Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Fire Department Plan Checker

Recruitment #18-8131-01

Introduction

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. Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing. Applications will only be accepted online.

DESCRIPTION

ACFD

 

THE AGENCY

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, Union City and Emeryville, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. With 29 fire stations and 35 companies serving a population of 394,000, 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 508 square miles. These services include:

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

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 Consolidated Fire Protection District and County Fire Patrol.

Subsequently, the following communities have contracted 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
  • May 1, 2010 City of Newark
  • July 1, 2010 City of Union City
  • July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville

On January 20, 2008, the ACFD became responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and regional communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton. ACRECC is also the Dispatch/System Status Management Center for Paramedics Plus ambulance service.

    THE POSITION

    Under general supervision, the Fire Department Plan Checker reviews non-structural building plans, site plans, fire protection system plans for compliance with Federal, State and local fire safety regulations, laws, standards and codes; and, performs related duties as assigned.

    Please CLICK HERE for the full job description.

    MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

    Education:
    Possession of an Associate of Arts Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in architecture, construction technology, building inspection, fire science or closely related field.

    AND

    Experience:
    The equivalent of five years full-time fire prevention experience including fire plan check, and code compliance. Additional qualifying experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.

    AND

    Certification:
    Possession of a NFPA Fire Plan Examiner 1 certificate.

     

    OR

    Certification:
    Possession of a State of California Plans Examiner Certification, or an equivalent certificate from another state.

    License:
    Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator’s License.

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

     

    KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

    The most suitably qualified candidates will possess the following competencies:

    NOTE: The level and scope of the following knowledge and abilities are related to duties listed under the “Examples of Duties” section of this specification.

    Knowledge of:
    • Federal, State and local fire safety regulations, laws, standards and codes.
    • Modern fire prevention and life safety principles and practices.
    • Methods and materials used in building construction.
    • Principles, practices, and procedures used in public contact and community relations.
    • Basic computer skills.

    Ability to:
    • Read and understand blueprints and plans.
    • Analyze and evaluate statistical data.
    • Manage time in an effective manner.
    • Handle varying amounts of workload and stress effectively.
    • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
    • Maintain accurate record keeping and documentation.
    • Prepare clear and concise reports.
    • Exercise sound judgment and make decisions.
    • Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
    • Demonstrate flexibility.
    • Work effectively with a diverse population.
    • Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

    EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

    THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF THE FOLLOWING STEPS:

    1) A review of candidates' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.

    2) An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidate's final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

    CANDIDATES MUST ATTAIN A QUALIFYING RATING ON EACH PORTION OF THIS EXAMINATION.

    We reserve the right to make changes to the announced 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. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, the eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments many be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

    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.

    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:

    Review of Minimum Qualifications:

    Panel Oral Interviews*:

    5:00 pm, Thursday, May 17, 2018

    by Tuesday, May 22, 2018

    Monday, June 4, 2018

    *If designated as a combined oral examination/hiring interview, in addition to establishing an eligibility list, the oral interviews may serve as the final selection interview for vacancies in this classification.

    *WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN*

    Alameda County and the Human Resource Services Department will make reasonable efforts in the examination and/or selection process to accommodate qualified individuals with disabilities and/or medical conditions in accordance/compliance with the State Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Alameda County’s Reasonable Accommodation Policy and applicable statues. To request an accommodation due to a disability/medical condition during this or other phases of the examination/selection process, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement before the last date for filing. Alameda County requires applicants to provide supporting documentation to substantiate a request for reasonable accommodation. In order to qualify for a reasonable accommodation, applicants must have a disability/medical condition pursuant to the ADA, FEHA and applicable statutes.

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

    BENEFITS

    *** For benefit information, please contact Fire Administration at 925-833-3473.

    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 ensure 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.

    Iona Childers, Human Resources Analyst
    Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
    Iona.Childers@acgov.org
    (510) 272-6463

    Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer