Assistant Personnel Officer - Personnel Operations and Employee Services

Job Description and Duties

CAL FIRE’s Assistant Personnel Officer – Personnel Operations and Employee Services (Classification and Hiring, Transactions, Administrative Operations, Compliance and Position Control) provides leadership and operational support across key personnel functions, ensuring high quality service delivery in hiring, onboarding, and employee transactions. This role supervises managerial staff, streamlines processes, and partners with programs to ensure timely, accurate, and compliant hiring and personnel actions. The position plays a central role in supporting a responsive, customer focused HR operation that helps attract, retain, and support our skilled workforce. A strong communicator, problem solver, and team leader who thrives in a fast paced environment and is committed to accuracy, equity, and excellent customer service. Experience in transactions, civil service hiring processes, and best practices human resources operations is highly desirable.

Why CAL FIRE?

• Strong work-life balance with a consistent schedule
• State benefits including retirement, health, dental, and vision
• Opportunities for career growth and upward mobility within state service
• A mission-driven culture where your work supports communities across California
• A team environment that values reliability, professionalism, and support

Please Note: Due to postal service delays, electronic submission of application is recommended.

Please see the Duty Statement link, found in the Additional Documents section, for more information.

Applicants are highly encouraged to complete a Recruitment Questionnaire, located at:

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

With easy access from both Hwy 80 and Hwy 50, this position is headquartered in the Riverpoint Marketplace area of West Sacramento near IKEA. Our building offers FREE PARKING and is within walking distance of numerous restaurants and shops.

Travel may be required up to 10% of the time. This travel may be local or statewide and may involve overnight stays.

This position is required to report to the office a minimum of 4 days per week, with a one day telework/hybrid option. The successful candidate must reside in California upon appointment.

Special Requirements

All job applicants must provide their employment history on the application form (State Application STD 678) rather than attaching a resume to the form, otherwise the application may be considered incomplete.

1. Do NOT include ANY confidential information on any documents you submit for a job vacancy, such as your State application, resume, or educational transcripts. Confidential information that should be excluded or removed from these documents includes, but is not limited to, your Social Security Number (SSN), birthdate, student identification number, driver’s license number (unless required), basis of eligibility examination results, LEAP status, marital status, and age. Confidential information on the first page of applications submitted electronically online, such as Easy ID number, SSN, examination related information, and driver’s license number will automatically be redacted upon submission.
2. Possession of Minimum Qualifications will be verified prior to interview and/or appointment. If you are meeting Minimum Qualifications with education, you must include your unofficial transcripts/diploma for verification. Official transcripts may be required upon appointment. If it is determined a candidate does not meet the Minimum Qualifications, the candidate will be withheld from the eligibility list, rendering them inactive and ineligible to be hired for the position. Candidates who have been withheld may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board.

The minimum qualifications can be found in the  Manager II classification specifications.

Benefits

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

Statement of Qualifications

A Statement of Qualifications must be complete and presented in a clear and concise manner. Please include specific examples that demonstrate your knowledge or experience. Your Statement of Qualifications must be typed, single spaced and no more than three (3) pages in pdf format.

1. Describe your experience planning, organizing, and managing complex Human Resources programs. Include your role in directing staff, providing coaching or mentoring, overseeing workload, and ensuring adherence to departmental policies and control agency laws, rules, and regulations.

2. Provide an example of a time you developed, modified, or implemented HR policies, procedures, or processes. Explain the issue or need, your analytical approach, how you ensured compliance with CalHR or SPB requirements, and the resulting service or operational improvements.

3. Describe a situation where you provided high-level consultation on a critical, sensitive, or time-critical personnel issue. Include how you collaborated with partners such as Legal, Labor Relations, EEO/DEIB, Region Management Services, or control agencies, and describe the impact of your recommendations.

4. Describe a situation where you successfully managed multiple projects, deadlines, or competing priorities in a fast-paced and diverse work environment. In your response, explain the strategies, tools, or methods you used to stay organized, and describe how you adapted when priorities or direction shifted.

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 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 - STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS – A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your application to be considered for this position. Failure to include the Statement of Qualifications as required shall result in disqualification from the hiring process. Please see the section labeled "Statement of Qualifications" for further information.