Division Chief, California State Fire Marshal's Office
California State Personnel Board Specification
Definition
Under general direction, in the California State Fire Marshal's Office, to plan, organize, and direct the activities of a region responsible for the field enforcement and engineering work; or in headquarters, to be responsible for one or more of the Department's statewide programs; and to do other related work.
Typical Tasks
Plan, organize, and direct the fire protection, law enforcement, and administrative work performed by California State Fire Marshal's peace officer and non-peace officer personnel; implement and enforce the Department's laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures; implement, monitor, and evaluate policies to ensure compliance; make independent judgments to enlarge or narrow policy applications beyond standard operational procedures to assure mission attainment; secure, train, and evaluate the performance of staff and take or recommend appropriate action; serve as second level reviewer on grievances; coordinate the work of the division with other California State Fire Marshal's Office divisions, State Departments, Federal Government, fire and law enforcement authorities, local jurisdictions, and industry representatives; conduct meetings, conferences, and training sessions; serve as chair or staff for various advisory committees; prepare material for, and testify before, administrative, judicial, and legislative hearings, including Congressional hearings; initiate, prepare, and/or analyze legislative or regulatory proposals for State and program impact; assist in the preparation of legal actions; prepare and/or review technical articles for publications; prepare workload and related personnel, fiscal, management, and systems analyses; develop annual divisional goals and objectives; research and develop budget change proposals; represent the State Fire Marshal at meetings; enforce fire protection and safety codes; review and evaluate fire safety codes and standards analyses; investigate complaints (may personally conduct informal or formal hearings when necessary to obtain compliance with fire and life safety standards); review architectural drawings and specifications; conduct facility inspections; conduct inspection of interstate and intrastate hazardous liquid pipelines for public safety and pipeline operators' activities for compliance with State and Federal requirements; conduct hydrostatic testing of pipelines; provide emergency response to, and investigations of, pipeline accidents; review and approve the lifting and licensing of fire safety products, building materials and furnishings, fire protection and extinguishing systems, and fireworks; review and approve laboratory analyses of flame retardant fabrics, chemicals, and explosive materials; develop and certify fire service and staff training programs; develop regulations; review legislative bill analysis; provide a fire safety awareness, education, and information program; and develop fire protection information systems and data management.
Minimum Qualifications
Either I
Experience: Two years of experience with the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection performing duties of a class with a level of responsibility equivalent to a Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Supervisor) or Deputy State Fire Marshal III (Specialist).
Or II
Experience: Four years of experience in a supervisory or managerial capacity in professional engineering, fire protection, fire and life safety regulatory development, and/or legislative bill analysis and advocacy, fire protection engineering, fire service training/development, hazardous liquid pipeline safety, law enforcement, criminal justice administration, or fire protection information systems development work. and
Education: Equivalent to graduation from college with major work in public administration, fire service administration, fire protection and technology, fire protection engineering, architecture, law enforcement, or criminal justice administration. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)
Knowledge and Abilities
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of modern public administration and management, including those relating to program planning and evaluation, organizational planning, fiscal management, personnel management, employee-employer relations, information system development and management, staff development and motivations, delegation, budgeting, executive-decision making, and public relations; informal and formal legislative and regulatory process; California State Government organization and functions; programs, policies, and problems of the various governmental and private organizations concerned with fire protection development in California; fire safety awareness, education and information programs; State laws, rules, regulations, policies, and programs related to the California State Fire Marshal's Office, the California Pipeline Safety Act, as amended, the Federal Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act, as amended, and the California Penal Code; modern fire protection principles and practices; provisions of nationally recognized fire protection standards; fundamentals of engineering as applied to fire protection work; principles of combustion and causes of fires; modern methods and equipment for fire prevention and control; general building and hazardous liquid pipeline construction; hydrostatic testing process; records audit procedures; criminal and civil investigation techniques; rules of evidence and administrative and/or court procedures; curricula development, delivery, and certification techniques; fire data information management; a manager's responsibility for promoting equal opportunity in hiring and employee development and promotion, and for maintaining a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Ability to: Provide effective administrative leadership to accomplish the basic functions and objectives of the division; effectively and efficiently plan, develop, direct, control, and evaluate the work of assigned programs and personnel; train and supervise subordinates; interpret and apply the laws, regulations, rules, and policies relating to the programs of the California State Fire Marshal's Office; communicate effectively; gain the confidence and support of top management and advise them on fire protection and divisional matters; perceive the alternatives available in the solution of management problems and select logical and realistic courses of actions; develop cooperative working relationships with managers, employees, and representatives at all levels of other governmental jurisdictions, industry, and the general public contacted in the work; prepare well written and documented procedures, reports, correspondence, and technical articles for publication; and effectively promote equal opportunity in employment and maintain a work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Special Personal Characteristics
Willingness to work throughout the State, at nights, and weekends. and Use of "hard" drugs (e.g., heroin, cocaine, or hallucinogenic) at any time as an adult constitutes a basis for disqualification from peace officer examinations.
Additional Desirable Qualifications
A good driving record and possession of a valid driver license of the appropriate class issued by the Department of Motor Vehicles may be required at the time of appointment.
Felony Disqualification
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1029, persons convicted of a felony are disqualified from employment as peace officers except as provided under Welfare and Institutions Code, Division 2, Chapter 3, Article 8, Section 1179(b), or Division 2.5, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 1772(b). Except as provided for by these statues, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in this class.
Background Investigation
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031, persons successful in peace officer examinations shall be required to undergo a thorough background investigation prior to appointment. Persons who have previously undergone a Department of Forestry and Fire Protection background investigation may be required to undergo an additional background investigation.
Citizenship Requirements
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(a), in order to be a peace officer, a person must be either a U.S. citizen or be a permanent resident alien who is eligible for and has applied for U.S. citizenship. Any permanent resident alien who is employed as a peace officer shall be disqualified from holding that position if his/her application for citizenship is denied.
Age Requirement
Must meet minimum age requirement to be appointed as a California peace officer per the Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) and in accordance with existing law.
Education Requirement
Existing law provides that a peace officer must be a high school graduate, pass the General Education Development (GED) Test indicating high school graduation level, pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year or four- year degree from an accredited college or university.
