Fire Battalion Chief

Orange-County-Fire-Authority; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

The Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) seeks a Battalion Chief to lead incidents and-manage responsibilities within a 56-hour week framework. This promotional opportunity targets current OCFA Fire Captains with proven leadership and performance records, offering advancement into Strike Team leadership and related mission support.

Applicants must meet extensive certification and training prerequisites and be prepared for out-of-county assignments as part of the agency's mutual aid duties.

Qualifications

• At least five (5) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain with OCFA or a California local government fire department.
• At least three (3) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain assigned to an engine or truck company, including Heavy Rescue and Crash units.
• At least two (2) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain with OCFA.
• Currently employed with the OCFA as a Fire Captain with a standard or higher rating on the last two annual performance reviews.

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in Fire Administration or Public Administration

Chief Officer Certification from California State Fire Training

Job description

SALARY: The salary indicated for this positioncorresponds with a 56-hour average duty week.

This promotional opportunity is open to current, qualified Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) employees.

The essential functions section of the Battalion Chief class specification has been updated to include the following: “The Orange County Fire Authority is an agency that supports the California mutual aid system. Battalion Chiefs will receive the necessary training to become qualified as Strike Team leaders to continue to support this mission. Battalion Chiefs will need to complete an issued NCWG strike team leader task book that will often require out-of-county assignments.” All essential functions are detailed in the class specification, which is available for review at www.ocfa.org.

EXPERIENCE (At time of application):

Candidates must possess all experience listed below.

• At least five (5) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain with OCFA, a successor fire department, or other California local government fire department
• At least three (3) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain assigned to an engine or truck company, including the Heavy Rescue and Crash units
• At least two (2) years of full-time experience as a Fire Captain with OCFA;
• Currently employed with the OCFA as a Fire Captain with a standard or higher rating on the last two (2) annual performance reviews

EDUCATION/TRAINING (Submitted no later than Monday, August 17, 2026, at noon):

Completion of all* of the courses listed below is required. Proof of documentation is required; certificates must be attached to the electronic application or delivered to Human Resources no later than Monday, August 17, 2026, at noon. Failure to submit proof of documentation by the deadline will result in disqualification from the Fire Battalion Chief recruitment and selection process.

• ICS-300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (In-person class only, virtual/online courses will not be accepted)
• ICS-400 Advanced ICS (In-person class only, virtual/online courses will not be accepted)
• IS-700 National Incident Management System (NIMS)
• IS-800 B, C, or D National Response Framework
• AH-330 Strike Team/Task Force Leader All Hazards**
• S-230 & S-231 Engine Boss (Single Resource) or ENGB Qualified
• C-234 Ignition Operations or CA-219 Firing Operations***
• S-270 Basic Air Operations
• S-290 Intermediate Wildland Fire Behavior (In-person class only, virtual/online courses will not be accepted)
• RT-130 Annual Fireline Safety Refresher Training

* Qualified applicants who possess all but CA-219 Firing Operations will be allowed to participate in the selection process. Newly promoted Fire Battalion Chiefs will have until the end of the promotional probation period to complete and submit the missing certification.

** AR-330 and S-330 will NOT be accepted in lieu of AH-330 for this recruitment process.

*** S-219 and S-234 will NOT be accepted in lieu of CA-219 for this recruitment process.

PERFORMANCE:

• Standard or higher rating on last two (2) annual performance reviews

LICENSE:

• Possession of a valid Class "C" Driver License and acceptable driving record

HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree or higher with coursework in Fire Administration, Public Administration, or related field
• Chief Officer Certification from California State Fire Training

Knowledge, Skills, and Ability

These requirements are detailed in the classification specification, which is available for review at www.ocfa.org.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS and WORKING CONDITIONS

These requirements are detailed in the classification specification, which is available for review at www.ocfa.org.

NOTE

The above job description is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities; specific position assignments will vary depending on the needs of the department.

This recruitment and selection procedure will be held in accordance with the Authority Merit System Selection Rules and Appeals Procedure and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the OCFA and the Orange County Fire Authority Chief Officers Association, both of which are available online at www.ocfa.org or in the Human Resources Department.

Application Review

Candidates must complete an online application at ocfa.org. The deadline to submit an online application, resumé (required), and required certifications is Monday, August 17, 2026, at noon. Human Resources reviews all applications to identify the qualified candidates to be referred to the next step of the selection process.

Written Examination

The written examination is scheduled for Thursday, September 3, 2026 (C-shift). The written examination consists of information contained in the following materials:

1. Progressive Discipline Guide and Firefighters Bill of Rights - January 2019
2. BestPractices in Personnel Management
3. OCFA Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and any referenced handbooks
4. OCFAGeneral Orders (GO)
5. OCPFA Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
6. NWCG Incident Response Pocket Guide (January 2025 edition)
7. Structural Firefighting Handbook (Command Procedures)
8. OCFA Guides, Manuals, and Handbooks
9. OCFA Organizational Doctrine

Note: The following link has been created to provide applicants with the BC Study Material.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Monday, August 17, 2026, at noon - Last Day to Submit Online Application, Resumé, and required certifications
• Thursday, September 3, 2026 - Written Examination
• September 28 through October 2, 2026 - Oral Interview/Promotability Outlook
• October 19, 21, & 23, 2026 - Prep Days (One per assessment simulation – the Prep Days are for those candidates who successfully complete the oral interview and written exam with scores of 80% or better)
• January 8 through February 18, 2027 - Fire Battalion Chief Academy 34
• February 1 through 4, 2027 - Dynamic/Static/Human Resources Assessment Center
• TBD - Fire Chief's Interview

If there is a change in the selection process, Human Resources will notify all affected candidates.

WEIGHTS FOR SELECTION COMPONENTS

Written Exam – 10%

The minimum passing score for this selection component is 80%. Candidates who pass with an 80% or above will be invited to the Fire Battalion Chief Oral Interview. Candidates' final overall selection component score will include 10% of their written exam score.

Oral Interview – 30%

The minimum passing score for this selection component is 80%. Candidates who pass with an 80% or above may be invited to the Fire Battalion Chief Assessment Center. Candidates' final overall selection component score will include 30% of their oral interview score.

Fire Battalion Chief Assessment Center – 60%

The Fire Battalion Chief Assessment Center will consist of dynamic, static, and Human Resources simulations. Candidates must pass the dynamic, static, and Human Resources simulations, each with a minimum score of 80%. The dynamic simulation will be worth 20%, the static simulations will be worth 20%, and the Human Resources simulations will be worth 20% (combined 60% total) of the candidates’ final overall component score.

Promotability Outlook – Bonus 10%

There is no minimum passing score for this selection component. The promotability outlook score will increase a candidates' final overall selection component score by a maximum of 10%. The additional points awarded for the promotability outlook will not be counted towards another selection component to raise a failing score.

ELIGIBILITY LIST

The promotional and academy eligibility lists will be established in rank order and promotions will occur in rank order. The promotional and academy eligibility lists will remain in effect for a period of one (1) year from the date of establishment or until all the names on the list are exhausted. The Human Resources Director may abolish or extend promotional eligible lists (Article V, Section 4.C Authority Merit System Selection Rules and Appeals Procedure; Article V, Section 4.C).

FIRE CHIEF INTERVIEW

Upon successful completion of the Fire Battalion Chief Assessment Center and establishment of the Fire Battalion Chief Academy 34 eligibility list, the Fire Chief will hold selection interviews. Fire Chief's interviews are scheduled for the week of February 9, 2027 or February 15, 2027.

FIRE BATTALION CHIEF ACADEMY

Placement into Fire Battalion Chief Academy 34 will be in ranked order and will be determined by the Authority’s current needs.

Deferments to a later academy will not be allowed.

The mandatory, 6-week, Fire Battalion Chief Academy 34 is scheduled Friday, January 8, through Thursday, February 18, 2027. Battalion Chief candidates will be placed on a 5/40, Monday – Friday, 0800 – 1700 schedule. Fire Battalion Chief Academy 34 will be comprised of 7 modules:

• Module 1: Strategy & Tactics– Dynamic Simulations
• Module 2: Employee Relations & Human Resources
• Module 3: Strategy & Tactics– Static Simulations
• Module 4: Review
• Module 5: Assessment Center
• Module 6: L-960 Div. Group Supervisor
• Module 7: On-Boarding/MCD

AMERICAN WITHDISABILITY ACT (ADA) ACCOMMODATION

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, anyone who needs an ADA accommodation for the purposes of employment testing should contact the assigned recruiter, Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at [phone] or via email at [e-mail] no later than 72 hours prior to the need for an accommodation.

QUESTIONS

All questions regarding this recruitment should be addressed to Brad Stephens, Senior Human Resources Analyst at [phone] or via email at [e-mail].

NOTE

The provisions of this publication do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision in this publication may be modified or revoked without notice.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

The Orange County Fire Authority is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.