Search Rescue Jobs in Berkeley, CA (NOW HIRING)

Introduction
THIS IS A NEW CONTINUOUS EXAMINATION. The eligible list resulting from this examination will cancel any existing list and may last approximately one year but can be extended. This examination may be reopened as necessary, and the names of additional candidates merged onto the existing list according to the examination score. APPLY IMMEDIATELY AS THIS RECRUITMENT MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME.
Applications must be in the possession of the Human Resource Services Department by 5:00:00 p.m. on the Last Day for Filing.
APPLICATIONS WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED ONLINE.
The upcoming filing deadlines are as follows:

• Tuesday, May 26, 2026
• Monday, June 29, 2026
• Monday, July 27, 2026

Please read the recruitment announcement in its entirety for important dates and information.
DESCRIPTION
ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT
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 28 fire stations and 34 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
• May 1, 2010 City of Newark
• July 1, 2010 City of Union City
• July 1, 2012 City of Emeryville

On January 20, 2008, the ACFD became responsible for the administration and operation of the Alameda County Regional Emergency Communications Center (ACRECC). The dispatch center provides dispatch and regional communication center services for the ACFD, the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency, Camp Parks Combat Support Training Center, and the cities of Alameda, Fremont, Livermore and Pleasanton. ACRECC is also the Dispatch/System Status Management Center for Falck ambulance service.
For more information about the agency, please visit: Alameda County Fire Department.
THE POSITION
This classification specification describes the journey level of the Fire Department Plan Checker flexibly staffed series. Under general supervision, reviews non-structural building plans, site plans, and fire protection system plans for compliance with Federal, State, and Local fire safety regulations, laws, standards, and codes; and performs related duties as assigned.
For detailed information about the classification, please visit: Fire Department Plan Checker II (#8131).
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
EITHER I
Experience:
The equivalent of one (1) year of full-time experience in the class of Fire Department Plan Checker I with Alameda County Fire Department.
AND
Satisfactorily complete the ACFD Fire Plan Examiner Task Book.
OR II:
Education:
Possession of an Associate of Arts Degree from an accredited college or university with a major in architecture, construction technology, building inspection, fire science, or a closely related field.
AND
Experience:
The equivalent of three (3) years of full-time fire plan check experience.
AND
Certification:
Possession of certification as a Certified Fire Plan Examiner ("CFPE), International Code Council ("ICC") Plans Examiner, or California State Plan Examiner.
AND
License:
Possession of a valid California Motor Vehicle Operator's License.
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:
Knowledge of:

• Federal, State, and Local fire safety regulations, laws, standards, and codes.
• Modern fire prevention and life safety principles and practices.
• Methods and materials used in building construction.
• Principles, practices, and procedures used in public contact and community relations.
• Computer applications, specifically in Computer Aided Design ("CAD") type software.

Ability to:

• Read and understand blueprints and plans.
• Analyze and evaluate statistical data.
• Manage time in an effective manner.
• Handle varying amounts of workload and stress effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees and the public.
• Maintain accurate record-keeping and documentation.
• Prepare clear and concise reports.
• Exercise sound judgment and make decisions. Communicate effectively both orally and in writing.
• Demonstrate flexibility.
• Work effectively with a diverse population.
• Demonstrate interpersonal sensitivity.

EXAMINATION COMPONENTS
The examination will consist of the following steps:

1. A review of applicants' applications to verify possession of minimum requirements. Those candidates who possess the minimum requirements for the class will move on to the next step in the examination process.
2. An oral interview which will be weighted as 100% of the candidates' final examination score. The oral interview may contain situational exercises.

Candidates must attain a qualifying rating on each portion of this recruitment.
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED EXAMINATION STEPS.
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.
RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PLAN
The County will inform applicants, via email and with reasonable notice in advance, of any examination process that will require their attendance. The following dates are tentative and subject to change based on operational needs.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT & SELECTIVE PLAN
RECRUITMENT PLAN
Deadline for Filing:
Continuous
Review of Applications for Minimum Qualifications:
Continuous
Civil Service Oral Examination:
Last week of the month
SELECTION PLAN
Departmental Hiring Interviews:
Two weeks after final notices
WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THE ANNOUNCED RECRUITMENT & SELECTION PLAN
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION
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 California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and 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 no later than the recruitment filing deadline. If this is a continuous open recruitment without a filing deadline, please contact the assigned Human Resources Representative listed on the job announcement within ten (10) business days of submitting your application. Unless your disability is readily apparent (for example, you use a wheelchair and need wheelchair-accessible spaces), 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, https://hrs.alamedacountyca.gov.
BENEFITS
*** For benefit information, please contact Fire Administration at allbenefits@alamedacountyfire.org. ***
Conclusion
All notices related to County recruitments for which you have applied will be sent/delivered via email. Please add @acgov.org, @jobaps.com, NoReply@jobaps.com,and NoReplyAlamedaCountyHR@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 boxes Noreply@acgov.org and NoReplyAlamedaCountyHR@acgov.org are routed to unmonitored mailboxes. All notices are generated through an automated email notification system. Replies to the email box 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 job announcement for the recruitment for which you have applied.
Maria Tabora | Human Resources Analyst
Human Resource Services, County of Alameda
(510) 272-6463 | Maria.Tabora@acgov.org
www.acgov.org/hrs
DISASTER SERVICE WORKER
All Alameda County employees are designated Disaster Service Workers through state and local law. Employment with the County requires the affirmation of a loyalty oath to this effect. Employees are required to report to work as ordered in the event of an emergency.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Alameda County has a diverse workforce, that is representative of the communities we serve and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment are based on merit, competence, performance and business need. Alameda County does not discriminate in employment on the basis of, race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors protected under federal, state and local law. Alameda County celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive, and welcoming workplace environment.