General Definition of Work

Performs work responsible for safely driving, operating, maintaining and providing minor repairs to various fire apparatus; operating and maintaining firefighting, rescue, and emergency medical equipment; and to engage in firefighting, emergency medical services, rescue, hazardous materials response, fire prevention activities and other emergency incidents for the City of Cape Girardeau.

Essential Functions

● Performs prevention activities designed to prevent incidents from occurring or reduce loss when an incident does occur; assists with the conduction of fire safety inspections; conducts public information and public education programs; assists with the investigation into the cause of incidents.

● Performs preparation activities designed to prepare for the response to incidents in the most effective, efficient, safe and professional manner; maintains personal fitness and health; maintains job knowledge and skill; assists with conduction of pre-fire planning; maintains apparatus and equipment in a state of readiness including inspecting equipment, performing lubrication, making minor adjustments and repairs; maintaining fuel and oil supply; washing and testing fire hoses; and maintaining clean station quarters, apparatus and equipment.

● Performs response activities designed to ensure the handling of incidents in the most effective, efficient, safe and professional manner; responds to dispatched alarms without delay and selects the most direct route to the incident; drives and operates fire equipment and apparatus and other emergency vehicles at incidents within departmental policies, standard operating guidelines and command system; performs rescues; administers advanced life support and acts as team lead of patient care; performs fire suppression, incident mitigation and property and environment conservation activities.

● Performs evaluation activities designed to evaluate and improve service delivery, as well as to maintain and improve public opinion; accurately completes any necessary records or reports; participates honestly in evaluations, reviews, post-incident analyses and investigations; offers input and suggestions regarding improvements to service delivery; maintains apparatus, equipment, stations and grounds in a presentable, clean fashion.

● Performs at or above standards established by the department.

● Adheres to policies and standard operating guidelines; helps to ensure that problems that arise are handled in a direct, timely and professional manner.

● Assists with medical protocol review and development including quality assurance/quality improvement activities.

● Responds off duty for staffing request during emergency recalls.

● Helps maintain a level of cooperation, coordination and communication with chief officers, captains and each other to ensure the most effective, efficient, safe and professional delivery of services to the community as possible.

● Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

● Must meet and maintain the minimum requirements of Firefighter/Paramedic.  Must possess a high school diploma or equivalency, must possess and maintain certification as State of Missouri Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic, must be certified State of Missouri Firefighter I & II (NFPA 1001) or equivalent and must have State of Missouri certified Hazardous Materials awareness and operations or equivalent.

● Must be State of Missouri Driver/Operator Core Certification and Driver/Operator Pumper (NFPA 1002) or equivalent.

● Must possess and maintain State of Missouri certified Fire Instructor 1 Certification (NFPA 1041) or equivalent.

● Must hold 5 or more certifications from the department’s List of Additional Certifications.

½ credit: for courses that are more than 12, but 24 hours or less of instruction and issue one-time certificates of completion. Examples would include, but not be limited to: · Technical Rescue Core, Rope Rescue 1, Rope Rescue 2, Driver / Operator Pumper, Driver / Operator Aerial, Driver / Operator Tanker, Introduction to Technical Rescue, Vehicle Extrication, Machinery Extrication, Live Fire Instructor, Swift Water Rescue, Rescue Diver, High-angle Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Basic Trauma Life Support, CPR Instructor, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Pre[1]Hospital Trauma Life Support, Train the Trainer certification, NIMS 300, NIMS 400, NFA, EMI, CDP, DOD residential courses, less than 5 days or meeting ACE recommendations for 1- 2 college credit hours, or other similar-type courses.

1 credit: for courses that are more than 24 hours of instruction and issue one-time certificates of completion. Examples would include, but not be limited to: · ARFF, Fire Officer I, Fire Officer II, Incident Safety Officer, Driver / Operator Core, Hazardous Materials Technician 40 hour, Structural Collapse Technician, Critical Care Paramedic, Fire Certificate, NFA, EMI, CDP, DOD residential courses, 5 days or longer or meeting ACE recommendations of 3 college credit hours.

1-1/2 credit: for courses requiring the maintenance of state certification. Examples would include, but not be limited to: · Fire Inspector, Fire Investigator, Instructor I, Instructor II, Hazardous Materials Technician 80 hour.

2 credits: for courses that require significant time and effort to successfully complete and earn certification. Examples would include, but not be limited to: · Each level of college degree held in a fire service related field (AA =2, BS =4, MS =6), each level of college degree in a non-fire related field (AA=1, BS=2, MS=3) Paramedic Certification, Completion of MOP program, Completion of EFO program.

Preferred Qualifications

● Associates degree or higher in a related field.

● National Fire Academy courses related to Incident Management or Fire Protection Systems.

● Hold the rank of Firefighter/EMT-B and have 3 consecutive years of service with a career fire department.

● National or state courses related to the delivery of advanced life support services.

Post Requirements

● Must complete the CGFD Driver/Operator Task Book within 6 months of hire.

● Must complete Basic Skills exam within 2 months of hire.

Salary per year $54,662. This position also includes a generous benefit package.

• Bi-weekly pay periods.
• 14 holiday hours per month – paid in Holiday (lump sum) check in November/December for the previous 12 months.
• 191 hours of vacation – accrued throughout the year.
• 168 hours of sick leave – accrued throughout the year.
• 2 days of personal leave per fiscal year. Must be employed on July 1 of the fiscal year to receive.
• City paid monthly premiums for health and dental insurance – Employee only.
• City paid monthly life insurance for employee only (1 times annual salary up to $50,000).
• Optional group term life insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Optional vision insurance purchased at employee’s expense.
• Voluntary deferred compensation plan – not matched by the City.
• Retirement (LAGERS) paid by the City. Missouri LAGERS – A Secure Retirement for All (molagers.org).
• Total compensation value (Hourly starting rate plus benefits value) for this position is $92,646 yearly.

Shifts

Firefighters work on rotating 24-hour shifts per week.

Applications will be accepted until January 30, 2026.
 

Before final appointment, successful applicant will be required to successfully complete a rug test, background investigation, pre-employment physical and psychiatric evaluation.

The City of Cape Girardeau reserves the right to notify only those individuals selected for an interview as to their status of their application for employment. EOE/ADA/M/F/V