Heavy Fire Equipment Operator Apprentice

***This is an Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) internal recruitment.  Only applications from current qualified OCFA personnel will be accepted.***

The Orange County Fire Authority Heavy Equipment Program is currently recruiting for the position of Heavy Fire Equipment Operator - Apprentice (HFEOA).  This recruitment is intended to enhance our organizational depth with Heavy Fire Equipment Operators.  The OCFA HFEOA will learn how to operate and maintain semi-tractor trailers, bulldozers, road graders, skid steers, excavators, tracked and wheeled front loaders. The Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (HFEO) and their apprentice will operate any or all of the numerous pieces of heavy equipment on wildland fire, all-hazard, and all-risk incidents throughout the county and statement as needed, as well as on non-emergency projects such as road grading, fuel reduction, fire break construction, and other departmental or county support operations.  Apprentices will gain experience on fire assignments performing direct/indirect fire line tactics along with suppression repair supporting incident objectives.  OCFA dozers and the apprentice program support fires within Orange County and throughout the state as a single resource or in a dozer strike team configuration.  Apprentices will gain additional experience in vegetation management, fire break construction, road grading, and other projects.  Other responsibilities include preventive maintenance and equipment repair.  

Participation in the HFEOA program involves a three-year training program under the mentorship of a full-time OCFA HFEO.  The program requires apprentices to complete a Class A Driver’s License.  The HFEOA program will take candidates through the dozer operator, initial attack dozer and portions of the heavy equipment boss task books.  Successful completion of the apprenticeship requires passing the Cal Fire Dozer Academy in Ione, California. Upon completion of the program, candidates will meet the minimum qualifications of a Journeyman HFEO.

Participation in the HFEOA program by an employee in the Firefighter Unit is entirely voluntary.  All participants will enroll in the California Joint Apprenticeship Committee (JAC) program upon selection.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation during training: Participants will retain the current post-position salary while operating in the capacity of an HFEOA.

Compensation upon program completion: Upon successful completion of the program (Journeyman status), participants performing HFEO duties will receive a specialty pay equivalent to the difference between the top step hourly rate in their current classification and step one hourly rate of the HFEO classification.

For more information regarding the HFEO Apprenticeship program and compensation, please refer to IAFF- Local 3631 MOU, Appendix F-2, Heavy Fire Equipment Operator (HFEO) Apprenticeship Program Side Letter Agreement.

Firefighters or Fire Apparatus Engineers shall be eligible to receive Staff Assignment Pay (SAP) and/or Staff Incentive Pay (SIP) during hours worked as an HFEO-Apprentice or HFEO-Journeyman when assigned less than permanent full time as an HFEO. Please refer to the IAFF - Local 3631 MOU, page 105 for additional information. Please refer to IAFF - Local 3631 MOU, page 105 for a list of designated staff positions.

• Rank of Hand Crew Firefighter, Firefighter, or Fire Apparatus Engineer (Current OCFA personnel only) 
• Supervisor’s concurrence 
• Standard or higher rating on last employee performance review 

HIGHLY DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience as a Wildland Firefighter
• Experience as a Class A Driver
• Experience in heavy equipment operation

HOW TO APPLY:

To apply, go to www.ocfa.org. Interested personnel are to submit an online application including a cover memo of interest and a brief resumé (two pages maximum) outlining your education, experience, and any other background information relating to this position.  Inclusion of related certificates of training or related professional qualifications is also encouraged.

All materials, including your supervisor's concurrence must be submitted with your online application no later than Monday, May 5, 2025, 2025 at 12:00 PM

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

• Last day to submit online application, memo of interest, resumé, and supervisor’s concurrence: Monday, May 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM
• Panel Interviews: TBD 
• Anticipated Training Date: TBD

Please note, all dates are subject to change based on organizational need. Should a change occur, Human Resources will notify all affected candidates via email.

QUESTIONS:

All questions regarding this recruitment should be addressed to Battalion Chief Reid Gibson at reidgibson@ocfa.org. 

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH NEOGOV:

Please contact Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst I at juliekwak@ocfa.org if you are experiencing any difficulties completing your application or uploading your attachments.

   
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITY ACTS (ADA) ACCOMMODATION:

In accordance with the Americans with Disability Act, persons with disabilities requiring reasonable accommodations for the purpose of testing should contact Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst I at (714) 573-6828 or juliekwak@ocfa.org at least 72 hours prior to the need for accommodation. 

WITHDRAWING FROM RECRUITMENT PROCESS

If you choose to withdraw from this recruitment process, you are required to submit an email notification to Julie Kwak, Human Resources Analyst I at juliekwak@ocfa.org requesting a withdrawal from the process. The email to the recruiter must include your current phone number. 

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

Equal Opportunity Employer

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

 

Salary : $103,405 - $139,427