Human Resource Services
Alameda Skyline

Firefighter Recruit

Recruitment #19-8137-01

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. 

Supplemental Questionnaire: A properly completed Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted with each application.  Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.  Failure to submit the Supplemental Questionnaire will result in disqualification.

Applications and Supplemental Questionnaires will only be accepted on-line.

 

STOP

Please read and follow the directions below.

Applicants DO NOT upload copies of the below certifications/licenses with their Alameda County application. YOU MUST UPLOAD COPIES OF THESE CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES TO YOUR FIREFIGHTER CANDIDATE TESTING CENTER (FCTC) PROFILE ONLY. Alameda County will be receiving FCTC’s Statewide Eligibility List which will have confirmation of the following candidate information:

-Applicant must be 18 years old at the time of application.

-Possesses a valid California driver’s license

-Has a high school diploma, GED or a higher level degree

-Possesses a valid Cal-JAC CPAT card within the last twelve months from the last day for filing

-Receives a passing score of 70% or above on the FCTC Written Test

-California EMT or AEMT certification active and unrestricted by the last day for filing of the application

-California Paramedic License active and unrestricted by the last day for filing of the application

-If you possess a California paramedic license you MUST upload to your FCTC profile

Candidate MUST be active on the FCTC State Eligibility List by the last day for filing. 

For Questions regarding the FCTC Statewide eligibility list, please call 1-877-648-2728

To upload your required documents for this recruitment and for more information regarding test dates and times for FCTC exams, please visit www.fctconline.org.

DESCRIPTION

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

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
  • January 20, 2008 Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC)
  • May 1, 2010 City of Newark
  • July 1, 2010 City of Union City
  • July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville

THE POSITION

Firefighter Recruit is the entry-level fire suppression, prevention and emergency response position for the Alameda County Fire Department. This classification exists solely for those who are completing their initial Fire Department Training in the Alameda County Fire Department Training Academy.

Please CLICK HERE to view the full job description.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education:

Graduation from high school, possession of an acceptable equivalency certificate, such as the General Educational Development Certificate (State of California), or any higher level degree from an accredited college or university.

AND

Active placement on the Firefighter Candidate Testing Center (FCTC) State Eligibility List on or before the last day for filing of the application. For more information, please visit: www.fctconline.org.

AND
License:

1. Valid California Emergency Medical Technician (EMT or AEMT) Certificate or California Paramedic License; active and unrestricted by the last day for filing of the application.

2. Possession of a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) certificate issued within the last twelve months from the last day of filing.

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

The following are desirable:

• Successful completion of a California State Fire Marshal approved Firefighter I course.

• Current experience in the Alameda County Fire Department Reserve program or in a similar program sponsored by a municipal fire agency.

Special Requirements:

1. Minimum, 18 years of age.

2. Being able to successfully pass a thorough background investigation, medical examination (NFPA 1582) and psychological examinations.

3. Must be eligible to obtain a Department of Energy security clearance.

4. Those hired as firefighter-paramedics must be able to successfully obtain Alameda County Paramedic accreditation (EMSA Policy 2000).


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:

Ability to:

• Comprehend, remember, interpret and apply written materials which may be of a complex and technical nature.
• Follow oral and written instructions.
• Communicate clearly both orally and in writing.
• Work effectively and cooperatively with the public.
• Work as a member of an organized team.
• Use good judgment in emergency or critical situations.
• Remain calm and work effectively in stressful situations.
• Adapt to changes in work assignments and duties.
• Perform physical tasks that require coordination, strength, dexterity and stamina.
• Work at various heights, confined areas and low visibility conditions.
• Climb ladders.
• Learn the use of specialized tools and equipment.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS

THE EXAMINATION WILL CONSIST OF the following steps:

1) Verification will consist of the following to determine if you meet the minimum requirements for the class and will move on to the next step in the examination process:

a. A review of the candidate's application

b. A review of the candidate's supplemental questionnaire

c. Verification from the FCTC that the candidate has uploaded all of the required documents to their FCTC PROFILE

d. A review of the FCTC Statewide Eligible List for those who have a passing score

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 may 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 

Tentative FCTC written examination dates

(Refer to FCTC website- www.fctconline.org)

Saturday, March 9 - Livermore

Wednesday, March 27 - Sacramento 

Thursday, April 4 - Marina Community Center, San Leandro

Saturday, April 6, Alameda County Training & Education Center, Oakland

Saturday, April 13 - Livermore

Deadline for Filing:

5:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 16, 2019

Review of Minimum Qualifications:

by Wednesday, May 1, 2019

Oral Interviews:

June 4-6 & June 10-13, 2019

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 statutes.  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.

Leticia Diaz, Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services Division, County of Alameda
510-272-6469; Email: Leticia.Diaz@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs

Alameda County is an Equal Opportunity Employer