Probationary Firefighter

Service Area: Public Services
Department: Fire Services
Work Location: Various locations in Guelph
Work Mode: In Person
Job Type and Duration: Permanent, Full Time Vacancy
Position Availability: 10 existing vacant positions
Salary Range: $71,779.20 - $119,632 per year
Affiliation: GPFA
Posting Period: June 25, 2026 to August 2, 2026 11:59 p.m.

When you join the City of Guelph, you join a team of over 2000 employees who deliver services the community relies on every day. Together, we are bringing to life Guelph’s vision of an inclusive, connected, and prosperous city where we look after each other and our environment. As a single tier municipality, we offer a variety of occupations and career specialities within our organization. Guided by the goals and objectives of the Future Guelph: Strategic Plan and committed to the Corporate Values of integrity, service, inclusion, wellness and learning, the candidate will aid in the achievement of the Community Vision for an inclusive, connected, prosperous city.

What we offer

We offer competitive wages and comprehensive benefits to meet the needs of our diverse employees. Many of our positions offer:

• Paid vacation days, increasing with years of service
• Paid personal days;
• Defined benefit pension plan with OMERS, including 100-per-cent employer matching;
• Extended health and dental benefits, including Health Care Spending Account;
• Employee and Family Assistance Program;
• Parental leave top up program;
• Learning and development opportunities including tuition assistance
• Employee recognition programs.

A probationary firefighter is an integral part of the emergency services team. This position is responsible for fire suppression duties necessary to save life and property and for providing emergency response, rescue, and extrication duties in hazardous conditions.

The Fire Department provides an essential service to the community 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Firefighters work together as members of a high-performing team, often working extended periods of time in emergency situations, training, or other duties around the fire station. The Guelph Fire Department takes pride in providing high service and support to our community.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Combat, extinguish and/or prevent fires to save life and property. Perform fire suppression duties to extinguish fires rapidly and efficiently under emergencies, frequently involving considerable hazards.
• Provide emergency medical response and aid.
• Perform rescue/extrication operations, including, but not limited to, vehicle, confined space, water, ice, high angle, and hazardous materials, to prevent loss of life or further injury.
• Support work teams and allied agencies to maintain public safety. Seek direction and authority through the Incident Management System at the emergency scene and collaborate/assist with allied agencies (e.g., paramedics and police).
• Perform station, equipment, and vehicle maintenance.
• Assist with Alarm Room Technician/dispatch duties as required. Provide backup resources to the communications unit by receiving emergency calls and dispatching resources as needed, demonstrating excellent communication and multitasking skills to input and record pertinent data.
• Contribute to public relations and education efforts through community engagement, education, prevention initiatives and inspections.
• Commit to lifelong learning, community and personal wellness and continuous improvement.
• Participate in training exercises and courses to maintain and improve skill sets, learning new procedures and techniques.
• Perform other related duties as required.

Qualifications and requirements
The following qualifications must be met at the time of applying:

• Completion of secondary school diploma (Grade 12 or equivalent).
• Successful completion of the National Fire Protection Association Firefighter Certification NFPA 1001 (I & II), and NFPA 472 or 1072.
• Possess and maintain a valid CPR BLS.
• Possess and maintain, at minimum, a First Responder Certificate.
• Possess a minimum DZ driver’s licence (or out-of-province equivalency) with a good driving record.
  • Successful candidates must provide a current driver’s abstract before their start date to confirm their licence is in good standing and that it has not been suspended or revoked under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) or Criminal Code of Canada in the last five years.
  • The City of Guelph will consider the number of demerit points and/or nature of the infractions to determine if it meets our requirements.
  • Successful completion of all phases (three stages) of the Ontario Fire Administration Inc. Candidate Testing Services program (OFAI CTS) and be prepared to submit all related certificates.
    • OFAI Swim Test is not required. A separate Swim Test will be administered during the recruitment process.
    • All successfully completed OFAI certificates must be valid upon application.
• 18 years of age or older and legally entitled to work in Canada.
• Able to perform strenuous physical labour within high-risk and hazardous conditions.
• Able to handle high-pressure situations and environments.
• Good communication skills.
• Intermediate skills with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook) with accurate keyboarding skills.

The following qualifications must be met at the time of offer:

• Able to work a 24-hour shift schedule that involves working weekends and holidays, averaging 42 hours per week.
• Provide and maintain a satisfactory Police Record Check, including a Vulnerable Sector Screening Check (VSS).
• Successful completion of NFPA 1035 (Fire and Life Safety Educator)
• Successful completion of Pleasure Craft Operator Card (PCOC)

The following qualifications will be considered an asset to this position:

• Post-secondary education.
• Other relevant NFPA Certification.
• Experience related to the abovementioned duties, normally acquired through relevant training and experience, including volunteer or community service.
• Skills and experience in a field closely related to emergency services, including dispatch services, firefighter, paramedic, police, military, medical care, social services, skilled trades, and/or heavy equipment operations.
• Commitment to volunteerism and community involvement as demonstrated by experience volunteering in social/civil/community events and initiatives, non-profit organizations, counselling, and crisis intervention.
• Proven interpersonal skills that are consistent with the City’s core values.
• A solid mechanical aptitude.
• Good organizational skills with the ability to multitask.
• Multi-lingual skills (ability to communicate in additional languages).

Hours of work
The regular hours of work for Suppression employees shall be on a four-platoon system based on an average of forty-two (42) hours per week. Suppression employees’ shifts will be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. the next calendar day.

Pay/Salary
$71,779.20 - $119,632 per year. 2026 Probationary to 1st Class Firefighter range, in accordance with the Collective Agreement.

How to apply
Qualified applicants are invited to apply using our online application system by Sunday, August 2, 2026 at 11:59pm.

• All applicants must complete the online Questionnaire specific to this position at the time they submit their resume and cover letter to be considered.
• Proof of qualifications will be requested at the interview stage.
• Resumes may be kept on file for future positions beyond this current recruitment.

The City of Guelph is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where employees feel welcome, valued and engaged. Our employment policies strictly prohibit all forms of discrimination on any of the grounds in relevant laws. All employment practices are solely based on individual merit, qualifications, and organization's needs at the time. In keeping with the Ontario Human Rights Code and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, we are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals in our job application procedures. If you need an accommodation in order to participate in the hiring process, you may contact us to make your needs known in advance.

Personal information collected through the recruitment process will be used solely to determine eligibility for employment. We thank all candidates in advance; however, only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.