Entry Level Fire Fighter

Submissions due: Friday, September 18, 2026, at noon.

*Please review the following position packet: FIREFIGHTER PACKET. *

JOB INFORMATION

Job Title: Firefighter

Civil Service: Yes

Department: Fire

Bargaining Unit: IAFF

Reports to Position: Captain

Pay Grade: Per Collective Bargaining Agreement

Overtime Status: Paid Overtime

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

JOB SUMMARY

Marion Firefighters support the City's goal to be the best place in Iowa to raise a family and grow a business by saving lives and property through rapid response, community risk reduction, and emergency preparedness. Firefighters perform various critical tasks in emergency medical services, fire suppression, technical rescue, and hazardous materials response. This work is strenuous and highly hazardous, often in extreme environments. Firefighters train regularly to ensure readiness, and maintain vehicles, stations, equipment, and tools. Firefighters function as part of a team to accomplish their tasks while supporting a culture of service-focused values.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES/WORK PERFORMED

• Regular, reliable work attendance.
• Responds to calls for service; drives fire department apparatus and other vehicles.
• Performs critical tasks to mitigate hazards on emergency scenes to save lives and property across several program areas such as fire suppression, emergency medical care, technical rescue, and hazardous materials.
• Effectively communicate with various populations to save lives and property while fostering community trust providing excellent customer service. Removes persons from danger and administers emergency medical care when necessary.
• Attends training courses, reads and studies assigned materials related to emergency response, community risk reduction, and emergency management.
• Performs general maintenance for the upkeep of fire department property including cleaning and performing regular compliance vehicle and equipment checks, repairs property and equipment.
• Assists fire officers in community risk reduction practices and compliance with fire prevention ordinances.
• Can perform fire officer duties in an acting out-of-class capacity, if qualified as determined by the fire chief through an assessment process.
• Ability to follow policy and procedure and direction from officers.
• Performs all other related work as assigned or required.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

• Ability to learn a wide variety of firefighting duties and methods within a specified probationary period.
• Knowledge of emergency medical procedures and skill in their application.
• Knowledge of City and department policy and procedures.
• Knowledge of the response area geography, including the location of streets, major buildings and water supply sources.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, respectful and cooperative working relationships with fellow employees, partners and the general public.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Skill in operating motor vehicles.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & PHYSCIAL ABILITIES

• Ability to read, speak, write and understand English to effectively communicate with citizens and employees by telephone, two-way radio, in written form or face-to-face.
• Ability to perform basic computer functions and web-based interfaces for the completion of incident reports.
• Ability to hear speech and other commands effectively to allow for the taking of directions from dispatchers and command officers and to avoid injury from accident.
• Possess full physical agility and bipedal mobility to effectuate rescue of individuals, movement of unconscious persons and carrying of heavy equipment and hose lines.
• Possess mental functions free of significant aberration, which are essential for rational decision making in emergency operations, the application of fire suppression, emergency medical procedures, technical rescue or hazardous material response activities.
• Shall not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals in the workplace or citizens encountered during work.
• Ability to work long hours outdoors, occasionally under adverse weather conditions and various terrain.
• Specific examples or essential functions are as follows: 
  • Driving fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles;
  • Operating fire apparatus water pumps to support fire suppression
  • dragging and carrying various lengths and sizes of fire hose;
  • directing streams of water through nozzles;
  • carrying, raising and climbing ladders; and carrying equipment up and down ladders;
  • using forcible entry tools such as saws, axes, bars, etc. to open holes in walls, roofs and floors;
  • wearing breathing apparatus while performing interior search and rescue operations, usually in heavy heat and smoke conditions;
  • tying a variety of fire service knots for raising and lowering equipment and/or rescue trapped or unconscious persons;
  • extending hose lines by making and/or breaking hose couplings;
  • carrying unconscious persons down ladders;
  • performing salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water and removing debris;
  • sending and receiving radio transmissions;
  • giving and receiving instructions;
  • operating cardiac defibrillators;
  • cleaning and washing equipment, hose and fire vehicles;
  • repairing vehicles and equipment;
  • cleaning and washing floors and walls in fire stations;
  • shoveling snow from fire station's driveways and sidewalks;
  • working out to remain physically fit;
  • speaking to civic groups, students and assembled citizens;
  • attending conferences and training sessions;
  • using complex equipment in accordance with specifications;
  • remaining calm in difficult and dangerous situations;
  • Exercising judgment consistent with a person mentally fit for duty as a firefighter. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• High school diploma.
• Iowa or National EMT-B certification.
• Iowa or National EMT-I or EMT-P certification preferred. 
• Iowa or National Fire Fighter I certification desirable. 
• Must have valid Iowa driver’s license.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Firefighters work under extremely dangerous conditions
• Works in a physically and mentally stressful environment
• Shifts may vary including the need work some overtime upon demand of workload

REQUIRED BACKGROUND CHECKS

• Worker’s Compensation Background check
• Sex Offender Registry
• Criminal Background Check
• Drug Screening
• Driving Record
• Pre-Employment Physical