference points. NOTE: Candidates who have a current Firefighter II (Two) Certification under the applicable Illinois City of Park Ridge Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Administrative Rules 107949_13 23 OSFM certification requirements (or the replacement or updated equivalent classification) shall receive three (3) preference points. The OSFM’s current designation of “Basic Operations Firefighter” Certification and its prior designation of “Firefighter II (Two)” Certification are the same level of certification.
- Calculation of Points: Veteran’s preference points and Education preference points awarded under these Rules shall not be cumulative.
Schedule/Training/On The Job Demands:
All members are required to earn EMT-P privileges in the Advocate Lutheran General EMS System upon hire, attend a regional fire academy earning several OSFM certifications (Basic Operations Firefighter, Fire Service Vehicle Operator, and Hazardous Materials Operations), satisfactorily complete a year-long probationary training program, and achieve good results on probationary performance evaluations. Upon completion of initial training, members will be assigned to a 24/48 schedule where they will be expected to work as a productive team member with other shift personnel. Emergency response it the priority of shift personnel followed by readiness, training, and routine facility maintenance. Demands of the job include high stress scenarios that may place personnel in IDLH environments. Honesty, integrity, commitment, and pride are core principles the Department values as are character and teamwork.
*PHQ is required
Candidate Contact Person:
Cynthia Lopez, HR Generalist
clopez@parkridge.us
847-318-5202
Equal Opportunity Employer
