Invites Applications for

Fire Chief

Mission Statement

Salary: $9,770 - $12,042 month
(The range is dependent on qualifications and experience)

“To safeguard and put duty above all.”

Core Values:
Professionalism, Compassion,

Leadership, Integrity, Vision and Trust.

The City of Porterville is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Incorporated in 1902, the City of Porterville is a charter city that operates under the Council-Manager
form of government. The City Council has five members who are elected by district, overlapping four-year
terms. The Mayor is selected by popular vote of the City Council.
Porterville is a full service City, providing Fire, Police, Parks and
Leisure Services, Planning, Utilities, and Public Works services to
the public. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council,
serves as the City’s Chief Executive Officer, and guides the various
City government municipal operations and departments.

Our City

With a population of approximately 64,289, Porterville is a rapidly growing
city in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Located midway between San
Francisco and Los Angeles, Porterville is an agricultural haven; the result of
a warm climate and rich soil. A fertile blend of citrus, olives, fruit trees,
field crops, cotton vineyards, hay and other agricultural products add to the
natural landscape of a rural environment.

A gateway to the national parks for Southern California, Porterville is ideally
situated near Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Park, at the base of the foothills of the Sierra Nevada's. You can
hike through the Trail of 100 Giants (an inspiring forest of Giant Sequoia trees), camp in the Sierras, enjoy
horseback riding, and visit the Tule River Indian Reservation. Picturesque mountain villages such as Pierpoint,
Camp Nelson, Cedar Slope, Quaking Aspen, and Ponderosa are nearby and readily accessible from the city. Lake
Success offers wildlife viewing, camping, fishing, boating, water skiing, picnicking and more! River Island Country
Club offers golfers an 18-hole championship golf course in a relaxing scenic atmosphere of rolling fairways along the
banks of the Tule River.

In the foothills just east of Porterville is Eagle Mountain Gaming Casino, soon to open by the City’s Sports Complex.
In town, Galaxy Theater offers nine screens to see great new releases, while The Barn Theater, California’s longest
running community theater, features live dramatic performances. Porterville is also renowned for its musical
education programs, with many award winning bands, orchestras, and choirs.

Porterville residents enjoy several parks in the community, each with its own unique setting. Murry Park, the
oldest park in Porterville, with its majestic trees and beautiful ponds offers both peaceful settings and hours of fun
in a state of the art municipal pool. Zalud Park is famous for its rose garden, tennis courts and walking path.
Veterans’ Park, dedicated to local vets, displays an actual medical helicopter from the Vietnam era and offers picnic
pavilions, walking paths, skateboard area and children’s playground.

Our Community

About the Position & Our Department
The Fire Chief is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of, the City Manager. The ideal candidate for this
position has been described as a proactive leader as well as a collaborative succession planner who will keep the
City Manager fully informed on issues. The Fire Chief will be politically astute, yet apolitical, and will be accessible
and visible in the community. The individual selected for this position will be a self-confident leader and decision
maker, and will have outstanding communication and interpersonal skills.

As a member of the City’s Executive Management team, the Fire Chief will participate with other department
heads in city-wide problem solving. The Chief will serve as an example for the Department and will understand the
importance of staff development and training.

The ideal candidate will be sensitive to intercultural issues and the economically disadvantaged and will take a
leadership role in collaborating with local and regional agencies to address public safety and quality of life issues. A
solid understanding of departmental budgets as well as the financial constraints of local government agencies is
important.

The City’s Fire Department was organized in 1890. The department consisted of one Chief and 22 volunteers.
Today, our staff now has a total staff of 54 serving in Fire Prevention, Emergency Preparedness, Emergency Medical
Response, Code Enforcement, Public Education, Arson Investigations, Maintenance, and Administration. The
department is on a 48/96 schedule with 3 shifts. There are 3 fire stations in the City of Porterville with a fourth
station in the planning stages.

Requirement: All full-time Fire Department personnel must reside within Tulare, Kern, Kings or Fresno counties.
(Newly appointed personnel must abide by the department order within four months after appointment as part of
their conditional offer.)

Education and/or Experience

1. The Chief plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the fire suppression and prevention activities for the
protection of life and property and actively directs firefighting operations during duty coverage and major alarms.

2. Analyzes operational and service demands and devises plans to meet current and future needs; confers with legal
advisors, citizens, and City officials on fire issues; develops municipal fire suppression and prevention policies.

3. Meets and consults with elected City officials, management staff, the public, legal advisors, and representatives of
other governmental agencies; speaks before and/or makes presentations to City Council, other governmental
agencies, and a variety of civic organizations.

4. Coordinates municipal fire prevention/suppression activities and planning with other public agencies; attends
conference and workshops to maintain currency of fire protection services and to keep abreast of new
development in the field.

5. Selects personnel and enforces discipline and training regulations; directs the assignment of personnel and
equipment and the development and execution of training programs; ensures preparedness of equipment and
staff to react effectively in emergency situations.

6.Supervises the conduct of special studies and projects; preparation of comprehensive reports; advises City
Manager of departmental activities; submits department budget requests.

7. Develops an all hazard emergency disaster plan that may be implemented for manmade, natural or technological
disasters.

8.Works in cooperation with other department management on special projects requiring technical expertise and
advice in law enforcement and crime prevention, as well as other activities, as needed.

9.Represents and supports the policies and procedures established by the City Council and City Manager.

Representative Duties

Knowledge of:

Ability to:

Certified by the California State Board of Fire Services as a Chief Officer/Chief Fire Officer and in possession of all
lower certifications. Graduation from an accredited college with an Associate’s degree, a Bachelor’s degree
preferred, in public or business administration, organizational leadership, or a similarly related field, including
coursework in fire science and five years of progressively responsible leadership experience that provides the
desired knowledge and abilities.

Principles, practices, and techniques of fire science and administration; causes, prevention, and control of fire;
codes, laws, and regulations related to fire suppression and prevention; public education techniques; supervisory
and public relations techniques; interagency communications and assistance techniques and practices; municipal
organization and administration; principles and practices of fire department administration; arson investigation
techniques; physical layout and composition of the City including special fire problems; administrative procedures
and techniques; personnel administration and due process rights of employees concerning disciplinary action.

Develop comprehensive plans to satisfy future needs for department service; learn, interpret, explain and apply
laws, regulations, rules, department policy and procedures; think and act appropriately in emergency situations;
supervise the work of others; plan, organize, assign, and direct the activities and development of department
staff , understand and follow verbal and written directions; write clear, concise, and accurate reports; use and care
for department equipment; establish and maintain effective working relationships with superiors, peers,
subordinates, and the general public, communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing; analyze situations
and resolve through established policy; make public presentations. Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain
a valid California Driver’s License.

The annual salary range for the Fire Chief is $117,240 -
$144,504, depending on qualifications and experience. In
addition, the City provides the following benefit
package:

Retirement: California Public Employee’s Retirement
System (PERS). Dependent upon prior CalPERS service
and start date, selected individual will be assigned to one
of the formulas: 3% @ 55, 2% @ 50, or 2.7% @ 57. The
City participates in Medicare, but not Social Security.

Deferred Compensation: The Mission Square
(formerly know as ICMA) Retirement Corporation
Strategic Retirement Advisors are available at the
employee’s option.

Holidays: 10 days plus 3 floating days per year.

Vacation: 104 hours per year for new employees; 144
hours per year after 5 years; 162 hours per year after 10
years; and 184 hours per year after 15 years.

Administrative Leave: 10 days per year.

Sick Leave: 96 hours per year; 48 hours may be used
for family sick leave.

Health Insurance: Employees contribute 2% of their
base salary towards their own medical, dental, and vision
insurance. Employees may enroll their dependent spouse
or children at an additional cost.
Life Insurance: City provides term life insurance in
the amount of $100,000 for employees assigned to a
Department Director position.

Employee Assistance Program: This benefit is
provided to employees and their families at no cost to
the employee.

Uniform Allowance: $1,600 per year.

Other Benefits: Tuition Reimbursement Program,
Employee Recognition Program, staff vehicle, and a
Wellness/Fitness Program. At their own expense,
employees may also participate in benefits available
through Aflac.

An application package consisting of a City of Porterville Employment Application, resume, signed cover letter, and
copies of your degree and certificates must be submitted and received by Human Resources, 291 N. Main Street,
Porterville, CA 93257, by the application deadline of: 4:00 p.m., Friday, September 30, 2022.
The application can be located on our website: www.ci.porterville.ca.us
All candidates will receive written notice of each phase of the recruitment up to the establishment of an eligibility
list, if applicable. The city reserves the right to alter the testing process without notice, as needed.

The City of Porterville is an equal opportunity employer (EEO) and is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA). If you believe you need accommodation under the ADA in the testing process for any position for which
you intend to apply, please contact the Human Resources Division at (559) 782-7441 to request such accommodation.
The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age,
disability or medical condition, Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS/HIV) or AIDS related conditions, political
affiliation, sexual orientation, ancestry, marital or domestic partner status, gender identity, parental status, veteran
status, height, weight, or any other basis protected by law.

Benefits:

Application Process