Job Posting: Personnel Specialist

Department of Forestry & Fire Protection

JC-519214
-
Personnel Specialist
PERSONNEL SPECIALIST

$4,030.00 - $6,488.00 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: 6/2/2026

Job Description and Duties

For questions related to the duties of the position, please contact Supervisor I Megan Durand by phone at (530) 906-2149 or by email at megan.durand@fire.ca.gov.

This position is located in Auburn, CA.

Telework will not be available for this position.

This is a limited-term position. Limited-term appointments may be extended up to 24 months or may become permanent.

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

Working Conditions

May be required to work nights, weekends, and holidays to complete duties.

Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

Additional Documents

Position Details

Job Code #:
JC-519214
Position #(s):
541-216-1303-004
Working Title:
Personnel Specialist
Classification:
PERSONNEL SPECIALIST
$4,030.00 - $5,044.00 A
$4,632.00 - $5,807.00 B
$4,799.00 - $6,008.00 C
$5,184.00 - $6,488.00 D
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:
Placer County
Telework:
In Office
Job Type:
12 Month Limited Term - Full Time
Facility:
Nevada-Yuba-Placer Unit

Department Information

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is California’s fire department and resource management agency. The organization is comprised of nearly 12,000 permanent and seasonal employees. The mission of the Department is to serve and safeguard the people and protect the property and resources of California.

 

When you join CAL FIRE, you join a family of employees that 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. CAL FIRE offers well-paying careers and opportunities for advancement. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with CAL FIRE!

Department Website: www.fire.ca.gov

Special Requirements

The incumbent to the position must have the ability to think logically, multitask, and apply laws, rules, regulations, and bargaining unit contracts; independently interpret and use reference material; communicate effectively; organize and prioritize workloads; consult with supervisor on alternative actions for various transactions. The ability to work under pressure is strongly desired.

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: 6/2/2026

Who May Apply

Individuals who are currently in the classification, eligible for lateral transfer, eligible for reinstatement, have list or LEAP eligibility, are in the process of obtaining list eligibility, or have SROA and/or Surplus eligibility (please attach your letter, if available). SROA and Surplus candidates are given priority; therefore, individuals with other eligibility may be considered in the event no SROA or Surplus candidates apply.

Applications will be screened and only the most qualified applicants will be selected to move forward in the selection process. Applicants must meet the Minimum Qualifications stated in the Classification Specification(s).

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 Northern Region Hiring
Attn: NEU - PS
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401

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 Northern Region Hiring
Attn: NEU - PS
135 Ridgway Avenue
Santa Rosa, CA 95401
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.
  • Other - Authorization to Release Information Form (PO-299).  This form may be found at: https://www.fire.ca.gov/-/media/D817B8E27D8049C3BC35297686467FB9
  • Statement of Qualifications - This Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) must include your name and the title “Statement of Qualifications” at the top of the first page. Responses must be no more than two pages typed in length, single-spaced, and in Arial 12-point font size. Please number your responses and follow the same order as listed below. Resumes, letters, and other materials will not be considered as responses to this SOQ. Failure to follow these instructions may result in disqualification from this recruitment process. Please respond to the following:
    1. Describe your experience and how it will benefit CAL FIRE as it pertains to the duties listed on the duty statement. 
    2. Describe how you prioritize multiple tasks and your strategies for ensuring accurate completion of projects. What tools or techniques do you use to stay organized under pressure and with tight timelines?
    3. Describe a situation in which you found a creative way to overcome an obstacle or solve a problem.
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.

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:

In order to effectively evaluate qualifications, please provide thorough documentation demonstrating the minimum qualifications of the classification are met as listed in the classification specifications. This can be accomplished by providing detailed descriptions of duties performed in your work experience on both your required resume and on your STD 678 application. 

Failure to submit any of the Required Application Package Documents may result in disqualification from the recruitment process and you will no longer be considered for the position. Additionally, your application will not be considered if it is not submitted by the final filing date.

Benefits

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

Employees in the Personnel Specialist classification who are performing duties outlined in the class specifications and who are employed for:

  • twelve (12) consecutive qualifying pay periods shall be eligible for an annual $2400 recruitment and retention pay differential
  • twenty-four (24) consecutive qualifying pay periods shall be eligible for an annual $3000 recruitment and retention pay differential
  • thirty-six (36) consecutive qualifying pay periods shall be eligible for an annual $3600 recruitment and retention pay differential
  • forty-eight (48) consecutive qualifying pay periods shall be eligible for an annual $4800 recruitment and retention pay differential

 

The differentials are payable thirty (30) days following the completion of the qualifying pay periods.

If an employee terminates, transfers out of an eligible class, or is discharged prior to completing the twelve (12) consecutive pay periods, there will be no pro rata payment for those months.

Contact Information

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

Department Website: www.fire.ca.gov
Human Resources Contact:
Michi McKillip
(707) 576-2905

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) 767-8359
ReasonableAccommodations@fire.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.

Additional Information

Please include the position number 541-216-1303-004 on your STD 678.

Candidate may be selected by resume review.

Applicants are highly encouraged to complete a Recruitment Questionnaire, located at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/HLYSH8V

Eligibility Information

To be eligible to participate in the recruitment process for this position, you must meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Applicants with SROA/Surplus eligibility will be given priority, if any. If none, then;
  2. Candidate must have taken and passed the examination for this classification, have valid eligibility, and be on a current certified eligibility list;
  3. Candidate must be eligible to transfer;
  4. Candidate must be eligible to reinstate. 
If none of the above apply to you, you will need to establish eligibility. However, lack of eligibility does not preclude you from applying for the position and being included in the process, as long as all documents are submitted completely, correctly, and timely.


To establish eligibility, you must take and pass the examination for the classification to which you are applying. Applicants that successfully pass the examination will be placed on a certification list, granting them “list eligibility”. Obtaining list eligibility does not guarantee employment. Those interested in obtaining employment must apply to jobs and compete through the State recruitment process.

The examination for this classification is currently available. It is posted on a continuous basis and can be accessed by following the link(s) below:

Personnel Specialist Exam Bulletin

Personnel Specialist LEAP Exam Bulletin

Taking and passing an examination for a specific classification grants you list eligibility for that classification ONLY. Establishing eligibility for one classification does not establish eligibility in any other classifications in the same series, regardless of level. To establish eligibility for a specific classification, you must take and pass the examination for that specific classification.

How To Get A State Job

Individuals must pass an open examination before applying for most job vacancies with the State of California.  

Use the “exam/assessment search” function on the CalCareers website at www.jobs.ca.gov to search for the examination you are interested in applying for.  If the exam is currently being offered, you will need to follow the directions in the exam bulletin on how to apply for and take the exam.  Not all examinations are offered continuously or at the time a job vacancy occurs.

Successful examination candidates are placed on an eligibility list.  Candidates should refer to their examination results for specific list eligibility expiration dates and to re-take the exam when necessary.  Once list eligibility has been established, you can search and apply for current vacancies in the classification to which you have established eligibility.  
Candidates must also meet the minimum qualifications of the classification to be appointed into the classification they are applying for.  Minimum qualifications can be found in the class specifications listed on the exam bulletin or on the CalCareers website.  Application packages should include documentation and relevant experience that shows you have the required education and/or experience to meet the minimum qualifications.

Sign up for CAL FIRE exam notifications here.

General information on CAL FIRE career opportunities can be found here.

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