BKCN Trainees Class-A Firefighter

VMBO / MBO | Saba, Bonaire | 36 hours | Vacancy number: P&O2024_010_010 | Closing date: 6 January 2025

Organisation

The Fire Department Caribbean Netherlands (BKCN) is part of the Ministry of Justice and Security. The Minister of Justice and Security is the Chief of the Fire Department and takes care of the basic firefighting deployment, emergency response, hazardous substances incident response, aircraft firefighting, and disaster response. There is one Fire Department with establishments on Bonaire, Saba, and St. Eustatius. The Fire Department organisation stands for decisiveness, helpfulness, and reliability.

Training

The training comprises four components; firefighting, technical assistance, hazardous substances incident response, and aircraft firefighting. Firefighting is learning to deal with various fires in buildings and nature, with an emphasis on safety and extinguishing techniques. Technical Assistance is the development of skills for the rescue of victims during accidents with the use of specialised tools. Hazardous Substances Incident Response is learning to work safely in environments with hazardous substances and controlling the risks. Aircraft Firefighting consists of learning specific extinguishing techniques for aircraft fires and the safe evacuation of passengers.

The training consists of realistic exercises so that you are well prepared for the situations that you will face in practice. In addition, physical exercise is part of the training so that you are ready for the tough physical tasks that come with the job.

Job responsibilities

These will be your main duties after obtaining the Crew A and aircraft firefighting diplomas:

When the alarm goes off, you can deliver a top performance. During incidents and contingencies, the Fire Department has a tightly defined hierarchical command structure. You act as a team in the basic firefighting deployment, technical assistance, aircraft firefighting, and accidents involving hazardous substances. Your position is also focused on staying skilled through continuing training to gain new insights within the discipline.

The position has two components; a repressive component and a management component. For the repressive component, you act as a firefighter under the direction of an officer-in-charge. Practice in the profession and sporting physical fitness are prerequisites for the performance of the position of Crew A. You bear responsibility for this in your daily life, but also, for example, by participating in exercise programmes on fitness and sport. For the management component, you perform other activities as instructed by the officers-in-charge / team chiefs, including task emphases.  

Irregular shift

Our employees work irregular shifts on Saba and our employees on Bonaire work a 24-hour on-call shift. During the day, there is a tight daily schedule of exercise, sports, and activities including, for example, prevention, equipment maintenance, and vehicle cleaning. Activities that can be interrupted at any time by an alarm call.

Job requirements

• Your intellectual and professional ability is at the level of Senior Secondary Vocational Education (MBO);
• You have a driving licence B;
• You have spoken and written command of the Dutch language;
• You are stress-resistant, driven, flexible, and a team player;
• You have excellent health and fitness, you are sporty;
• Successful completion of a periodic preventive medical examination is necessary for the performance of, among other things, the Crew A position within the BKCN. 

Your profile

You know how to identify problems quickly and can act decisively. You take responsibility, show initiative, and are stress resistant. Finally, you have a professional and collegial working attitude and cooperation comes naturally to you. You are aware of the representative nature of the position you are applying for.

What do we offer?

• An appointment in accordance with the Rechtspositiebesluit Ambtenaren BES (BES Civil Servants (Legal Status) Decree);
• A salary in preliminary scale 4 of at least $1,842.00 up to at most $2,436.00 and functional salary scale 5 of at least $1,888.00 up to at most $2,741.00;

• Holiday allowance (8.33% of remuneration);
• A thirteenth month (8.33% of the salary, with a gross minimum of $ 1,750.00);
• A pension provision placed with Pensioenfonds Caribisch Nederland (PCN);
• 168 holiday hours in case of a 36-hour working week (when working in shifts, 24 additional leave hours);
• A temporary appointment for the duration of the training. After successful completion of the training, an appointment for one year with the prospect of a permanent position in case of good performance, the right work attitude, and a positive assessment result;
• A relocation scheme for candidates who respond from outside the island. 

Procedure

Your letter should show that your motivation, knowledge and character match the described position. After the letter selection, you receive an invitation to the selection procedure or a rejection. The selection procedure consists of the following components:

• Letter selection;
• Fitness test;
• Application interview and/or trial run with the team;
• Terms and conditions of employment interview;
• Fire Department appointment examination.

Appointment requirements

• A Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG);

• The issue of a Certificate of No Objection (VGB) in connection with the activities to be performed at Bonaire airport;
• Dutch citizenship;
• Fire Department appointment examination.

Good to know for those interested outside the Caribbean Netherlands

• The salary is in US dollars which is the official currency in the Caribbean Netherlands;
• The Caribbean Netherlands has its own tax regulations. The income above the tax-free allowance ($ 21,373.00 in 2025) will be taxed at a rate of 30.4% in payroll tax;
• Participation in the pension fund is mandatory, including a personal contribution to it;
• You are or will become a resident of the Caribbean Netherlands.

For information:

• Bonaire: Local Commander Gravey Anthony, Gravey.Anthonij@brandweercn.com and Thammy.Albertsz@brandweercn.com.

• Saba: Local Commander Julio Every, Julio.Every@brandweercn.com.

Digital application

You can send your Curriculum Vitae accompanied by a motivation to vacature@rijksdienstCN.com