Cal Fire Aviation Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Under administrative direction, the Assistant Deputy Director, Aviation and Mobile Equipment, serves as the principal advisor to the Deputy Director, Fire Protection in formulating, evaluating, recommending, and administering statewide policies regarding aviation, tactical air operations, and mobile equipment. The Assistant Deputy Director is responsible for policy development, direction, and implementation for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection's (CAL FIRE) Aviation and Mobile Equipment programs. This responsibility includes administering statewide programs and for policy development and implementation for the following programs: Aviation Management; Tactical Air Operations; and Mobile Equipment.
This position may qualify for a recruitment and retention bonus of $1550 per month.
You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement .
Minimum Requirements This position does not have a Classification Specification. Requirements and qualifications for this position can be found in this announcement. For additional questions, please contact the hiring department listed below.

• C. E. A.

Additional Documents

• Job Application Package Checklist
• Duty Statement

Position Details Job Code #:
JC-530283
Position #(s):
542-060-7500-002
Working Title:
Assistant Deputy Director, Aviation and Mobile Equipment
Classification:
C. E. A. $16,759.00 - $16,759.00 A
New to State candidates will be hired into the minimum salary of the classification or minimum of alternate range when applicable.
# of Positions:
1
Work Location:
United States
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time
Facility:
Statewide
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 over 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
*CAL FIRE provides equal opportunity to all regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex, marital status, disability, religious or political affiliation, age or sexual orientation. Click the link for more details: Equal Employment Opportunity | CAL FIRE
Special Requirements The examination process will consist of the following:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application (STD 678).
• Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) narrative document (instructions below)
• Resume

*Candidates that do NOT submit the State Application, SOQ, and Resume will be disqualified from the testing/hiring process.
STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS (SOQ) INSTRUCTIONS
To be considered for the position, candidates MUST submit an SOQ as part of their application package. The SOQ is a written, narrative document that demonstrates how your education, training, experience, and skills qualify you for the position. The SOQ serves as documentation of each candidate's ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing and is the candidate's written presentation to the examination review panel.
When preparing your SOQ, you MUST respond to the questions below AND adhere to the following guidelines:
Typed (handwritten documents will NOT be accepted); each question answered separately and numbered in the order listed; single spaced; Arial, 12-point font; 1" margins; a maximum of five (5) pages (additional pages will NOT be scored). Please ensure all examples provided were obtained at a supervisory/managerial level.
1. Discuss at least two examples in which you demonstrated experience in applying principles and techniques of effective multidisciplinary personnel management and supervision, staff development, resource management, policy development and budget/fiscal management.
2. Explain at least two examples demonstrating your interpersonal/communication skills and the ability to advertise, consult, and work cooperatively with department staff, Depart of Finance, Department of General Services, legislative budget consultants, legislators, Federal, State, and local government, and other public and private agencies to prepare financial analyses and reports to support fiscal proposals, fiscal impact estimates of legislative and regulatory proposals, issue papers, as well as executive briefs.
3. Discuss at least two situations in which you demonstrated your ability to manage fire protection operations (e.g., Aviation Sustainment and Compliance, Aviation Operations, and Fleet Administration).
4. Discuss at least two examples demonstrating excellent interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills and the ability to develop cooperative working relationships with high-level officials and various entities (e.g., Governor's Office, Natural Resources Agency's management staff, members of the Legislature, Executive Officers, Federal, State and local government, and other public and private agencies) on matters critical to the mission of CAL FIRE.
5. Describe at least two examples of extensive experience involving significant participation in the formulation, operation, and/or evaluation of program policies, along with the ability to analyze complex program implementation issues and develop effective solutions.
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: 9/14/2026
Who May Apply
Individuals who are eligible to be appointed to this Career Executive Assignment (CEA) by the State of California.
How To Apply
Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included. If you choose to not apply electronically, a hard copy application package may be submitted through an alternative method listed below:
Address for Mailing Application Packages
You may submit your application and any applicable or required documents to:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Examination Unit
Attn: Ashley Stewart
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento , CA 95605
Address for Drop-Off Application Packages
You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:
Department of Forestry & Fire Protection
CAL FIRE Examination Unit
710 Riverpoint Ct.
West Sacramento , CA 95605
08:00 AM - 04:30 PM
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 "SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS" 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.

Applicants requiring reasonable accommodations for the hiring interview process must request the necessary accommodations if scheduled for a hiring interview. The request should be made at the time of contact to schedule the interview. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this job posting.
Examination Qualification Requirements All applicants must possess the knowledge and abilities, and any other requirements, described in this announcement.
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 addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:
Qualifying experience with CAL FIRE is typically acquired at the Assistant Chief level or above, OR at a supervisory/managerial level.
Examination Information
(Additional information)
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 questions 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.
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 pla