Become a Career Executive Assignment (CEA)

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

Career Executive Assignment (CEA)

"Career Executive Assignment" means an appointment to a high administrative and policy influencing position within the state civil service in which the incumbent's primary responsibility is the managing of a major function or the rendering of management advice to top-level administrative authority. Such a position can be established only in the top managerial levels of state service and is typified by broad responsibility for policy implementation and extensive participation in policy evolvement. Assignment by appointment to such a position does not confer any rights or status in the position other than provided in Article 9 (commencing with Section 19889) of Chapter 2.5 of Part 2.6.

Policy-Making Responsibility
CEAs are to be limited to only the highest, most critical positions that have continuous, direct interface with department directors and constitute the executive management team. CEAs must have a decisive role in their department's policy-making, and should have regular involvement in department-wide policy and program management. The influence of the position should be comparable to other CEA positions within the department or other similar departments. Significant policy creation and program management responsibility are a mandatory aspect of CEA positions. CEA positions must possess the authority to directly influence policies or manage programs pertaining to the departmental mission. CEAs must serve as the chief policy-maker within their respective program area.

  • "Policies” are principles, rules, and guidelines formulated or adopted by an organization to reach its long-term goals. Policies and procedures are designed to influence and determine all major decisions and actions, and all activities take place within the boundaries set by them.

  • “Procedures” are the specific methods employed to express policies in action in day-to-day operations of the organization. Together, policies and procedures ensure that a point of view held by the governing body of an organization is translated into steps that result in an outcome compatible with that view.

New policy can come from various sources, including new state and federal legislation, regulations, and other higher-level policies such as Executive Orders. A CEA may continually revise or implement existing policy if the position is required to ensure that the program/organization stays in compliance with frequently changing higher level policies, court orders, or laws and rules. Departments need to keep in mind that there is a distinction in responsibility between:

  • Positions having authority for making high-level policy decisions that have broad impact beyond the program area, versus

  • Positions that merely develop operational procedures or standards to implement policy that was developed at a higher level.

While the first may support a CEA allocation, the second alone probably would not. Developing operational procedures is not defined as high-level policy-making. The depth and breadth of the role of the individual in the development of policy is a critical consideration in determining whether a position meets the statutory requirements for a CEA.

CEA position may not be approved if CalHR determines the proposed position overall has:

  • Narrow, limited authority for decision-making;
  • An indirect or merely supporting role in achieving the department's mission;
  • Significant overlap with other existing CEAs or Exempts;
  • No examples of objectives that can actually be altered by policy;
  • A limited extent of impact;
  • No sensitivity or long-term controversy;
  • Low consequence of error;
  • Limited, internal, contacts only; or
  • No direct contact with department director.

This classification is eligible for the following pay:

$10,048 - $20,748 Base Salary (paid every month)

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
CEA examinations are open to all applicants who possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements as described in the examination bulletin. Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in civil service.

Knowledge and Ability Requirements
Applicants must possess the ability to perform high administrative and policy-influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability is demonstrated by the following more specific knowledge and ability requirements:

(a) Knowledge of the organization and functions of California State Government including the organization and practices of the Legislature and the Executive Branch; principles, practices, and trends of public administration, organization, and management; techniques of organizing and motivating groups; program development and evaluation; methods of administrative problem solving; principles and practices of policy formulation and development; personnel management techniques; the department's or agency's equal employment opportunity objectives; and a manager's role in the equal employment opportunity program.

(b) Ability to plan, organize, and direct the work of multidisciplinary professional and administrative staff; analyze administrative policies, organization, procedures, and practices; integrate the activities of a diverse program to attain common goals; gain the confidence and support of top level administrators and advise them on a wide range of administrative matters; develop cooperative working relationships with representatives of all levels of government, the public, and the Legislative and Executive Branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; prepare and review reports; and effectively contribute to the department's or agency's equal employment opportunity objectives.

These knowledge and abilities are expected to be obtained from the following kinds of experience (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization): 

CEA Level A
Supervisory/ administrative experience in a line or staff activity, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level B
Broad administrative or program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.

CEA Level C
Extensive managerial and program administrative experience which has included substantial responsibility for a combination of management functions such as program planning; policy formulation; organization coordination and control; and fiscal and personnel management.

Where high technical professional qualifications are of primary importance in performing the duties of a given CEA position, then the above required experience may have been in a staff capacity exercising professional skills to influence and contribute to program, policy, and methods of providing those professional services. Primary examples are medical doctors and attorneys.

Description of Desirable Qualifications (if any):
When examining for a CEA position, desirable qualifications should be developed and listed on the bulletin. The purpose of the desirable qualifications is to provide the department with a means of evaluating competitors, as well as providing competitors with a means of determining their own relative competitiveness. The desirable qualifications also serve as a guide for competitors to provide appropriate information on their applications and statements of qualifications.

CEA Levels Criteria
The initial pay level of a CEA is determined by CalHR*, but is typically based on the size of the department, the CEA organizational level, and the functional role of the CEA relating to the proposed CEA allocation.

*Departments with signed CEA Delegation Agreements have authority to set CEA levels and salaries within their CalHR–determined salary cap. 

The CAL FIRE Examination Unit is not accepting exam applications at this time. Please check back periodically to see when the next exam bulletin is released.

There are no available positions at this time, but new opportunities are posted regularly - check back soon!