Job Description

Career Firefighter/EMT

Join the Williston Fire Department in beautiful Chittenden County, Vermont! We're a thriving career/on-call department and are looking for dedicated Career Firefighter/EMTs to join our dynamic team. Ideal candidates possess a strong work ethic, EMS (and preferably Fire) experience, a clean driving record, and are detail oriented. Share your passion for public service, training, and exceeding expectations with us. Lateral candidates (those with prior experience as a firefighter and/or EMT) are strongly encouraged to apply!

Why Williston?

• One of Vermont's fastest-growing towns with a vibrant community of over 10,000 residents.
• Daytime population exceeds 20,000 due to bustling commerce and retail.
• A community that balances growth with open space to create a sought-after place to live, work and play.
• Surrounded by natural beauty, nestled between Lake Champlain and the Green Mountains.
• Williston offers a high quality of life, excellent schools, and a wide range of recreational opportunities and easy access to outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and water sports.

Department Overview:

• Annual call volume of 2,600+ incidents, including approximately 1,800 Emergency Medical Responses.
• Paramedic-level emergency transport ambulances.
• All Hazards response organization, including technical rescue capabilities.
• Advanced Life Support Engine Company operational 24/7 with plans for expansion.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• National Registry - EMT certification at time of employment.
• Firefighter I, AEMT, or Paramedic certified preferred.
• Must obtain Firefighter 1 certification within 12 months if not already certified.
• Current Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certification is required prior to employment.
• Successful completion of a background check.

Must also have:

• Thorough knowledge of firefighting and emergency medical care principles, equipment, and techniques.
• Ability to understand and adhere to departmental and Town guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to safely operate aerial devices, fire engines, and other emergency vehicles.
• Proficiency in using fire hoses, forcible entry tools, and other emergency equipment.
• Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions in high-pressure situations. Strong attention to detail in all tasks.
• Excellent critical thinking, problem-solving, and independent judgment.
• Capability to perform continuous strenuous effort for extended periods in hazardous and adverse weather conditions.
• A thorough knowledge of Williston’s layout, streets, and hydrant locations. Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Competency in using word processing, incident reporting, and other software systems.
• Proficiency in understanding and following oral and written instructions in English.
• Ability to rely on sight and hearing to assess emergencies and make decisions.
• Excellent customer service skills, including a sense of compassion and empathy, and ability to maintain a high level of public trust.
• Ability to comprehend and make inferences from written material in English.
• Ability to manage and maintain confidential information, such as sensitive medical, criminal and fire/arson investigation data.
• Ability to work as a team member, and to establish and maintain cooperative-working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Must be able to wear proper safety equipment as determined by the department head in accordance with established OSHA regulations.
• Ability to drag 165 pounds and lift at least 100 pounds.
• Successful completion of a fitness for duty exam upon hire and annual medical and agility/skills testing.
• Must be able to pass a comprehensive criminal background check.

Responsibilities include, and are not limited to:

• Provide emergency medical services such as taking vital signs, administering semiautomatic defibrillation, conducting patient assessments, and other patient care tasks.
• Perform interior firefighting activities such as utilizing fire hoses, heavy stream appliances, extinguishers, ladders, and ventilating burning buildings.
• Respond to various emergencies in Williston and mutual aid communities.
• Contribute to fire prevention programs and educational activities.
• Active participation in Fire and EMS training events and lesson plan development.
• Frequent strenuous physical work, often in situations of severe personal danger and exposure to various weather conditions and hazardous environments.
• Administrative and operational duties associated with daily firehouse operations.
• For the full job description, go to

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform interior firefighting activities and ventilate burning buildings utilizing equipment such as fire hoses, heavy stream appliances, extinguishers, hand tools, and ladders.
• Wear and use Self Contained Breathing Apparatus to enter extremely hazardous environments and perform search and rescue procedures to evacuate and rescue persons in danger.
• Operate and maintain all emergency equipment, including fire engines, aerial devices, and specialized rescue equipment.
• Perform hazardous materials mitigation at the certified operations level.
• Perform specialized rescue, as programs are implemented.
• Administer emergency medical services including vital sign assessment, semiautomatic defibrillation, patient assessments, and other related patient care tasks in accordance with state-approved protocols.
• Interact with injured and sick patients, with frequent exposures to illness, bodily fluids and potential blood and air-borne pathogens.
• Perform daily emergency apparatus and equipment inspections to ensure proper service of all equipment, including minor maintenance and repairs, and apparatus and equipment testing.
• Conduct routine station maintenance in accordance with an established schedule.
• Assist with daily record-keeping activities, including computer-based incident reporting and emergency medical documentation.
• Participate in building inspections in accordance with the fire prevention code, ordinance, and policy.
• Attend department training programs and occasionally instruct a department training.
• Maintain positive public relations by participating in and conducting fire prevention programs and other community risk reduction activities.
• Regularly interact, in a professional manner, with the general public, municipal emergency services agencies, and other private agencies when responding to fire and emergency medical incidents.
• Handle sensitive information routinely, including patient medical and other data, ensuring confidentiality.
• Work under the general direction of a superior officer and in accordance with departmental rules and regulations.
• Frequently perform strenuous physical efforts, often in situations of severe personal danger, exposure to various weather conditions, and extreme hazardous environments.
• Occasionally serve in a leadership role in the absence of superior officers. Shift work, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Salary and Benefits:

• Starting salary:
• Entry-level Hires : $65,570.00* This is an approximated annual salary for Firefighter I/EMT inclusive of anticipated average overtime and shift premium pay. Firefighter I/EMT certification. Pay incentives for additional certifications.
• Lateral Hires : Up to $80,000* (Firefighter II/Paramedic) approximate annual salary depending on certifications and experience, inclusive of anticipated average overtime and shift premium pay. Requirements are at least one year of full-time career fire or EMS service experience with NREMT EMT certification, or five years of credible and continuous volunteer/paid on call service with NREMT EMT certification.
• Additional Pay Incentives : Half percent (0.5%) for Firefighter II, five percent (5%) for AEMT, ten percent (10%) for Paramedic.

· The seniority and accrual of vacation, sick, or other leave time for all new hires will be based on their date of hire with the Williston Fire Department.

· Lateral Hires may have the ability to purchase qualified service credit in the Vermont Municipal Employers Retirement pension system if they previously participated in a public retirement system.

• For further salary and benefits information, email sleonard@willistonvt.org.

* Estimate assumes 4 worked holidays and 8 non-worked holidays; actual schedule may vary.

Work Schedule:

• Estimated Start Date: June 22, 2026
• Union (IAFF) positions with a 56-hour work week (24-hour on / 48-hour off rotation schedule).
• Schedule includes nights, weekends, and holidays.

Application Deadline: May 7, 2025

The Town of Williston is an equal opportunity employer.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $65,570.00 - $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Bereavement leave
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

License/Certification:

• Drivers License (Required)
• EMT Certification (Please attach a copy) (Required)
• Firefighter 1 Certification (Please attach a copy) (Preferred)
• Candidate Physical Ability Test Cert (Please attach a copy) (Preferred)

Work Location: In person

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