Job Appointment: Full time, Limited Duration. Persons appointed to limited term positions will be designated as limited duration employees whose appointment may conclude June 30, 2026, except for the extension of grants or funding.




About the CHAT Program:
The Community Health Assess & Treat (CHAT) program is situated in the City of Portland’s first responder system and are employees of Portland Fire & Rescue. The CHAT program provides first response to low-acuity 911 medical calls in lieu of advanced life support apparatus within the City of Portland. The mission of CHAT is to assess and treat patients in community, provide care coordination to vulnerable and socially isolated populations and follow up within 24 hours of the 911 call.

Program Values:

• Equity & Social Justice: Strive to uplift the dignity and worth of all Portlanders, particularly those who have been historically marginalized and criminalized, by ensuring timely and professional person-centered first response.
• Collaboration: Ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients by working collaboratively with community partners, health systems, and traditional first responders.
• Empathy & Compassion: Operate from a framework of trauma-informed care with the recognition that adverse life experiences, including negative interactions with health systems, create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community.
• Resource Efficiency & Prioritization: Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low-acuity medical events and/or unmet basic needs to enable Fire resources to attend to life saving calls for service.

The CHAT program is expected to:

• Reduce the number of individuals transported to the emergency department for low-acuity medical related issues that are more effectively addressed in a pre-hospital care setting.
• Reduce unnecessary emergency department admissions.
• Improve access to care and resources within the community.

Position Summary
The CHAT Medical Responder will operate on a two-person EMT team or a single-role paramedic and EMT team, to provide low-acuity response intervention to medical call types and overdoses dispatched by Bureau of Emergency Communication. This position may also work in conjunction with a paramedic, nurse and/or community health worker on a follow-up team. This position reports to their assigned Community Health Supervisor as well as to the Community Health Nurse Manager.

As an CHAT Medical Responder, you will:

• Perform ongoing patient assessments on-scene to monitor changes in patient condition and accommodate changes in breathing, mentation and circulation.
• Appropriately use medical equipment such as airway equipment, splints, bandages, and medications in rendering proper emergency medical treatment of patients. Examples include, but are not limited to, opening and maintaining an airway, ventilating patients, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and providing emergency medical care of simple and multiple system trauma such as controlling hemorrhage, bandaging wounds, and manually stabilizing injured extremities.
• Accurately document patient encounters and outcomes in care plan and appropriate medical record.
• Communicate effectively and with empathy and compassion to interview patients, their family members, bystanders, other service agency members and facility staff.
• Provide professional assessment, consultation and coordination of services.
• Participate in program meetings, relevant local and regional trainings, and outreach engagements.
• Utilize the 911 dispatch radio and CAD system.
• Physical demands:
  • Working in pairs, may move equipment or people weighing up to 200 lbs.
  • Bend, stoop, kneel, squat, and stand on uneven surfaces for extended periods.
  • Work outside year-round in all weather conditions.

Ideal Candidate Profile:
The ideal candidate for this position must be deeply committed to providing compassionate and effective medical care for vulnerable individuals with low-acuity medical needs. This position works within the existing emergency response system and provides upstream healthcare interventions to prevent repeated usage of the emergency response system. Candidates must have a commitment to working collectively to address community needs. A successful candidate will be able to meet or exceed established key performance indicator goals. Candidates for this position must have no criminal conviction that would prevent certification from the Oregon Health Authority.

This application is specifically for the CHAT Community Health Medical Responder position within Portland Fire & Rescue. If you're interested in other positions with Portland Fire & Rescue, please note that you'll need to go through a separate recruitment and selection process. Employees hired into this classification are not guaranteed placement into other positions.

Jaclyn Snyder, Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
Jaclyn.Snyder@portlandoregon.gov

The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: Required Licenses: Valid EMT license, regardless of the state of issuance, at the time of application. At the time of job offer, a valid Oregon EMT or Paramedic license is required. Click here for Oregon Healthy Authority Reciprocity Requirements. Valid state driver’s license and acceptable driving record. The following minimum qualifications are required for this position: Knowledge and understanding of cultural differences, especially as they relate to race, sexual orientation, gender- equality, socio-economic status and their intersections. Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in multi/intra-disciplinary settings with other first responders and health and community agencies. Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and completely to both internal and external stakeholders. Ability to work with others in a courteous, empathic, and professional manner. Applicant Must Also Possess: Ability to pass a comprehensive background investigation. Preferred Qualifications Although not required, you may have one or more of the following: Valid Oregon Paramedic license at time of application Two (2) years’ experience in emergency medical response. Bilingual fluency. Click here for a list of qualifying languages. Certification in Community Paramedicine. Ability to meet the physical demands of the job

STEP 1: Apply online between Monday, July 28, 2025 - Monday, August 18, 2025
Required Application Materials:

• Valid EMT or Paramedic license, regardless of the state of issuance.
  Note: Must have a Valid Oregon EMT or Paramedic license at the time of job offer.
• Answer the Supplemental Questions. To preview the questions, please click on the Questions tab.
• Resume
  • Include the following information in your resume:
    • Ability to communicate clearly, accurately, and completely to both internal and external stakeholders.
    • Ability to work with others in a courteous, empathic, and professional manner.
    • Knowledge and understanding of cultural differences, especially as they relate to race, sexual orientation, gender- equality, socio-economic status and their intersections.
    • Ability to work effectively and collaboratively in multi/intra-disciplinary settings with other first responders and health and community agencies.
  • Include the following information in your resume if applicable:
    • Paramedic work experience in emergency medical response.
    • Two (2) years' experience in emergency medical response.
    • Bilingual fluency. Click here for a list of qualifying languages.
    • Certification in Community Paramedicine.
    • Ability to meet the physical demands of the job.

Optional Application Materials:

• If you would like to request Veteran's Preference, please submit your Veteran documents (ex, DD214-Member 4, VA Benefit Letter, etc.) by the closing date of the recruitment.

We have recently updated our veteran preference process. Starting March 3rd, 2025 If you made the eligible list and met the eligibility to receive veteran preference, you will no longer need to submit veteran documents for future recruitments.

If you need to update or remove your veteran preference for a specific recruitment or from your master profile, please contact the recruiter listed in the job announcement.

Application Tips

• Do not attach any additional documents. Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment. All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process. E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.

Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 18, 2025

• Your resume and responses to the supplemental questions will be the basis for our evaluation of your qualifications for this position. Incomplete or inappropriate information may result in disqualification.
• An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
• You have 14 days from the notice of the minimum qualification evaluation results to let us know if you would like to review and discuss your evaluation result. Please read the City of Portland Administrative Rule 3.01 for complete information. Additional evaluation may be required prior to establishment of the eligible list and/or final selection.

• Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.

Step 4: Selection Process: Weeks of August 25 - September 5, 2025

• Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for interviews
• Panel interviews (Up to two interviews)
• Background Investigation (1-3 weeks to complete)
  
  • Statement of Personal History
  • Possess a driver license and submit a driving record and pass an evaluation by City of Portland Risk Management
  • Pass a reference background
  • Pass a criminal background

Step 5: Conditional Offer of Employment: TBD

Step 6: Start Date: TBD

• A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.

Click here for additional information regarding the following:

• Veteran Preference
• ADA, Pregnancy, and Religious Accommodations
• Work Status
• Equal Employment Opportunity