Fire Safety Specialist - Desert Region
Salary
$84,375.23 - $125,708.45 Annually
Location
Indio
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
26-37872-04
Department
Fire
Division
Fire Protection - Forest
Opening Date
05/01/2026
Closing Date
5/15/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
For questions regarding this position, please contact the Recruiter listed in the Supplemental Information section.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD) is seeking to fill Fire Safety Specialist vacancy in Indio and La Quinta. The incumbent will review plans and specifications to ensure compliance with safety protocols and applicable codes for various structures and environments, including new and existing buildings and facilities, fire protection systems, and industrial processes. The incumbent will also provide professional advice and assistance to other departmental staff on a variety of fire protection requirements and procedures, conduct site inspections, and perform other related duties as required.
Competitive candidates will have completed one or all of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector Series I courses (IA, IB, IC, and ID) at the time of application. Completion of the International Code Council, National Fire Protection Agency or other Fire Inspector certifications may be considered. Completion of the Fire Inspector Series II courses, the Plans Examiner Series, and the Penal Code 832 course is highly desired.
Meet the Team!
The Riverside County Fire Department is one of California's largest integrated, cooperative, regional fire protection organizations. The Department, a unique partnership between State of California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and the County of Riverside, serves 19 partner agencies and 1 community service district. The Department has five core values: Leadership, Competence, Integrity, Safety, and Customer Service.
EXAMPLES OF ESSENTIAL DUTIES
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Education: Graduation from high school, possession of a certificate of proficiency issued by the California State Board of Education or attainment of a satisfactory score on a G.E.D. examination.
Experience: Two years performing fire safety inspections, building construction inspections, or plans examination as the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), either directly or through a contract agency acting in that capacity. (An associate degree from an accredited college or university in fire protection or building construction technology may be substituted for one year of the required experience.)
Courses/Certifications: Completion of one or all of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector Series I courses (IA, IB, IC, and ID) at the time of application is preferred. Additional certifications issued by the International Code Council, National Fire Protection Agency or any other recognized Fire Inspection agency may be considered. Completion of the Fire Inspector series II courses, the Plans Examiner Series, and the Penal Code 832 course is highly desired.
License: Possession of a valid California Drivers License.
Knowledge of: Technical knowledge of codes and standards, fire safety protection system methods, procedures and building codes; fire code requirements as they relate to construction for fire protection and fire apparatus access.
Ability to: Read and interpret construction plans and specifications and prepare accurate reports; interpret codes and regulations for the public; establish and maintain effective working relationship with fellow employees and the general public.
Certification Requirements After Hire: Within one year of employment, candidates must obtain a valid Fire Inspector I Certification issued by the California State Fire Marshal, the International Code Council, or an equivalent certifying body. Within two years of employment, candidates are expected to obtain valid Fire Inspector II and Plans Examiner Certifications issued by the California State Fire Marshal, the International Code Council, or their equivalents.
Each applicant must upload their certifications, transcripts, and/or degrees at the time of application. These documents will be reviewed to determine eligibility to proceed in the selection process. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
For questions regarding this recruitment,
Please contact Ulysses Gerardo, at 951-955-5772 or email ugerardo@rivco.org. Please allow 1-2 business days for a response to general inquiries.
____
APPLICATION INFORMATION
Veterans Preference
The County has a Veterans Preference Policy applicable to new hires. To qualify, attach the required documents to your job application. Documents include a copy of your (or your spouses) Member-4 Form DD-214 indicating dates of service. For spousal preference, and as applicable, the following documents: a copy of your marriage certificate, spouses death certificate, a letter of spouses disability and/or letter of service-related death (if available) from the U.S. Veterans Administration. For privacy reasons, it is recommended that you remove your social security information from the document(s). A Human Resources Representative will review the materials and determine if you qualify for veterans preference. For complete details and documentation requirements, please review the Veterans Preference Policy, C-3 here: https://rivcocob.org/board-policies
Reasonable Accommodations
The County of Riverside is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to applicants as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). Qualified individuals with disabilities who need a reasonable accommodation during the application or selection process should contact the recruiter for the position noted above. For additional information and/or to obtain the appropriate form for requesting a reasonable accommodation, please visit the Disability Access Office web page located at: https://rc-hr.com/disability
Proof of Education
If using education to qualify or when requested by the recruiter, upload a copy of any license(s), official/unofficial transcript(s), degrees, and/or related employment documents to your NeoGov account at the time of application and before the closing date. Official or unofficial transcripts will be accepted.
If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or Association of International Credential Evaluators, Inc. (AICE).
Work Authorization Requirement
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of application. The County of Riverside does not participate in visa sponsorship programs, including H1-B visas, and will not provide sponsorship for any employment-based visas.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The County of Riverside is an Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of the County of Riverside to provide equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. All applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, ancestry, medical condition (cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, or denial of medical and family care leave, or any other non-job-related factors.
Pre-Employment
All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of pre-employment requirements including a criminal background investigation, which involves fingerprinting. (A felony or misdemeanor conviction may disqualify the applicant from County employment). A pre-employment physical examination and background check may be required.
Probationary Period
As an Approved Local Merit System, all County of Riverside employees, except those serving "At Will," are subject to the probationary period provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding, County Resolution, or Salary Ordinance. Temporary and Per Diem employees serve at the pleasure of the agency/department head.
General Information
Current County of Riverside and/or current employees of the hiring department may receive priority consideration. Qualified candidates may be considered for future County vacancies.
Job postings may close without notice based on application volume. Submit your complete application by the recruitment close date; no late applications are accepted. Ensure all relevant experience/education is reflected on your application/resume, as a failure to demonstrate position requirements may disqualify applicants. A description of job duties directly copied from the job classification or job posting will not be considered.
Please read and follow any special application instructions on this posting. Click the Apply link located on this page to submit your application. For additional instructions on the application process, examinations, Veterans preference, pre-employment accommodation or other employment questions, please refer to our web site, www.rc-hr.com.
If you are experiencing technical problems, you may contact the governmentjobs.com applicant support desk Monday through Friday, 6 am to 5 pm Pacific Time at support@governmentjobs.com or toll-free 1-855-524-5627.
BENEFIT PROGRAM: UPE..
MEDICAL/DENTAL/VISION INSURANCE: A choice of different medical, dental and visions plan are available to elect. The County provides a Flexible Benefit Credit contribution as governed by the applicable LIUNA Memorandum of Understanding to contribute towards the cost of these plans.
Note: Employees on assignment through the Temporary Assignment Program (TAP) receive different benefits. See the list here.
MISCELLANEOUS RETIREMENT: County of Riverside has three retirement Tiers through the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS).
A new member is defined as any of the following:
CalPERS refers to all members that do not fit within the definition of a new member as "classic members".
Contribution rates are subject to change based on the County of Riverside annual actuarial valuation.
Note:
This summary is for general information purposes only. Additional questions regarding retirement formulas can be sent to retirement@rivco.org or by calling the Benefits Information Line at (951) 955-4981,
Option 2.
If you have prior service credit with another CalPERS agency or within agencies, please contact CalPERS at (888) 225-7377 to determine which retirement tier would be applicable to you. CalPERS is governed by the Public Employees Retirement Law. The Retirement Law is complex and subject to change. If theres any conflict between this summary and the law, the law will prevail over this summary.
DEFERRED COMPENSATION: Voluntary employee contribution with a choice between two 457 deferred compensation plan options.
VACATION ACCRUAL (Bi-Weekly Accrual):
0 < 3 year = 80 Hours (10 Days)
4 < 9 years = 120 Hours (15 Days)
10 or more years = 160 Hours (20 Days)
Maximum Vacation leave accumulation is 480 hours.
SICK LEAVE: Four (4) hours Sick Leave accrual per pay period with unlimited accrual.
HOLIDAYS: Normally 12 paid holidays per year
BEREAVEMENT LEAVE: Allowed 5 days (3 days are County paid; 2 additional days can be taken from accrued Sick Leave balance)
BASIC LIFE INSURANCE: Equal to one times annual base salary not to exceed $50,000 of term life coverage. Premiums are paid by the County. Additional Supplemental Life plan is available for employee purchase.
DISABILITY:
Employees contribute to State Disability Insurance (SDI), which provides wage replacement benefits for those unable to work due to non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. SDI also includes Paid Family Leave benefits. The wage replacement rate, as defined by current law, is between 60-70% of wages earned during the SDI eligibility period. Benefits can be coordinated with other available leave balances to provide up to 100% of regular pay.
POST RETIREMENT MEDICAL CONTRIBUTION: A monthly contribution is made by the County towards retiree health insurance offered through the County as governed by the applicable Memorandum of Understanding.
OTHER: There may be other benefit provisions as specified in the applicable Memorandum of Understanding. Please contact the recruiter listed on the job posting directly for more information.
01
I acknowledge that I am required to provide proof of my degree or a copy of my transcript(s) as verification of educational units completed before submitting my application. These documents will be reviewed and used to determine your eligibility to move forward in the selection process. (Official and unofficial transcripts will be accepted. If your education was completed outside of the United States, you will need to provide a copy of your Foreign Education Equivalency evaluation.)
02
Are you currently 18 years of age or older?
03
Select the answer that best describes your current drivers license status:
04
What is the highest level of education you have completed? Degree or Transcripts must be attached at the time of application.
05
How many years of fire safety inspection experience do you possess?
06
How many years of government building construction inspection experience do you possess?
07
How many years of plans examination do you possess?
08
How many years of experience do you possess working with an Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), either directly or through a contract agency acting in that capacity?
09
In response to the previous question, please indicate the AHJ you are currently or have previously worked with.
10
Have you completed any of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector Series I courses? Please check all that apply. Certifications must be attached at the time of application.
11
Have you completed any of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal Fire Inspector Series II courses? Please check all that apply. Certifications must be attached at the time of application.
12
Have you completed any of the California Office of the State Fire Marshal Plans Examiner courses? Please check all that apply. Certifications must be attached at the time of application.
13
Have you earned any of the following certifications issued by the California State Fire Marshal, the International Code Council, National Fire Protection Agency, or an equivalent certifying body? Please check all that apply.
14
Please specify the name of the other certification(s) you have earned and indicate whether it was issued by the California State Fire Marshal, the International Code Council, National Fire Protection Agency, or another certifying agency. If none, please enter "N/A." Certifications must be attached at the time of application.
15
This recruitment may be used to fill current and future vacancies throughout Riverside County. While you may indicate your preferred work location(s) below, final placement will be determined by the department based on operational needs and availability. Please note that the locations listed are not exhaustive of all possible placement sites. Please select all your preferred locations for employment:
Required Question
Employer County of Riverside
Address County Admin. Center P.O. Box 1569
4080 Lemon St., 7th floor
Riverside, California, 92502-1569
Phone Contact Recruiter for Job Information
Website http://www.rc-hr.com