Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Fire Department Mechanic

Recruitment #12-8158-02

Introduction

THE ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT (ACFD) provides all-risk emergency services to the unincorporated areas of Alameda County (excluding Fairview), the cities of San Leandro, Dublin, Newark and Union City, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 28 fire stations and 33 companies serving a population of 384,000, the ACFD serves densely populated urban areas, waterways, industrialized centers, extensive urban interface, agricultural and wildland regions. Over 400 personnel and 100 Reserve Firefighters provide a wide variety of services to an ever expanding, dynamic and diverse community of roughly 506 square miles. These services include:

  • Advanced Life Support Rescue
  • Fire Suppression
  • Hazardous Materials Response
  • Urban Search & Rescue
  • Water Rescue
  • Community Outreach & Education
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Fire Prevention and Code Compliance
  • Regional Dispatch

The Alameda County Fire Department (ACFD) was formed on July 1, 1993 as a dependent special district with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors as its governing body. This consolidation brought together into a single jurisdiction the Castro Valley Fire Department, Eden Fire Department and County Fire Patrol (each a dependent special district under the Board of Supervisors).

Prior to 1993 Unincorporated Fire Protection:

  • Castro Valley FPD
  • Eden Consolidated FPD
  • County Fire Patrol
  • July 1, 1993 Alameda County Fire Department

Subsequently, the following communities have consolidated with the ACFD:

  • July 1, 1995 City of San Leandro
  • July 1, 1997 City of Dublin
  • August 1, 2002 Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • October 1, 2007 Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
  • January 20, 2008 Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC)
  • May 1, 2010 City of Newark
  • July 1, 2010 City of Union City

The ACFD is also responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks RFTA, and the cities of Alameda and Fremont.

ALAMEDA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT'S MISSION:

We will provide the highest level of service to our communities by valuing our members, promoting positive leadership, and dedicating ourselves to excellence.

For more information about the Alameda County Fire Department, please visit our website:www.acgov.org\fire

DESCRIPTION

THE POSITION

Fire Department Mechanics, under the supervision of the Fleet Services Manager, organize and participate in the work of the department’s vehicle and equipment repair shop.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

The incumbent of this classification is designated as the person responsible for the day-to-day operations of the equipment repair shop.

THE EXAMINATION

THIS IS A NEW ASSEMBLED EXAMINATION.  The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but can be extended.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION

Education:

Equivalent to the completion of the twelfth grade,

AND


Experience:

The equivalent of four years of experience as a journey-level mechanic, including the maintenance of gasoline and diesel engines, heavy trucks and fire apparatus.

OR

Education:

Completion of schooling from Universal Technical Institute, Auto/Diesel/Industrial and Cummins programs with 3.5 GPA and at least 95% attendance.

License:

A valid California driver’s license with a minimum of class “B” and must be willing and able to obtain class “A” endorsement within the probationary period. Possession of a State Fire Mechanic certificate, level I and II is desirable, but not required.

NOTE: The Civil Service Commission may modify the above Minimum Qualifications in the announcement of an examination.

KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

The Alameda County Fire Department is an organization committed to excellence. This commitment is derived from each individual’s positive leadership and pride. The ideal candidate, as described above, will have a strong commitment to the delivery of the highest level of service and a commitment to excellence. This individual, in addition to meeting the announced requirements, will be a team player who demonstrates a strong knowledge of the following areas: 

• Current methods, tools and equipment used in the maintenance of automobiles and fire apparatus.
• Principles of gasoline and diesel engines, brakes (both air and hydraulic), diagnostic equipment and hydraulics.
• Fire equipment and apparatus.
• Machine shop use, body repair, automotive painting and arc and acetylene welding techniques.
• Basic OSHA safety rules and procedures.
• Make accurate estimates of repair time.
• Work independently and understand and carry out verbal and written instructions.
• Prepare basic reports.
• Perform moderate to heavy physical labor for extended periods.
• Respond promptly to call-backs.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Basic record keeping.

Tools:

Must possess own hand tools suitable for work performed.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

Alameda County utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit.  Such a system is competitive and based on broad recruitment efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to test in an examination process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position.  To learn more about our recruitment and selection process, please visit the “What You Need to Know” section of our website, www.acgov.org/hrs.

The selection process will consist of the following steps:

  • A review of qualifications to verify possession of minimum requirements.  Those applicants who meet the announced minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the selection process, a screening for "best qualified".
  • Those candidates determined to be "best qualified" will move forward to the last step in the selection process, a panel interview weighted at 100% of the candidate's final score.
  • The panel interview may contain situational exercises.
  • Candidates must attain a qualifying rating of each portion of this examination. 

The eligible list resulting from this selection process will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year, but may be extended or abolished.

WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS

Selection Plan

Applicants will be informed via email with reasonable notice in advance of any examination process which will require their attendance.  The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on the needs of the Agency:

TENTATIVE SELECTION PLAN

  • Deadline for Filing: Friday, June 29, 2012, before 5:00:00 pm (applications will be accepted on-line only)
  • Screening of Applications for Minimum Qualifications: July 6, 2012 
  • Review of Supplemental Questionnaires for "best qualified candidates": July 6, 2012 
  • Panel Interview: July 23, 2012 
  • Promulgation of Eligible List - July 25, 2012
  • Departmental Hiring Interviews - To Be Scheduled After Promulgation of Eligible List

The most qualified candidates who meet the needs of the vacant position will be invited to participate in the selection process.

The Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination process to accommodate qualified individuals with mental and physical disabilities, and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and Alameda County Resolution No. R-83-773.  To request an accommodation due to a disability during this or other phases of the selection process, please contact the Human Resource Services Department at (510) 272-6472 before the final filing deadline. Alameda County Human Resources Services will require documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a permanent disability pursuant to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's statute of the Americans with Disability Act of 1990, as amended, and/or the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing (DFEH) Act.

For more information regarding our Reasonable Accommodation procedures, please visit our website, www.acgov.org/hrs

BENEFITS

*** For benefit information, please refer to the recruitment brochure.

Conclusion

All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email.  Please add @acgov.org and alamedacountyHR@acgov.org as accepted addresses to any email blocking or spam filtering program you may use.  If you do not do this, your email blocking or spam filtering program may block receipt of the notices regarding your application for recruitments. You are also strongly advised to regularly log into your County of Alameda online application account to check for notices that may have been sent to you.  All email notices that will be sent to you will also be kept in your personal online application account.  You  will be able to view all of your notices in your online application account by clicking on the “My applications” button on the Current Job Openings page.

Please take the steps recommended above to insure you do not miss any notices about a recruitment for which you have applied.  The County of Alameda is not responsible for notices that are not read, received or accessed by any applicant for a County recruitment.    

NOTE: All notices are generated through an automated email notification system.  Replies to the email box alamedacountyHR@acgov.org are routed to an unmonitored mailbox.  If you have questions please go to our website at www.acgov.org/hrs.  You may also contact the Human Resources Analyst listed on the bulletin for the recruitment for which you have applied.

 ___________________________________________________________________________________________ 

For additional information, please contact:

Monique Hill| Human Resources Analyst II

Human Resource Services Division, Alameda County

1405 Lakeside Drive | Oakland, California 94612

Office 510-208-4841| Facsimile 510-272-6424

Monique.hill@acgov.org | www.acgov.org