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Job Title: Regular Full-Time Fire Fighter - Probationary
Posting Number: 005155
Department: Safety & Facilities
Branch: Fire Services
Location: Oshawa, ON.
Posting Start Date: 2025/02/07
Posting End Date: 2025/02/21 by 4:30p.m.
Employment Group: IAFF 465
Salary Grade: $65,400 - $108,999
Standard Weekly Hours of Work: 42.00
Shift Work Required: Yes
Link to the Job Post
Job Description
In order to be considered for the Firefighter – Probationary position with the City of Oshawa, applicants must submit their applications through the City of Oshawa website and must have successfully completed all seven (7) components of testing with the Ontario Fire Administration Incorporated (O.F.A.I) at the time of application. Please be advised that the City of Oshawa will not accept expired certifications.
Please review our
Firefighter Recruitment Process
for detailed information on this recruitment.
Oshawa Fire Services Firefighters will provide a wide variety of services under the supervision of a Captain. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:
Emergency Responsibilities:
Responsible for all job performance requirements from the NFPA 1001 Level I & II Standard for Firefighter Professional Qualifications
Responsible for fire suppression duties to save life and property, including combating fires, operating associated equipment (e.g. ladders, hose lines, specialized rescue equipment, electric and gas powered tools), inspect emergency scene for compliance with fire/life safety guidelines
Provide emergency medical response and aid; perform rescue/extrication operations where necessary to prevent loss of life or further injury from any cause
Respond and provide care in a timely fashion to emergency incidents including but not limited to: fires, emergency and non-emergency medical related incidents, motor vehicle accidents, technical rescues and hazardous material incidents
Drive/operate any fire apparatus/vehicles in accordance with Standard Operating Procedures, policies and the Highway Traffic Act (HTA)
Fulfill communications center duties of call-taker/dispatcher, as required
Ability to work effectively in a team and alongside other agencies including; police services, paramedic services, utility companies and mutual aid partners
Non–Emergency & Administrative Duties:
Participate in required training assigned by the Oshawa Fire Services Training Division
Educates the public about fire prevention and fire safety practices
Participate in public education programs, pre- incident fire planning and inspection
Continually maintain a high standard of professionalism, integrity, reliability and credibility, which are fundamental requirements for this position
Requirements:
Applicants shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older and be legally entitled to work in Canada. Applicants should have a secondary school diploma or academic equivalent and have successfully completed the following:
Successful completion of NFPA 1001 Level I/II from an accredited institution, prior to the date of application submission. Note: Institutions within Ontario should be accredited by the OFM, institutions outside of Ontario or Canada, should be accredited by IFSAC or ProBoard)
Successful completion of all seven (7) test components through the O.F.A.I. For more information, please see
Ontario Fire Administration Incorporated (O.F.A.I)
. All costs associated with these tests are the responsibility of the applicant
Applicants should also meet the following requirements:
Minimum one (1) year of prior full-time work experience. Fire suppression, construction, trades, mechanical, emergency medical, fitness related, large vehicle operation or fire prevention related experience is an asset
Possession of a current and valid minimum level CPR BLS/HCP Certificate or higher (e.g., EMR) issued prior to the date of application submission
Possession of a current and valid minimum level Standard First Aid Certificate, issued by a WSIB approved First Aid Trainer prior to the date of application submission
Possession and maintenance of a valid unrestricted Ontario Driver’s License, minimum class D or higher with a Z endorsement. Applicants with more than six (6) demerit points are ineligible for consideration
Ability to work twenty-four (24) hour shifts, including days/nights, weekends and holidays
Must be physically fit and able to handle the sustained, intense physical and psychological effort required to perform duties of this position
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, strong interpersonal and customer service skills for interacting with the public and internal staff
Demonstrated initiative, mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively under demanding conditions
As a condition of employment, the City of Oshawa will require successful candidates to provide a Vulnerable Sector Check, driver’s abstract and complete an employment medical.
Please note, applications which contain errors or omissions, or failure to follow procedural directions and meet deadlines at any stage of the recruiting process, will result in an application being disqualified. A valid e-mail address and phone number are required, the primary method of contact will be through email. Please ensure that you check your junk e-mail to ensure that mail does not get lost in this folder. Please note that applicants will be required to provide proof of all qualifications, applicants will be notified when this is required.
Please be advised that position location as is subject to change, as required due to operational needs.
We would like to thank all applicants however, please note that only those selected to attend an interview will be contacted and all other applicants will be kept on file. Applicants are advised that written, oral and practical testing may form part of the selection process.
Selection Process
Step One: Posting
When a recruitment campaign opens, the opportunity will be posted on the City of Oshawa’s Career Page. To stay informed about future postings, interested applicants are encouraged to join our Talent Network to receive notifications as new positions become available.
Step Two: Mandatory and Preferred Qualifications
Applicants shall be eighteen (18) years of age or older and be legally entitled to work in Canada. Applicants should have a secondary school diploma or academic equivalent and have successfully completed the following:
Successful completion of N.F.P.A. 1001 Level I/II from an accredited institution, prior to the date of application submission. Note: Institutions within Ontario should be accredited by the O.F.M.; institutions outside of Ontario or Canada, should be accredited by I.F.S.A.C. or ProBoard.
Successful completion of Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 certificates including the Swim Test through Ontario Fire Administration Incorporated (O.F.A.I.). For more information on assessments, please see the Ontario Fire Administration Incorporated website. All costs associated with these assessments are the responsibility of the applicant.
At the time of application, all applicants must apply online and have successfully completed all seven (7) mandatory assessment components through the O.F.A.I. The seven (7) mandatory components are:
Stage 1: Firefighter Aptitude and Character Test
Stage 2: Hearing Assessment, Vision Assessment, Encapsulated Treadmill Test Assessment
Stage 3: Firefighter Physical Aptitude Job – Related Tests (F.P.A.T.), Firefighter Technical Skills Assessment
O.F.A.I. Swim Test
Candidates will receive a certificate after successfully completing each stage.
Candidates are not able to complete all assessments at the same time and will be required to follow the mandatory guidelines outlined through the O.F.A.I.
Please be advised that the City of Oshawa will not accept expired certifications and candidates must be fully certified in the above at the time of application.
Applicants should also meet the following requirements:
Minimum one (1) year of prior full-time work experience. Fire suppression, construction, trades, mechanical, emergency medical, large vehicle operation or fire prevention related experience is an asset.
Possession of a current and valid minimum level Standard First Aid and C.P.R. “C” Certificate or higher (e.g., E.M.R.) issued prior to the date of application submission.
Possession of a current and valid minimum level Standard First Aid Certificate, issued by a W.S.I.B. approved First Aid Trainer prior to the date of application submission.
Possession and maintenance of a valid unrestricted Ontario Driver’s License, minimum class D or higher with a Z endorsement. Applicants with more than six (6) demerit points are ineligible for consideration.
Ability to work twenty-four (24) hour shifts, including days/nights, weekends and holidays.
Must be physically fit and able to handle the sustained, intense physical and psychological effort required to perform duties of this position.
Ability to work effectively as part of a team, strong interpersonal and customer service skills for interacting with the public and internal staff.
Demonstrated initiative, mechanical aptitude and problem solving skills.
Ability to communicate clearly and effectively under demanding conditions.
Step Three: Job Interview
The interview panel may consist of City of Oshawa Fire Services and Human Resource Services representatives. The interview questions will be a combination of situational, behavioural and practical based questions. These questions are designed to probe your professional experience, the core competencies of an Oshawa firefighter and the City’s core values.
Step Four: Reference Checks
You will be asked to provide two (2) supervisory references for the City to contact. The references that you provide must be someone that has supervised your work directly. The City will not accept personal, coworker or professor/teacher references.
Step Five: Job Offer
Successful candidates will receive a job offer that is conditional upon:
Pre-employment medical;
Ministry of Transportation Driver’s Abstract; and,
Providing a cleared Criminal Record Check including a Vulnerable Sector Search that has been performed within the last six (6) months.
Employment Commencement
New recruits will undergo in-house training prior to being placed on shift.
There is a twelve-month (12) probationary period in which extensive in-service training will continue. New recruits not meeting performance expectations during this training period may be terminated.