Fire and Rescue Services Series

California State Personnel Board Specification

Series established August 8, 1995

Scope

This series specification describes three classifications used at the Office of Emergency Services (OES) responsible for developing, planning, administering and evaluating on-going comprehensive emergency fire and rescue services operational and training programs, including providing field coordination in response to major emergencies and disasters. Fire and Rescue Services has responsibility for the statewide Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System. This includes coordinating and implementing the California Fire Services and Rescue Mutual Aid Plan which provides for the mobilization, organization, and operation of fire and rescue resources within the State to minimize the effects of disasters.

Definition of Series

The Fire and Rescue Services series describes a broad range of technical, staff, project management, field response, supervisory and managerial work performed in the headquarters or a field setting. Incumbents are primarily responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing fire and rescue services operational programs and on-scene emergency response coordination.

Incumbents at all levels of the series apply fire suppression and control, and urban search and rescue principles and techniques; provide consultation and coordination service to local, State, and Federal entities; work with local representatives in the development of disaster plans, facilities, and mutual aid agreements; consult with, advise, and assist fire service organizations in the implementation of the State Fire and Rescue Plan; provide for the location and operation of State-owned fire and rescue equipment; develop specifications for State-owned fire suppression and rescue equipment; provide for the operation of a statewide fire and rescue radio communication network; develop, prepare, coordinate, and present fire and rescue training programs to local, State, and Federal entities; organize, equip, and deploy multidisciplinary search and rescue teams for both in-State, out-of-State, and international response; ensure OES resources are in a state of readiness for statewide response; assist with emergency response efforts and provide guidance for or direct coordination of emergency fire and rescue activities during time of natural, technological, or war-caused disasters; maintain cooperative working relationships with the assignees of resources; serve as designated agency representative and participate in various levels of potentially controversial, politically sensitive, management level decisions; and to do other related work.

Factors Affecting Position Allocation

The level of difficulty, variety, and complexity of assigned duties; independence of actions and decisions; degree of supervision exercised or received; sensitivity of public and interagency contact; consequence of error; and, extent of impact on statewide programs serve as differentiating factors between the classes.

Definition of Levels

Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

This is the first and full journey level for the series. Under direction, incumbents perform difficult, complex, hazardous, and sensitive emergency management work in connection with the fire and rescue services operational programs. Incumbents typically participate in the oversight of the State Fire and Rescue Plan; develop local, area, and regional fire and rescue mutual aid plans, including provisions for the integration of fire and urban search and rescue resources in non-fire related disaster operations; participate in and conduct research and develop projects in fire control, urban search and rescue, and emergency services; serve as the Agency Representative for State-owned and mutual aid resources at incidents, Multiagency Coordination Centers, Regional Emergency Operation Centers, Emergency Operation Centers and State Operation Centers; coordinate and respond with multidisciplinary urban search and rescue teams for in-State, out-of-State, and international response. Incumbents may perform administrative work, or act as project leaders on complex projects or may be assigned responsibilities in support of statewide Fire and Rescue Plan technical or programmatic functions.

Senior Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

This is the supervisory level in the series. Incumbents direct and have charge of professional and administrative staff. Typically, positions at this level have responsibility for the administration and management of the State's Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System; act as technical and program consultants to all levels of the Department and external entities or individuals; evaluate fire and rescue incidents and operations of the State Fire and Rescue Mutual Aid System; work with other agencies in the development of policies and procedures for activating and deploying fire and rescue resources, and develop recommendations for modifications in program elements on the basis of evaluations and critiques; equip and manage deployment of multidisciplinary fire and rescue resources for in-State, out-of-State, and international response; supervise staff; and select, develop and evaluate the performance of staff.

Chief (Fire and Rescue Services)

This is the management level in the series. The incumbent at this level plans, organizes, and directs emergency management fire and rescue services operations and the statewide fire and rescue coordination of the Office of the Emergency Services, and reviews the activities of staff through subordinate supervisors. The position at this level provides a high degree of expertise to develop and administer major programs of statewide scope, and assure that highly complex and sensitive organizational goals are met. The incumbent is responsible for formulating and/or administering statewide or agency policies, procedures, and programs.

Minimum Qualifications

All Levels:

The following education is required when general experience is used to qualify at any level:

Education: Equivalent to graduation from college. (Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

Either I

Experience: Five years of broad and progressively responsible fire�department experience performing fire control and/or urban search and rescue work at the rank of Battalion Chief or equivalent staff position. Two years of this experience must have been in a supervisory or administrative capacity involving program development, implementation, budgeting, and/or grant preparation and administration.

Or II

Experience: Five years of experience in special operations at the local, State, or Federal level, with major assignment in planning and field operations of urban search and rescue resources, involving the coordination of fire, rescue, law enforcement, or emergency medical services. Experience must include staff functions such as research, training, equipment specifications, personnel management, or program management.

Senior Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

Either I

Experience: One year of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services).

Or II

Experience: Three years of supervisory, administrative, or equivalent staff level experience in a local, State, or Federal emergency services organization with major responsibility for planning, training, and field deployment of personnel and resources for fire suppression and/or urban search and rescue activities involving fire suppression, law enforcement, hazardous materials, or emergency medical services at a level comparable to a fire agency Senior Chief Officer above the rank of Battalion Chief. Experience must include staff functions such as research, training, equipment specifications, personnel management or program management. [State experience applied toward this pattern must include one year experience performing duties equivalent in level to Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services).]

Chief (Fire and Rescue Services)

Either I

Experience: Two years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Senior Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services).

Or II

Experience: Four years of supervisory, administrative, or equivalent staff level experience in a local, State, or Federal emergency services organization with major responsibility for the administration, planning, training and deployment of personnel and resources for fire suppression and/or urban search and rescue activities involving fire suppression, law enforcement, hazardous materials, or emergency medical services at a level comparable to a fire agency Senior Chief Officer above the rank of Battalion Chief. [State experience applied toward this pattern must include two years of experience performing duties equivalent in level to Senior Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services).]

Knowledge and Abilities

Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

Knowledge of: Current fire suppression and control principles, techniques, and equipment including the operation of fire engines; current urban search and rescue techniques, principles, equipment, and communications; dispatching methods used for fire suppression, urban search and rescue incidents, hazardous materials incidents, and emergency medical services; methods and procedures of negotiating mutual aid agreements at all government levels; State of California and Federal Emergency Management Agency Urban Search and Rescue Response System; procedures for integrating fire suppression operations of local, State, and Federal agencies; objectives, organization, and operation of local, State, and Federal emergency services and disaster response to incidents; purpose, organization, activities, and basic legislation pertaining to the Office of Emergency Services, and provisions of State and national statutes governing emergency management and response; training principles and�methods of current urban search and rescue operations; Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies (FIRESCOPE) and its publications; and Incident Command System and Multiagency Coordination System.

Ability to: Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with various agencies and all persons contacted in the emergency fire and rescue program; analyze data and effectively present ideas; prepare clear, complete and technically accurate reports; exercise initiative and function with minimal supervision; analyze situations accurately and take effective actions; and relate and effectively communicate with local, State, and Federal officials on executive and/or administrative levels.

Senior Coordinator (Fire and Rescue Services)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles of personnel management and effective supervision, staff development, performance evaluation and program management; methods and techniques of effective leadership; the department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above and plan, organize, direct, and evaluate the work of others; ensure that staff have the tools needed to perform their jobs; provide leadership in accomplishing basic functions and objectives; establish and maintain project priorities; participate in assigned programs effectively with groups and agencies to gain cooperation in emergency management issues; interpret, apply, and develop policy proposals and procedures; and effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Chief (Fire and Rescue Services)

Knowledge of: All of the above, and principles, practices, and trends of public administration, including management, organization, planning, budgeting, personnel and general administrative processes; methods of planning, organizing, directing, and controlling major programs; formal and informal aspects of the legislative process; governmental functions and organizations at the State and local level; the department's Affirmative Action Program objectives; a manager's role in the Affirmative Action Program and the processes available to meet affirmative action objectives.

Ability to: All of the above, and implement administrative and program policies and evaluate program changes and accomplishments; establish and maintain effective multidisciplinary relationships in the solution of problems and achievement of departmental goals; and effectively contribute to the department's affirmative action objectives.

Special Personal Characteristics

All Levels:

Demonstrated administrative ability; tact and professional demeanor; willingness to work effectively and agreeably under adverse conditions; extensive travel in-State, out-of-State and internationally on short notice, including weekends and holidays for periodic meetings, and long-term field commitments during major emergencies or disasters.

Class History