Job Posting: Director, Safety and Enforcement Division

Public Utilities Commission

JC-499274
-
Director, Safety and Enforcement Division
C. E. A.

$10,349.00 - $17,769.00 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: 1/12/2026

Job Description and Duties

Under the general direction of the Executive Director or Chief Deputy Executive Director or Deputy Executive Director, plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Safety and Enforcement Division’s multi-disciplinary staff located throughout the State.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

This Position may be filled in one of the following locations: Sacramento, San Franciso, or Los Angeles.

Positions at the CPUC may be eligible for telework under Government Code 14200 for eligible applicants residing in California, and subject to meeting the telework eligibility criteria. Telework Policy CalHR. 

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.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-499274
Position #(s):
680-430-7500-001
Working Title:
Director, Safety and Enforcement Division
Classification:
C. E. A.
$10,349.00 - $17,769.00 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:
Hybrid
Job Type:
Career Executive Assignment - Non Tenured, Full Time

Department Information

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates services and utilities, protects consumers, safeguards the environment, and assures Californians' access to safe and reliable utility infrastructure and services. The essential services regulated include electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies.


The Safety and Enforcement Division (SED) oversees the safety of electric and communication facilities, natural gas infrastructure and propane facilities. SED is comprised of three branches of utility engineers, analysts and investigators that focus on ensuring the safety of utility infrastructure and reducing utility caused wildfires. SED advocates for public safety through performing safety audits, conducting incident investigations, and appearing in CPUC safety proceedings. SED has the authority to issue citations with penalties against utility operators who violate public utility safety codes and requirements.

Department Website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov

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: 1/12/2026

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:

Public Utilities Commission
Primary Exam Contact
Attn: Human Resources - Selections Unit
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 3008
San Francisco, CA 94102

Address for Drop-Off Application Packages

You may drop off your application and any applicable or required documents at:

Public Utilities Commission
Primary Exam Contact
Human Resources - Selection Unit
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 3008
San Francisco, CA 94102
08:00 AM - 05:00 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 - (SOQ) is a mandatory requirement.  Please refer to the 'DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS' section of this examination bulletin for detailed SOQ instructions.

    NOTE:  Applicants who do not submit an SOQ with their application will automatically be disqualified from consideration for this position.  Cover letters, resumes and applications will not take the place of this mandatory requirement.
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.

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.

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:

(1) 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.

(2) 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 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:

1. Ability to lead a team to strategically plan, organize, communicate, and implement multiple complex programs.

2. Experience working on highly sensitive policy, compliance, or enforcement program activities related to enforcement.

3. Experience working with local, state, and federal agencies regarding public safety, developing policy, or coordinating risk mitigation.

4. Experience using data and technology to monitor and evaluate program success.

5. Strong strategic written and verbal communication skills to communicate programmatic details to senior management, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.

STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

A Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) is REQUIRED and must be submitted with your State Examination/Employment Application (form STD 678 ). Application submissions received without an appropriate SOQ based on the instructions below will be rejected for being incomplete and will not be considered. Resumes, Cover letters and other documents will not be considered as a response to the SOQ. Please refer to the instructions below for specific requirements needed to move forward in the competitive process for this position.

INSTRUCTIONS

**Please follow all of the instructions. This will be the only tool used for determining your final score and rank on the eligibility list for this position.**

The SOQ must be numbered and addressed in the same order as listed; do not consolidate the responses. 

In your SOQ, address each Desirable Qualification category/question using specific examples of your education, training, and experience.

The SOQ must be typed, single-spaced, in size 11-point font or larger, and no more than three (3) pages in length.

Please write your SOQ to address the following:

1. Describe a professional experience that demonstrates your ability to lead a team to strategically plan, organize, communicate, and implement multiple complex programs.

2. Describe your experience working on highly sensitive policy, compliance, or enforcement program activities, including experience with investigations and policies, rules, and standards related to enforcement.

3. Describe your experience in working with local, state, and federal agencies in the context of promoting public safety, developing policy, or coordinating risk mitigation.

4. Describe your experience using data and technology to monitor and evaluate program success.

5. Describe how you have used strategic written and verbal communication skills to communicate program accomplishments and challenges to senior management, elected officials, stakeholders, and the public.

NOTE: Cover letters, applications, and resumes do not take the place of this SOQ requirement.


Examination Information

The examination process will consist of each candidate's Statement of Qualifications (weighted 100%).  A departmental evaluation panel will screen applications and Statements of Qualifications based on the identified minimum qualifications, the desirable qualifications for the position, and the competitive nature of each candidate’s relevant knowledge, skills, and experience.

Results from this examination will not be used to fill any other CEA positions or future vacancies for this position.

The desirable qualifications listed on this bulletin will be used as the evaluation criteria to screen applicants. It is critical that each applicant include specific information on how his/her background and knowledge and abilities meet the desirable qualifications.

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

If you have a disability and need special testing arrangements, answer the Reasonable Accommodations question appropriately on your Application (STD 678). You will be contacted to make specific arrangements. Questions regarding reasonable accommodations may be directed to the EEO contact listed on this announcement.

Contact Information

The Human Resources Contact is available to answer questions regarding the position or application process.

Department Website: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Talent Acquisition Unit
(916) 597-5683
cpucrecruiter@cpuc.ca.gov

Please direct requests for Reasonable Accommodations to the interview scheduler at the time the interview is being scheduled. You may direct any additional questions regarding Reasonable Accommodations or Equal Employment Opportunity for this position(s) to the Department's EEO Office.

EEO Contact:
Reasonable Accommodation Coordinator
(916) 894-5799
ReasonableAccommodation@cpuc.ca.gov
California Relay Service: 1-800-735-2929 (TTY), 1-800-735-2922 (Voice) TTY is a Telecommunications Device for the Deaf, and is reachable only from phones equipped with a TTY Device.

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.

Application Methods:
Electronic (Using your CalCareer Account)
By Mail
Drop-off
Print Job