Firefighter

About Us

One of BC’s Top Employers, the City of Coquitlam offers meaningful career opportunities to make a difference within the local community. As the sixth largest city in BC, we are home to more than 150,000 residents. Our diverse municipality is a great place to work as it continues to grow through innovative urban design, inspiring arts, culture and recreation programs, and state-of-the-art transportation systems. Our brand is built on managing our resources in a responsible and sustainable manner, while supporting a vibrant, growing regional urban centre. We envision a bright future in Coquitlam that we hope includes you!

About You / What We Are Looking For

Coquitlam Fire/Rescue is currently accepting applications for career firefighters to join our dynamic team of firefighting professionals in a rewarding, exciting and multi-faceted career where you can serve and positively impact our diverse local community. As an ambassador of public safety within our community, our firefighters have a passion for public service and continuously seek ways to support and deliver better services for our residents, while observing our City’s core values of being accountable for our actions and decisions.

We’re seeking candidates who value community service, possess strong communication skills, are collaborative team players, thrive on education and lifelong learning, are resilient, take pride in the success of others, foster a supportive and inclusive work environment, while remaining dedicated to maintaining high safety standards in our community that we proudly serve. We encourage applications from individuals from diverse backgrounds and underrepresented communities.

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates under consideration will require the following:

• Completed Grade 12 or GED.
• Possess a valid Class 3 British Columbia Driver’s License with a safe driving record.
• EMA First Responders License (or higher) valid until January 2025 at a minimum.
• Successful completion of NFPA 1001 Level 1 and 2 Certification.
• Must be 19 years of age on the date of application
• Must be physically and psychologically able to perform the duties of a firefighter
• Must be willing to successfully complete a Police Information Check

Preferred Qualifications

Candidates have a higher chance of being shortlisted if they possess preferred qualifications. These should be clearly demonstrated on your resume. Preferred qualifications include:

• Successful completion of any one of the following technical courses:
• Hazardous Materials Tech Level
• Swift Water Tech Level
• Technical Rope Tech Level
• Valid Emergency Medical Responder, Primary Care Paramedic, or Advanced Care Paramedic license through EMALB or a Registered Nurse/Licensed Practical Nurse in BC.
• Successful completion of a trades qualification or relevant post-secondary degree.
• Accumulated work experience related to the needs of the Fire Service such as paid firefighting, auxiliary firefighting, forestry firefighting and/or, paramedic experience.
• Experience giving back to the community through volunteering and community activities.
• Mechanical experience in industries such as construction industry or trades is considered an asset.
• Ability to fluently speak languages other than English.
• Knowledge and awareness of other cultures.
• Involvement in a top-performing sport or other team demanding extraordinary dedication.
• Committed to a lifestyle that prioritizes physical and mental well-being, including a focus on fitness and health.
• Committed to continuous learning.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a team environment.

Applicants should refer to the City of Coquitlam’s Firefighter Requirements and the City of Coquitlam Firefighter Application Manual to find out more about our application process including required documentation, the recruitment process, and recruitment timelines (subject to change).

Important Note:

At the time of application, you will be required to upload all supporting documents as one PDF file. Most printing service stores will be able to assist you to scan your paper documents into a single PDF. Documents must be listed in the following order:

• Current Drivers Abstract (within last 30 days) – required.

• Secondary School diploma or equivalency - required

• Post Secondary Program Certificate, Diploma, Degree, or Trades Qualification (Red Seal) if applicable

• Any completed Hazard Materials Tech Level, Confined Space Tech Level, Swift Water Tech Level, Technical Rope Tech Level or Trench Rescue Tech Level certificates if applicable.

• Your NFPA 1001 level 1 and 2 Pro Board/IFSAC certifications - required

• EMR or First Responder license and/or certification or Current First Aid certificates - if applicable.

Job candidates will be responsible for covering the cost of the Firefighter Competency Test through BL Associates Corporate Psychologists Inc.

Please note that your psychometric test result may be applied to other BC fire department hiring processes and is valid for up to one year. If you have completed a psychometric test with BLA from another process within the past 12 months and wish to use those results for Coquitlam, please contact BLA (details below) to confirm that your results meet the minimum threshold and are eligible to be used.

More about Firefighting Competency Testing can be found at https://blassociates.ca/information-for-applicants/

What We Offer

This IAAF 1782 position has an hourly training starting rate at $33.75 (2024 rate of pay). Rates will increase incrementally to a 4th year top rate of $53.57 (2024 rate) in accordance with the IAFF 1782 Collective Agreement.

You will have the chance to join a rapidly growing and diverse team dedicated to supporting the local community, and be able to engage in a variety of learning and development opportunities. The City offers an attractive vacation and extended benefits package, including contribution to the Municipal Pension Plan.

Accessibility / Equal Opportunity Employer

The City of Coquitlam is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer working towards enhancing equitable practices in our recruitment and retention processes. As an organization, we are committed to creating an inclusive work environment to support our growing and diverse workforce. To learn more about what equity, diversity, and inclusion means, and the City’s efforts in support of these principles, please visit coquitlam.ca/edi for more information.

If at any time during the application or recruitment process you require additional assistance or an accommodation, please contact our team by emailing [email protected] for confidential support. Staff can also provide in-person support if required.

Please apply online at www.coquitlam.ca/careers by 11:55 pm on January 18, 2025.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those shortlisted will be contacted.