Job Status: Permanent Full-Time
Union: Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighter’s Association (CKPFFA)
Number of Positions: 3
Hours of Work: 42
Location: Fire Station 1, Chatham
Reason for Vacancy: Replacement
Closing Date: Interested candidates are required to submit an application with a current resume through the Municipality’s online recruitment portal by no later than September 17, 11:59pm EST. Applications must be complete at the time of submission; incomplete applications may not be considered.
Following submission, applications will be screened based on the information provided, including responses to the required application questions.
Only those selected applicants will be notified and provided details on completing the testing at Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO). Do not schedule testing at FSO if you have not been contacted.
Job description
A career with the Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue Services is both challenging and rewarding. It will require a very high level of dedicated service to the community and a willingness to always help others. This position will require that you respond to all emergencies when called upon. Specifically, you will respond to fire emergencies to perform rescues, protect property and the environment, medical emergencies to provide emergency patient care and assistance, motor vehicle emergencies to provide scene, vehicle and patient stabilization, and other specialized emergencies and calls for public assistance. In addition, you will be required to assist and provide public safety education, public relations, fire inspections, develop pre-emergency plans, train extensively and maintain fire apparatus, equipment, and fire stations.
The Municipality of Chatham-Kent will be establishing and maintaining a list of qualified candidates (for a period of 2 years) that can fill the position of probationary firefighter. Vacancies will be filled as they arise. The position is probationary for a period of twelve (12) months from the start date. Candidates must be physically fit to handle the sustained, intense, physical effort often required to perform these duties.
Firefighters are expected to maintain: all required competencies, a high level of professionalism, solve problems, work as part of a dynamic team, and follow written and verbal instructions. Self-motivation as it relates to professional development and a team focused orientation.
Essential responsibilities
All firefighters who are employed by CKFR are expected to:
- Maintain physical fitness and all required certifications
- Maintain a high level of professionalism, solve problems, work as part of a dynamic team
- Follow written and verbal instructions that are provided in English
- Respond to all emergencies when called upon to perform rescues, protect property, the environment and the economy, stabilize emergency scenes and provide patient care as required
- Provide all forms of public assistance as required
- Educate the public about fire prevention and public safety
- Assist with fire inspections as required
- Assist with fire investigations
- Maintain fire apparatus, equipment, and fire stations
- Train extensively
- Develop pre-emergency plans
Essential qualifications:
- Over 18 years of age and legally entitled to work in Canada
- Able to understand and communicate clearly in oral and written English
- Posses a secondary school graduation diploma/ certificate or Ontario Ministry of Education equivalency
- Possess a valid standard first aid certificate and a valid CPR Basic Rescuer Certificate (Level C)
- NFPA 1001 Level 1 and 2 accredited certification
- OR Employed or previously employed as a career firefighter and grandfathered to NFPA 1001, level 1 & 2
- OR Employed or previously employed as a volunteer firefighter and grandfathered to NFPA 1001, level 1 & 2
- Successfully complete, in one day, the Medical Assessment, Clinical Assessment, Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT), Acrophobia Test, Aptitude Exam and Fifteen (15) minute Tread Water Test, as provided by Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO).
- Complete the Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment by the deadline provided by Firefighter Services of Ontario (FSO).
- Post-secondary education from a Community College or University in firefighting or other courses in the field of skilled trades, construction, medical or technical rescue will be considered an asset
- Previous professional and/ or volunteer firefighting experience an asset
- Other emergency services experience an asset (i.e. military, paramedic, emergency service, medical experience, etc.)
- Community involvement and/ or volunteer experience an asset
Work Environment:
This position will work both indoors and outdoors.
Hours of Work:
This position works twenty-four (24) hour shifts, and averages forty-two (42) hours per weeks over a four-week period.
Background check requirements:
Successful candidates will be required to complete a background check prior to commencement of employment. A background check may include the following: education/certification verification and employment reference check. Because of the environment this position will be working in, the successful candidate will be required to furnish an original Police Information Search (Vulnerable Sector Check) prior to commencement of employment.
Driver’s licence/ vehicle requirements:
A valid Ontario driver’s licence (minimum class D with a Z endorsement, or equivalent license from another province); a driver’s abstract will be conducted by the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. An acceptable driver’s abstract will be an original document and current (within the previous thirty (30) days); have no more than four (4) demerit points; have no more than two (2) convictions for the same offence; have no criminal code convictions; have no ‘non-medical or administrative’ license suspension in the preceding three (3) years.
Occupational Safety Responsibilities:
The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) clearly articulates worker responsibilities (reference Sections 28 of the OHSA and Safety Policy #HS-001, “Individual Responsibilities”).
The following list of responsibilities is designed to identify some of the primary responsibilities. It does not provide the exhaustive list of legislated responsibilities:
Workers shall:
- Comply with the OHSA and applicable Safety Regulations
- Use or wear the equipment, protective devices or clothing required by the employer
- Report any defects in any equipment or protective device of which the worker is aware and which may endanger himself, herself or another worker
- Report any contravention of the OHSA or Regulation or the existence of any hazard of which he or she is aware to his or her supervisor
- Not operate equipment/machinery without being given the proper instruction and authority
- Not remove or make ineffective any protective device required by the regulations or by his or her employer, without providing an adequate temporary protective device and when the need for removing or making ineffective the protective device has ceased, the protective device shall be replaced immediately
- Not use or operate any equipment, machine, device or thing or work in a manner that may endanger himself, herself or any other worker
- Not engage in any prank, contest, feat of strength, unnecessary running or rough and boisterous conduct
- Actively participate in worker safety education
Physical and/ or safety requirements:
- Must be physically fit to handle the sustained, intense, physical effort often required to perform these duties
- A detailed physical demands analysis is available for this position
- Lifting: occasional lifting floor to bench, bench to shoulder, above shoulder (up to 34.1 kgs) (equipment, ladder, chain saw, generator, extinguisher, victim, angus manifold, ventilation fan, uncharged/charted hose, furniture, tools, jaws of life, power pack)
- Carrying: occasional carrying (15m) (up to 34.1 kgs) (tools and equipment (jaws, power packs) to the accident scene; remove tools, equipment, and victims from the scene)
- Pushing: occasional pushing at or above shoulder, below shoulder (up to 22.73 kgs or 50 lbs) (raise ladder, break windows, pry doors, move furniture, push equipment into place, CPR, jaws)
- Pulling: occasional pulling/dragging above and below shoulder (up to 90.72 kgs or 200 lbs) (equipment from compartments, pull hose, pull door, drag victims (15 m), open doors, start generator, pull ropes)
- Handling: frequent handling (up to 22.73 kgs) (operate nozzle, hydrant, power cords, roll/reload hose, hand tools, pails of foam)
- Gripping: frequent gripping (hold tools, chainsaw, jaws, hose, coupling, poles, ladder, compartment handles, blocks/cribbing, pry bar, operate extinguisher, power cords, hammer)
- Fine finger movements: occasional (manipulate controls, sprinklers, alarms, utilities, typing/reports, pens, pencils)
- Reaching: occasional and frequent (retrieve and reload materials on truck, reach for victims, reach with pole, reach for roofing materials, alarms, sprinklers)
- Foot action: occasional and frequent (move debris or hose, climbing ladder, climbing in and around truck)
Benefits:
This permanent full-time position has an annual salary of $77,874 as per the Chatham-Kent Professional Firefighters’ Association collective agreement, plus benefits following the successful completion of a 90-day probationary period. The Municipality offers a comprehensive benefit package, including long term disability and an extended health plan.
Testing:
Selected candidates will be required to register with Firefighter Services Ontario (FSO), the Municipality’s designated third-party assessment provider. FSO will administer all required testing components. Transportation and FSO screening costs will be the responsibility of the candidate.
Those candidates selected to move forward to the testing stage will be contacted by CK Fire & Rescue. Those candidates are then invited to register and select from the available testing dates. Appointments are first-come, first served. Registration deadline for each test session closes 14 days prior to that specific session. Once a session reaches capacity or the deadline passes, the date will no longer be available.
Testing at Firefighter Services of Ontario must be completed by Sunday, October 25, 2026. To book your appointment, please go to www.fireontario.com (http://www.fireontario.com).
Resume including proof of all the mandatory qualifications are to be submitted to FSO by 11:59 p.m. EST on October 25, 2026. Please refer to the application check list on the FSO recruitment webpage. Successful applicants will be required to pay an application processing fee when submitting their application to FSO.
Already completed FSO testing:
Please contact [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) confirm your eligibility and coordinate application submission.
Candidates who successfully completed the core four tests in one day (Clinical, CPAT, Tread Water and Aptitude), on or after October 25, 2025, would only be required to successfully complete:
- Clinical Assessment (if expired, valid for 6 months)
- Medical, Acrophobia, and/or Emotional Stability and Resiliency Assessment (if expired, valid for 1 year).
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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is an equal opportunity employer, committed to fair and accessible employment practices that attract and retain talented employees in a workplace that is inclusive, supportive, and reflective of the diverse community we serve.
The Municipality does not use artificial intelligence or automated decision‑making tools in its recruitment or selection processes; all hiring decisions are made by people.
Should you require accommodations during the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources & Organizational Development (HROD) at 519-360-1998. Applicant information is collected under the authority of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Privacy legislation and will be used strictly for the purpose of candidate selection.
