Become a Battalion Chief

  • Entry Level
  • Supervisory
  • Full Time
  • Seasonal
  • Benefits Eligible

This is the first working supervisory level. Under direction, Battalion Chiefs perform as subunit managers and direct personnel in the implementation of various departmental programs (e.g., training, safety, emergency command center, fire prevention, air operations, camps, fire stations); or perform staff and support functions of comparable difficulty and responsibility as either unit or Academy training officers, fire protection planning and/or prevention officers, local government fire marshals, or as region command center officers. In a headquarters or region assignment, a Battalion Chief provides staff support to a higher level manager who has responsibility for a major Department program. Responsibilities may include conducting arson and preliminary fire investigations, public information activities, and relief field battalion coverage.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$6,714 - $8,712 Base Salary (paid every month) 

$2,282 - $2,961 Extended Duty Week Compensation (paid every 4 weeks)

$110,234 – $143,037 Annual Compensation

In addition to the above pay items, employees are eligible for medical benefits (health, dental, vision) and may be eligible for other pay differentials.

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website. 

Minimum Qualifications

Either I
Three years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Fire Captain or Fire Captain (Paramedic). [Applicants who gained employment with CAL FIRE by Board Resolution may compete if they have three years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain or Fire Captain (Paramedic). Experience with CAL FIRE may be combined with prior Fire Captain or Fire Captain (Paramedic) experience to meet this requirement.]

Or II
Five years of experience in the California state service performing the duties of a Heavy Fire Equipment Operator, two years of which must have been as a result of successful completion of a formal Training and Development assignment to the Fire Captain classification; (and)

Successful completion of Basic Fire Control training, which includes the Fire Fighter Academy and Company Officer Academy.

(Applicants who are within six months of satisfying the experience requirement for either Pattern I or II will be admitted to the examination but must fully meet the experience requirement before being eligible for appointment.)

Knowledge and Abilities

Knowledge:
Fire behavior to safely and successfully mitigate fires; fuel, weather, and topography as they relate to wildland fire behavior; strategies and tactics used to suppress various types of fires; emergency incident management, including the Incident Command System, the Standardized Emergency Management System, and the National Incident Management System; wildland urban interface strategies and tactics for structure protection; rapid intervention crew tactics for firefighter safety and rescue; Three Stripes You're Out hazardous flagging policy for firefighter safety; rescue, exposure, confinement, extinguishment, and overhaul with salvage and ventilation procedures to effectively mitigate incidents; current fire protection organization standards to deliver wildland and structural fire protection and other emergency services; hazardous material incident operations to identify and recognize the appropriate response; emergency response guides to ensure firefighter safety; firing methods, techniques, and equipment for fire activities, fire prevention, suppression, and mitigation; building construction types for fire suppression tactics and firefighter safety; departmental policy and local, state, and federal Occupational Safety and Health regulations, and departmental Injury and Illness Prevention Program to ensure the health and welfare of employees and safe operations; hazardous material incident command structures to safely mitigate incidents; extinguishing agents and their appropriate use in fire suppression; proper spelling, grammar, punctuation, and sentence structure to ensure that written materials prepared and reviewed are complete, concise, and error-free; extrication techniques and equipment to safely and successfully perform a rescue; characteristics of building materials under varying degrees of fire intensity and duration to mitigate and suppress fires; cooperative agreements with local, state, and federal jurisdictions for fire suppression; inspection, maintenance, and safe operation of department and local government mobile equipment; specialized and technical rescue procedures to mitigate incidents and ensure firefighter safety and survival; adverse effects of emergency operations to mitigate damage and comply with departmental policy and local, state, and federal regulations; conflict resolution techniques to address and deal with conflicts and issues within the workplace; fire protection and prevention methods used to suppress and prevent various types of fires; basic techniques and methods of team building and leadership to maintain positive working environments; tactics and strategies used in air support operations for fire suppression; support programs available to employees, including Employee Assistance Program, Critical Incident Stress Management Program, and the Substance Abuse Program to ensure proper administration within the programs and to provide for employee health and welfare; various local, state, and federal laws, codes, and ordinances relating to land use, life hazard, fire hazard, and risk reduction to ensure compliance; fire protection systems for preplanning and fire suppression; project management techniques to ensure the progress and completion of work assignments and tasks conform to the overall project and organizational objectives; investigation techniques, methods, and practices to gather information for fire prevention and/or enforcing fire laws; supervisory responsibilities under the Fire Fighter Bill of Rights Act and the Peace Officer Bill of Rights Act to protect employee rights; principles and methods of disciplinary actions to ensure appropriate corrective action is taken; a supervisor's role in promoting equal employment opportunity in hiring, development, and promotion of employees and for maintaining a work environment free of discrimination and harassment; principles and methods of effective supervision to ensure a safe, productive, and healthy work environment; employee performance evaluations to ensure performance is critiqued, goals are outlined, and personnel are informed and to maintain acceptable standards; bargaining unit agreements for all employees to ensure management and personnel are working in compliance with agreements; and supervisory responsibilities under the Ralph C. Dills Act (Government Code 3512 to 3524) to protect employee rights.

Ability to:
Direct and evaluate operational resources to safely and successfully mitigate incidents and ensure firefighter safety; remain calm and perform effectively in high-stress situations; perform regular and/or relief field battalion coverage to manage day-to-day operations and all-risk emergency incidents; demonstrate leadership under unusually stressful conditions in both emergency and non-emergency situations; command emergency incidents in compliance with law, policy, various agency agreements, and established procedures in order to mitigate incidents; analyze situations and data to determine the most appropriate course of action to mitigate incidents or problems; work independently on projects or assignments with minimal supervision or detailed instructions; work as a member of a team to reach a common goal and/or objective; create and maintain a healthy work environment that is free of discrimination and harassment; safely coordinate operations on the ground with air resources to maximize available resources and ensure safe operations; be flexible in adapting to changes in priorities, work assignments, and other interactions that may impact pre-established courses of action for completing projects and assignments; use tact and diplomacy when working with people of different perspectives and viewpoints; establish and maintain cooperative relationships with individuals and organizations to meet departmental goals and objectives; establish and maintain priorities in order to complete projects and assignments on time and within budgetary constraints; calm emotionally distressed or distraught patients, victims, relatives, friends, co-workers, and spectators at an incident; effectively manage time with multiple assignments and deadlines to ensure timely completion of projects; identify problems or issues which impact the progress of work projects or assignments; resolve interpersonal problems or conflicts in order to maintain and improve the work environment; listen intently to ensure optimal comprehension of information, ideas, or directives; compile and maintain records required for work proposed, in process, or completed; read and understand written materials in order to apply information and determine appropriate courses of action; verbally communicate ideas and explain complicated information to ensure comprehension from a variety of audiences; write and edit documents and reports to ensure accuracy and completeness while complying with departmental policies and procedures; provide feedback and recommendations to others to aid in their understanding and development and to ensure performance objectives/expectations are met; and prepare adverse actions, including a chronological history of what occurred and supporting documentation to ensure the appropriate corrective action is taken.

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 1722 (b). Except as provided for these by these statutes, persons convicted of a felony are not eligible to compete for, or be appointed to, positions in these classifications. This felony disqualification applies only to those positions designated as peace officers within these classifications.

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. This background investigation applies only to those positions designated as peace officers within these classifications.

Citizenship Requirements
Pursuant to Government Code Section 1031(a), to be a peace officer, a person must be either a U.S. citizen or 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 their application for citizenship is denied.

Age Requirement
Must meet the 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, pass the California High School Proficiency Examination, or have attained a two-year or four-year degree from an accredited college or university.

No examinations at this time.