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C. E. A.
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
C. E. A.
$16,759.00 - $16,759.00 per Month
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
Final Filing Date: 4/1/2026
Job Description and Duties
Under the general direction of the Southern Region Chief, the incumbent will have joint responsibility with the existing Assistant Southern Region Chief, to provide direction, supervision and oversight to the Southern Region staff, which includes nine (9) subordinate operational Units and five (5) Contract Counties.
The incumbent will work closely with the current Assistant Region Chief and the Southern Region Chief, in advising the Director and Headquarters' Executive Staff of proposed program policies within their area(s) of responsibility, and for the development and implementation of new policies related to the major functions of the Southern Region. This includes but is not limited to: Fire Protection and Prevention, Resource Management, Fuels Management, Watershed, Vegetation Management, Civil Cost Recovery, and other Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) programs.
This position may qualify for a recruitment and retention bonus of $1550 per month.
Working Conditions
- The location of this position may depend on the location of the selected candidate.
- This position requires the incumbent to work in-office (no hybrid schedule).
Position Details
Department Information
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)
Mission: CAL FIRE Serves and Safeguards the People and Protects the Property and Resources of California.
Shared Values:
- Integrity
- Service
- Community
- Diversity
CAL FIRE is California's fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 12,000 permanent and seasonal employees. When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees who function as a team. You will build trust and friendship with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. CAL FIRE provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities for advancement! Visit our website for more information: Join CAL FIRE
Application Instructions
Completed applications and all required documents must be received or postmarked by the Final Filing Date in order to be considered. Dates printed on Mobile Bar Codes, such as the Quick Response (QR) Codes available at the USPS, are not considered Postmark dates for the purpose of determining timely filing of an application.
Final Filing Date: 4/1/2026Who May Apply
How To Apply
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Required Application Package Documents
The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:
- Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
- Resume is required and must be included.
- Statement of Qualifications -
A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your application to be considered for this examination. Please see the section in this bulletin titled “Statement of Qualifications Instructions” for more detailed information.
NOTE – Resumes do NOT take the place of the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). If you do NOT submit an SOQ, you will be disqualified.
Examination Qualification Requirements
Note: Eligibility to take a CEA examination does not require current permanent status in the civil service.
General Qualifications
State civil service employees must possess essential general qualifications including integrity, initiative, dependability, good judgment, and ability to work cooperatively with others.Knowledge and Abilities
Applicants must demonstrate the ability to perform high administrative and policy – influencing functions effectively. Such overall ability requires possession of most of the following more specific knowledge and abilities:
- 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; and personnel management techniques; the department’s or agency’s Equal Employment Opportunity Program objectives; and a manager’s role in the Equal Employment Opportunity Program.
- 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 Legislature and Executive branches; analyze complex problems and recommend effective courses of action; and 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 with substantial participation in the formulation, operation and/or evaluation of program policies (experience may have been paid or volunteer; in State service, other government settings, or in a private organization):
CEA Level A - Responsible for broad administrative and program activities, including the execution and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level B - Responsible for extensive managerial and program administration or broad program manager experience with substantial participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies.
CEA Level C - Responsible for extensive highly professional influence and contributes to program, policy, and the methods to provide professional services needed to set policies, to meet the mission of the State department and often exercising technical and or professional skills that are required at this level.
Desirable Qualifications
In your Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) document please clearly address how you possess each DESIRABLE QUALIFICATION (below) using specific examples from your experience, education, and training.
Please ensure all examples provided were obtained at a supervisory/managerial level. Qualifying experience within CAL FIRE is typically acquired at the Assistant Chief level, or higher. Your responses should demonstrate the leadership, operational expertise, and decision-making expected for a Peace Officer/Firefighter (PO/FF) role.
This will be the ONLY tool used for determining your final score and rank on the eligibility list.
1. Explain at least at least two examples demonstrating your thorough knowledge of complex state or regional programs and how you advised the Region Chief and/or headquarters Executive Staff on related issues.
2. Describe at least two instances that illustrate your personnel management and leadership experience, including planning, organizing, directing, and motivating multidisciplinary staff or work groups.
3. Provide at least two examples demonstrating your in-depth administrative experience related to fire protection, forest, range, and watershed lands, and forest resource management programs.
4. Explain at least two situations that demonstrate your experience as a broad administrative or program manager, including substantial participation in the development, establishment, implementation, and evaluation of programs, policies, budgets, or other fiscal matters related to Operations, Fire Protection, Fire Prevention, Incident Management, Law Enforcement, Command and Control, Fire Intelligence, Incident Management Teams, or related Resource Management functions. (Qualifying experience in CAL FIRE is the type of administrative and program experience typically acquired at the Assistant Chief level or above.)
5. Discuss at least at least two instances in which you demonstrated leadership in building and sustaining a positive, collaborative team environment that values differing opinions, viewpoints, perspectives, needs, and interests.
See the STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS section for additional SOQ requirements/information.
Examination Information
- State Application (STD. 678)
- Resume
- Statement of Qualifications (SOQ)
The SOQ evaluation will be conducted by a screening committee.
The screening committee will compare each applicant's qualifications for the position against specific job-related evaluation criteria developed from the knowledge, skills, and abilities and the DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS contained in this examination bulletin. Based on the competitiveness of the group, the most qualified candidates may be scheduled for an interview as part of the examination process, if it is deemed necessary in order to make a selection.
Your signature on your application signifies that the information provided in your application, resume, and SOQ is true and factual, and that any false, incomplete, or inaccurate statements may result in disqualification from the examination process.
Applicants who do NOT submit the SOQ will be eliminated from the examination process.
If you meet the requirements stated in this announcement, you may take this competitive examination. Possession of the Examination Qualifications requirements does not assure a place on the eligible list. Your performance in the examination will be compared with the performance of others who take this examination, and all successful candidates will be ranked according to their scores.
A minimum rating of 70% must be attained in the Examination to obtain list eligibility for this position. All candidates will receive written notification of their examination results.
The results of this examination will only be used to fill this position. Applications will be retained for twelve months.
Hiring interviews for the Job may be conducted with the most qualified candidates.
The examining Department reserves the right to revise the examination plan to better meet the needs of the service, if the circumstances under which this examination was planned change. Such revision will be in accordance with civil service law and rules and all competitors will be notified.
Special Testing Arrangements
Benefits
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS INSTRUCTIONS
When preparing your Statement of Qualifications (SOQ), please follow these instructions:
In order to be considered for this examination, your SOQ MUST follow the instructions listed below. Failure to follow these instructions may result in disqualification from the testing process.
(Please ensure all examples provided were obtained at a supervisory/managerial level. Qualifying experience within CAL FIRE is typically acquired at the Assistant Chief level, or higher. Your responses should demonstrate the leadership, operational expertise, and decision-making expected for a Peace Officer/Firefighter (PO/FF) role.)
- Typed (handwritten documents will NOT be accepted)
- Each desirable answered separately and numbered in the same order as listed on this bulletin under the DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS section.
- Single spaced
- Arial, 12-point font
- 1” header, footer, and margins
- No more than five (5) pages (additional pages will NOT be scored)
*Resumes do NOT take the place of the SOQ*
Equal Opportunity Employer
The State of California is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.
It is an objective of the State of California to achieve a drug-free work place. Any applicant for state employment will be expected to behave in accordance with this objective because the use of illegal drugs is inconsistent with the law of the State, the rules governing Civil Service, and the special trust placed in public servants.
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