The City of Portland is hiring two EMT Medical Responders for Portland Street Response (PSR)!
Job Appointment: Full time.
Work Schedule: Employees in this position will work four (4) 10-hour days with three (3) days off a week. Shifts include days, afternoons, nights, including weekends, holidays and severe weather. Ability to work any shift and on any day of the week is essential. During training, your shift may change depending on the availability of the trainers. After completing probation, you will be able to bid on an open shift based on your seniority.
Work Location: 330 SW Curry St, Portland OR 97239 or 305 NE 102nd Ave Portland, OR 97220
Benefits: Please check our benefits tab for an overview of the benefits for this position.
Language Pay Premium Eligible: This position may be eligible for Language Pay Differential for qualifying employees
Application Material: Please click APPLY to submit your application via the City of Portland’s online portal. You will need to respond to the supplemental questions, and attach a resume and valid EMT license. Note: Do not include your age, date of birth, or the dates you attended or graduated from school. Only provide this information if it is specifically requested to meet job requirements or to follow federal, state, or local laws or rules.
About Portland Street Response (PSR):
Portland Street Response is a compassionate, trauma-informed first response agency. PSR is dispatched by the Bureau of Emergency Communications (BOEC) to address mental and behavioral health crises, as well as non-emergency situations involving vulnerable populations.
Program Values:
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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.
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Collaboration: Ensure the best possible outcomes for our clients by working collaboratively with community partners, and traditional first responders.
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Empathy & Compassion: Operate from a framework of Trauma-Informed Care with the recognition that adverse life experiences (including health systems and carceral trauma) create barriers for clients to connect with the care and supportive services they need to thrive in the community.
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Resource Efficiency & Prioritization: Respond to the complex care needs of individuals experiencing low acuity crises in the community to enable Police and Fire resources to attend to life saving and crime-related calls for service.
Position Summary
The PSR EMT Medical Responder will operate on a two-person multi-disciplinary team to provide crisis intervention and first aid. A Medical Responder will be dispatched along with a Mental Health Crisis Responder to low acuity 911 calls that present no criminal intent, fire, or medical emergency. This position will also engage with a population that exhibits sub-acute crises, that may include behavioral health and substance use conditions.
As an EMT Medical Responder, you will:
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Provide crisis intervention to clients who are in emotional distress.
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Perform ongoing patient assessments on-scene to monitor changes in patient condition and accommodate changes in breathing, mentation and circulation.
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Appropriately use medical equipment such as airway equipment/airway bag, 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.
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Accurately document patient encounters and outcomes in care plan and appropriate medical record.
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Communicate effectively and with empathy and compassion to interview patients, their family members, bystanders, other service agency members and facility staff.
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Provide professional assessment, consultation and coordination of services.
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Participate in program meetings and relevant local and regional trainings.
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Utilize the 911 dispatch radio and CAD system.
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Physical demands:
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Working in pairs, may move equipment or people weighing up to 200 lbs.
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Bend, stoop, kneel, squat, and stand on uneven surfaces for extended periods.
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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 crisis response services, particularly for individuals who have faced historical challenges and trauma. They will work within the existing emergency response system while emphasizing collaboration and trauma-informed care to better serve the Portland community. They recognize that individuals may have experienced adverse life events, including trauma within healthcare and carceral systems, which can create barriers to accessing necessary care and support. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will my schedule be?
Portland Street Response (PSR) currently operates 0600-0000, 365 days a year, and is working toward 24/7 operations. Employees in this classification work varying shifts that cover all hours of operation. During training your schedule will change based on the availability of trainers. Schedules may change with as little as 7 days’ notice. Once training is complete you will be able bid on an available schedule based on seniority.
Who is the primary population served by Portland Street Response?
With our current call criteria, we respond out of doors and in publicly accessible spaces. Many of the people we contact are experiencing houselessness.
For more details on PSR’s call criteria and response, please see: https://www.portland.gov/streetresponse/psr-faq
Have a question?
Contact Information:
Jaclyn Snyder, Senior Recruiter
Bureau of Human Resources
[email protected] STEP 1: Apply online between Monday, August 10, 2026 - Monday, August 17, 2026
Required Application Materials:
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Resume
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Valid EMT license, regardless of the state of issuance.
Note: Must have a Valid Oregon EMT Basic license at the time of job offer. -
Answer the Supplemental Questions. To preview the questions, please click on the Questions tab.
Optional Application Materials:
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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.
Application Tips
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Your responses to the supplemental questions should include details describing your education, training and/or experience, and where obtained, which clearly reflects your qualifications for each of the numbered items in the "To Qualify" section of this announcement.
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Your résumé should support the details described in your responses to the supplemental questions.
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Do not attach any additional documents.
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Please note, all completed applications for this position must be submitted no later than on the closing date and time of this recruitment.
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You can use AI tools to assist with your job application, but please make sure to personalize your responses to supplemental questions. Avoid copying and pasting. We encourage using AI to generate ideas and then tailor them to reflect your own experiences and skills.
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All applications must be submitted via the City's online application process.
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E-mailed and/or faxed applications will not be accepted.
Step 2: Minimum Qualification Evaluation: Week of August 17, 2026
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Your résumé 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.
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An evaluation of each applicant's training and paid and unpaid experience, as demonstrated in their resume and supplemental questions, weighted 100%.
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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.
Step 3: Establishment of Eligible List: Week of August 24, 2026
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Candidates who meet the minimum qualifications will be placed on the equally ranked eligible list.
Step 4: Selection Process: Mid - Week of August 31, 2026
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Hiring bureau will review and select candidates for interviews.
Step 5: Offer of Employment: September 2026
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Some positions will require those offered employment to complete and sign a criminal background statement before being considered for employment.
Step 6: Start Date: October 2026
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A start date will be determined after all conditions of employment have been met.
Timeline is approximate and subject to change.
