CENTRAL VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

 

LATERAL FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC

Gallatin County, Montana | Full-Time Career Position | IAFF Local 4939

Central Valley Fire District (CVFD) is accepting applications for Lateral Firefighter/Paramedics to join our growing all-hazards fire and EMS organization.

CVFD recognizes the value experienced Firefighter/Paramedics bring to an organization. The lateral hiring pathway is designed for experienced career firefighters who can demonstrate successful service in a full-time fire department providing EMS transport.

Qualified lateral candidates receive direct appointment at the Firefighter 1st Class pay grade, recognition of prior career service for vacation accrual, and 100 hours of vacation upon hire.

POSITION AT A GLANCE

Starting Classification: Firefighter 1st Class
Base Salary: $78,372 annually*
Paramedic Incentive: 12%
Base + Paramedic Compensation: $87,776.64 annually*
Schedule: 48/96 with 10 Kelly Days annually
Day-One Vacation: 100 hours
Vacation Accrual: Prior qualifying career service recognized
VEBA: $3400 Individual / $4600 Family annually
Retirement: Montana Firefighters Unified Retirement System (FURS)
457(b) Employer Match: 2% at hire | 3% after 5 years | 4% after 10 years
Health Insurance: District-paid premiums for eligible employee and family coverage

*Final compensation will be based upon the wage schedule in effect at the time of appointment.

LATERAL HIRING PATHWAY

CVFD's lateral pathway is intended to recognize the training, experience, and demonstrated performance of established career Firefighter/Paramedics.

Candidates must first meet the Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic Minimum Qualifications listed in this announcement. CVFD will verify qualifying full-time fire service experience, required certifications, EMS transport experience, and recent employment performance.

Candidates advancing through the process will complete CVFD's lateral selection process and all applicable pre-employment requirements. The District may verify employment and performance history directly with current or previous employers and may require documentation of prior service and the candidate's most recent annual performance evaluation.

Candidates successfully completing the lateral selection and pre-employment process will be appointed as Firefighter 1st Class and will not begin at the Firefighter 2nd Class pay grade.

Upon appointment, qualifying lateral hires will also receive 100 hours of vacation available from Day One, and verified prior full-time career fire service will be recognized when determining vacation accrual.

Lateral employees remain subject to CVFD's applicable probationary, orientation, training, credentialing, and performance requirements following appointment.

COMPENSATION

Qualified Lateral Firefighter/Paramedics will be appointed at the Firefighter 1st Class pay grade; the highest Firefighter pay grade within CVFD.

The current Firefighter 1st Class base salary is $78,372 annually. Paramedics receive an additional 12% incentive, resulting in current base compensation of $87,776.64 annually before overtime and other applicable incentives.

Additional compensation opportunities may include overtime, education incentives, longevity pay, specialty assignments, and wildland deployments.

VACATION

Qualified Lateral Firefighter/Paramedics receive 100 hours of vacation leave upon hire, available from their first day of employment.

CVFD will also recognize verified previous full-time career fire service experience when determining the employee's vacation accrual rate.

HEALTH BENEFITS

CVFD provides District-paid health insurance premiums for the employee, spouse or domestic partner, and eligible dependents, consistent with the applicable benefit plan and Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Under the applicable MOU, CVFD provides annual employer contributions to a Voluntary Employee Beneficiary Association (VEBA) of:

·         $3,400 annually — Individual Coverage

·         $4,600 annually — Family Coverage

WORK SCHEDULE

Suppression personnel work a 48/96 schedule, consisting of two consecutive 24-hour shifts followed by four days off.

Full-time shift employees receive 240 hours of Kelly time annually, equivalent to ten 24-hour Kelly Days, reducing scheduled annual work hours from 2,912 to 2,672 hours.

RETIREMENT & 457(b)

Full-time career Firefighter/Paramedics participate in the Montana Firefighters Unified Retirement System (FURS).

In addition to FURS, CVFD provides an employer match to an eligible 457(b) deferred compensation account beginning on the employee's date of hire:

·         Date of hire through 5 years — up to 2% of base pay

·         After 5 years — up to 3% of base pay

·         After 10 years — up to 4% of base pay

For purposes of the match, base pay includes the employee's base wage, applicable incentives, and longevity pay. The 12% Paramedic incentive is therefore included when calculating eligible compensation for the employer match.

At the current Firefighter 1st Class rate plus the 12% Paramedic incentive, a new lateral employee eligible for the full 2% match would receive approximately $1,756 annually in District 457(b) contributions, provided the employee contributes enough to receive the full match.

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS

The CVFD compensation and benefits package also includes:

·         144 hours of sick leave annually, with no maximum accumulation

·         Up to $5,000 per fiscal year in tuition reimbursement for eligible approved education

·         Education incentives for qualifying college degrees

·         District-paid EMS licensing and continuing education

·         District-provided structural firefighting PPE, wildland PPE, and station/duty uniforms

·         Annual firefighter medical evaluation

·         Overtime opportunities

·         Wildland deployment opportunities

·         Specialty assignment and professional development opportunities

·         No residency requirement

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

To qualify for the Lateral Firefighter/Paramedic hiring pathway, applicants must meet each of the following:

·         Minimum of two (2) years of full-time, and is currently working as a paid career Firefighter/Paramedic with a fire department that provides EMS patient transport.

·         A satisfactory or better annual performance evaluation completed within the previous calendar year.

·         No Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) within the previous calendar year.

·         Current Paramedic certification with the ability to obtain Montana Paramedic licensure.

·         Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification from an applicable recognized certifying agency (IFSAC or ProBoard).

·         Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations (IFSAC or ProBoard).

·         Current BLS/CPR certification.

·         Current ACLS certification.

·         Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record.

·         High school diploma or equivalent.

·         Ability to successfully complete all CVFD medical, physical ability, background, credentialing, and other applicable pre-employment requirements.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Additional qualifications that may enhance a candidate's preparation for service with CVFD include apparatus operation and pumping experience, wildland firefighting qualifications, technical rescue experience, fire or EMS instructor certifications, fire officer or leadership development, additional EMS certifications, and college education in fire science, EMS, emergency management, or a related field.

ABOUT CENTRAL VALLEY FIRE DISTRICT

Central Valley Fire District serves a diverse and rapidly growing area of Gallatin County, Montana.

CVFD is an all-hazards organization providing structural firefighting, Advanced Life Support EMS and ambulance transport, wildland firefighting, technical rescue, water rescue, motor vehicle extrication, hazardous materials response, interfacility medical transport, and other emergency services.

Members have opportunities to participate in specialized programs and teams while continuing their professional development throughout their careers.

APPLICATION INFORMATION

Application Period: November 1, 2026 through December 1, 2026
Anticipated Start Date: February 1, 2027
Application Process: please apply at https://candidates.nationaltestingnetwork.com/

Applicants should submit all materials required by the recruitment announcement. Candidates meeting the lateral minimum qualifications may advance through the CVFD lateral selection process, including verification of experience, certifications and performance history, followed by applicable background, medical, credentialing, and other pre-employment requirements.

Successful candidates will be appointed as Lateral Firefighter/Paramedics at the Firefighter 1st Class pay grade and will begin CVFD's required orientation, training, and probationary process.

CVFD reserves the right to not fill the position if in its opinion an appropriately qualified candidate does not emerge in the selection process.

Central Valley Fire District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.