Algonquin-Lake In The Hills Fire Department Seeks Full-Time Firefighter

Press release from the Algonquin-Lake of the Hills Fire Protection District:

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District is now taking applications for the position of: Full-Time FIREFIGHTER / PARAMEDIC.

Application Deadline: Friday, April 23, 2021

ALGONQUIN-LAKE IN THE HILLS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MISSION:

We provide quality emergency response, prevention and education services, to ensure community well-being and delivery of compassionate help in time of need.

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW: The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District operates as an Illinois special district unit of local government. The District provides fire prevention, fire suppression, rescue, special unit response, and emergency medical services. A five-member Board of Trustees elected at large from the community serves as the governing corporate authority.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District encompasses a 22 square-mile jurisdiction located in parts of McHenry (75%) and Kane (25%) counties along the Fox River. It operates out of three stations, serving a residential population of approximately 40,000 and protects a mix of residential, light industrial and commercial development. The District employs 66 commissioned and non-commissioned firefighting personnel and 3 civilian staff members, who responded to approximately 4,400 emergency incidents in 2020.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS:

Start: January 1, 2021

Salary Range: $67,824.29

After 1 year: $76,146.33

After 5 years: $91,674.85

Educational Incentives

Longevity Pay

• After 5 years of full-time service with Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District
• Attaining Fire Science / EMS degrees
• Incentives ranging from $400/yr to $1,200/yr

• After 5 yrs. of service – $500/yr.
• After 10 yrs. of service – $750/yr.
• After 15 yrs. of service – $1,000/yr.
• After 20 yrs. of service – $1,500/yr.

Vacation

Other Paid Leave

• First yr. of service – 3 shift days
• 2 yrs. through 4 yrs. – 6 shift days
• 5 yrs. through 9 yrs. – 8 shift days
• 10 yrs. through 14 yrs. – 10 shift days
• 15 yrs. through 19 yrs. – 12 shift days

• Sick Leave: 144 hrs./yr.
• Personal Day: 24 hrs./yr.
• Bereavement Leave

Other Benefits

Other Benefits

• Health Insurance (PPO, HSA)
• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Article 4-Fire Pension (9.455% of regular earnings)

• Optional Deferred Compensation Plan (457)–Nationwide
• Annual Medical Evaluation
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Optional cancer, intensive care, accident insurance, etc. policies (AFLAC, Liberty National)

SELECTION PROCESS:

The selection process includes application, written exam, oral interview, background investigation and polygraph exam. Psychological and medical exams are completed upon conditional offer of employment.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

AT TIME OF APPLICATION:

ADDITIONAL MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

AT TIME OF CONDITIONAL OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT:

• · At least 21 years of age and under 35 years of age as of April 23, 2021, unless the individual falls under one of the exceptions to the statutory maximum hiring age detailed in 70 ILCS 705/16.06 or 65 ILCS 2/10-2.1-6. Proof of date of birth is required;
• No felony convictions and good moral character;
• Must be of sound mental and physical health and meet all established application guidelines;
• · A US Citizen or non-citizen admitted for permanent or temporary residence
• · Valid Driver’s License;
• · Must provide copy of high school diploma or GED diploma OR College Transcripts;
• Firefighter Basic Operations (Firefighter II) certification as issued by the Illinois Office of State Fire Marshal;
• Current Illinois EMT-B (Basic)
• No residency requirements.

• Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) with Ladder Climb Certification conducted by a licensed agency within 12 months preceding date of conditional offer of employment;
• Current Illinois or National Registry EMT-P (Paramedic);
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License;
• Must pass psychological and medical examinations.

* Licensed CPAT testing agencies:

- NIPSTA, Glenview, IL - 847.998.8090 - www.nipsta.org/CPAT/info.aspx

- Southwest United Fire Districts, Darien, IL - 630.910.2087 - www.sufd.org

HOW TO APPLY & SCHEDULE WRITTEN EXAM:

1. To complete an application and schedule your written exam, go to www.nationaltestingnetwork.com, select Firefighter Jobs and sign up for the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District exam. Only ONLINE applications will be accepted.

What to expect at the www.nationaltestingnetwork.com website:

• Completion of the application process;
• Review all information related to the position and details about the testing process;
• Opportunity to take online practice tests;
• Schedule your own convenient test time. Tests are offered multiple times a week, including Saturdays;
• Take high quality job simulation tests in a standardized, fair testing environment;

*You must submit your application and complete the written test on or before 4/23/2021.

Upon completion of the written exam, all candidate scores will be automatically forwarded to the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District hiring officials. Candidates who attain a passing score will be placed on the department’s pool of eligible candidates to continue to participate in other stages of the selection process.

1. Return the Required Documents (See CHECKLIST) to Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District (1020 W Algonquin Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156) on or before Friday, April 23, 2021.
   1. Documents received after the deadline will NOT be accepted.
   2. Faxed and/or postmarked documents after the deadline date will NOT be accepted.
   3. Sending documents via traceable carrier is suggested to ensure timely delivery.
   4. Documents may also be delivered personally to Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Station 1 (1020 W. Algonquin Rd, Lake in the Hills, IL 60156) during the following hours (Mon–Fri 8:30a-4:30p; Closed Holidays and Weekends).

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District is an Equal Opportunity Employer

APPLICATION/TESTING TIMELINE AND IMPORTANT DATES TO REMEMBER:

Friday,

March 15, 2021

FIRST DAY APPLICATION AVAILABLE

Only online applications will be accepted.

To apply: www.nationaltestingnetwork.com

Friday,

April 23, 2021

APPLICATION SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

Applications must be completed.

Friday,

April 23, 2021

SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS SUBMITTAL DEADLINE

All supporting documentation MUST be received on or before April 23,2021 by 4:30 p.m. at:

Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District – Station 1 – Attn: Full-time Firefighter Recruitment 1020 W Algonquin Road - Lake in the Hills, IL 60156

Friday,

April 23, 2021

WRITTEN EXAM

Written exam must be completed.

May 2021

PRELIMINARY ELIGIBILITY REGISTER POSTED

A candidate is eligible to be placed on this register based upon passage of the written examination. The cut-off score for the written examination will be based on the recommendations of the developer of the written examination and will be consistent with minimally qualified performance in the firefighter position.

Week of May 17 , 2021

ORAL INTERVIEWS

Location: Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District – Station 1 – 1020 W Algonquin Road - Lake in the Hills, IL 60156

Dates and times: to be determined.

The top forty (40) candidates placed on the Preliminary Eligibility Register will be invited to participate in the oral interview. If in the event the 40th place is a tie score, all candidates that achieve a 40th place tie score will advance to the oral interview. Those eligible to participate will receive e-mail notification with the interview schedule.

The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners may consider the remainder of candidates that have achieved a passing score on the written examination as a “reserve list” of candidates that may be called, based upon their ranking score on the written examination, for an additional round of oral interviews.

May 2021

INITIAL ELIGIBILITY REGISTER POSTED

An initial Eligibility List of applicants will be established in numeric order based on a minimum passing score on the written examination and oral interview (written exam 50%, oral interview 50%).

May/June 2021

SUBMISSION OF PREFERENCE POINTS CLAIM FORM

Eligible candidates must submit the Preference Points Form with proof thereof within ten (10) days of posting of the Initial Eligibility Register or such claim shall be waived.

• Military (5 pts.): Minimum of one-year active military duty with honorable discharge;
• Education (3 to 5 pts.): 3 pts. for AA in Fire Science or EMS; 4 pts. for BA in any field; 5 pts. for BA in Fire Science or EMS; 5 pts. for Master’s degree in any field. A diploma or official transcript from an accredited college or university indicating a degree has been obtained, must be submitted with the preference points application.
• Paramedic (5 pts.): Illinois or National Registry EMT-P (Paramedic). Must submit valid and current copy of IDPH or National Registry Paramedic license.
• Residency (1 pt.): Residence within the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District jurisdiction. Proof must include at least 2 documents. Accepted documents include documents accepted by State of IL while acquiring a DL or State ID;
• Additional (2 to 5 pts.): 2 pts. For FF Advanced Certification; 2 pts. for current Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Part-time Firefighter; 1 pt. for Spanish speaking language fluency (proven by Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District assigned test).

Detailed description of preference points and application will be provided to eligible candidates.

June 2021

FINAL ELIGIBILITY REGISTER POSTED

A Final Eligibility List, which includes all Preference Points will be established. The eligibility list is valid for a period of two (2) years from the date of certification by the Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners.

Further participation in the selection process will take place as vacancies occur. Applicants will be invited, in rank order, as law permits, to participate in and successfully advance through the following steps:

Additional minimum requirements at time of selection and or conditional offer of employment are:

• Must provide proof of successful completion of the Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) with Ladder Climb Certification conducted by a licensed agency within the prior 12 months of conditional offer of employment.
• Current Illinois or National Registry EMT- P (Paramedic);
• Valid Illinois Driver’s License;
• In depth background and polygraph passage
• In-depth psychological evaluation (Pass/Fail basis);
• NFPA 1582 based on Medical examination including drug screen (Pass/Fail basis).

Check your e-mail regularly for important information

about the recruitment process.

All communications will be sent via e-mail only.

CHECKLIST: Please submit this checklist with your release forms and documents. Keep a copy for your records.

Online Application

Deadline: April 23, 2021

¨ APPLIED at www.nationaltestingnetwork.com.

¨ Scheduled Written Exam www.nationaltestingnetwork.com DATE & TIME of Exam: ____/ ___/____ ____:____

Required Documents

Deadline: on or before 4:30 p.m. April 23, 2021

1. COPY CPAT Identification Card

(MUST REFLECT SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE CPAT BY A LICENSED AGENCY WITHIN 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO CONDITIONAL OFFER)

1. COPY of Firefighter Basic (II) Certification
2. COPY of EMT-B (Basic) Certification
3. COPY High School Diploma, GED OR College Transcripts (Copy of High School Transcripts with Graduation Date, Dated GED, or Signed Letter on High School letterhead stating graduation date is acceptable. College transcripts: only official, sealed, transcripts are accepted. Electronic transmission of official transcripts issued by the college registrar’s office can be sent to info@alfpd.org)
4. COPY valid Illinois Driver’s License (copy of front and back if you received a renewal sticker)
5. COPY of Birth Record

READ CAREFULLY: Must contain the applicant’s full name and date of birth and must be verifiable. Copy must be notarized. ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IS ACCEPTABLE TO FULFILL THE BIRTH RECORD REQUIREMENT:

1. Copy of US Birth certificate - Copy of original or certified by a Board of Health or Bureau of Vital statistics within the U.S. State Department or U.S. territories (i.e.: State or County issued birth certificate). Hospital copy NOT accepted.
2. Copy of VALID US Passport
3. Copy of Naturalization Papers

Applications will not be verified until after the deadline has passed. Candidates who submit applications lacking proper documentation as indicated above will be eliminated from employment consideration. The Algonquin-Lake in the Hills Fire Protection District is not responsible for late, misdirected or incomplete application submissions. You must submit all required documents by the deadline in order to be eligible to attend any portion of recruitment process. You may drop your application documents off in person or by mail; however, all documents including your online application and the completion of the written exam are due by the deadline as indicated.

YOU MUST SUBMIT RELEASE FORMS & REQUIRED DOCUMENTS TO:

ALGONQUIN-LAKE IN THE HILLS FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT ATTN: FULL-TIME FIREFIGHTER RECRUITMENT 1020 W. ALGONQUIN RD

Additional Info...

This press release was produced by the Algonquin-Lake of the Hills Fire Protection District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.