Description
This recruitment is being completed by Ralph Andersen & Associates.
Candidates are encouraged to apply by
January 20, 2025. The review of resumes by Ralph Andersen & Associates will begin following the closing date. Electronic submittals are strongly preferred to apply@ralphandersen.com and should include a compelling cover letter and comprehensive resume.
This is a confidential recruitment and will be handled accordingly throughout the various stages of the process. Candidates should be aware that references will not be contacted until mutual interest has been established.
Please click on the following link to access the comprehensive recruitment brochure:
Assistant Chief - Fire Marshal
The Orange County Fire Authority is seeking a forward leaning, energetic professional to serve as its next Assistant Chief – Fire Marshal and lead its highly acclaimed “Community Risk Reduction Department”. After a stellar career, the current Assistant Chief – Fire Marshal has chosen to retire in March 2025. This vital, at-will executive position will be filled with either a sworn or non-sworn, highly experienced professional. This is an exceptional career opportunity in one of the most progressive fire agencies in the United States.
"At-Will" Employment Status: Executive Management positions shall serve at the pleasure of the Fire Chief.
Annual Merit Review Program
Executive Management employees are eligible for performance salary increases from 2.75% to 5.5% annually based on their work performance and until they reach the top of their salary ranges.
Note: New executives and newly promoted executives must be assigned to their positions prior to March 1 during the annual performance rating period (August 1 through July 31) to be eligible for this program.
Medical Benefit
Benefits
Executive Management employees have a choice of medical plans under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program and the Authority contributes towards the cost of health premiums as follows:
- 100% of cost for employee only premium, or
- 75% of cost for family premium
The enrollment period for a new employee is sixty (60) days from the date of employment. The effective date of coverage will begin on the first day of the month following submission of the CalPERS Health Benefit Plan Enrollment Form.
Opt-Out: Executive Management employees who submit sufficient proof of alternate health care coverage shall be entitled to $59.58 in bi-monthly taxable cash or may apply a $59.58 bi-monthly credit towards benefits offered under the Cafeteria plan, including voluntary accidental death and dismemberment insurance or miscellaneous pay.
Please visit CalPERS for more information regarding the various plans offered under the CalPERS Health Benefits Program, as well as the current premium rates.
Dental, Orthodontia and Vision Care
Dental, orthodontia, and vision insurance are provided, at no cost to the employee, for the employee and dependents. Coverage begins on the first of the month following date of hire.
Optional Benefit Plan (OBP)
An annual allocation of $3,500 (pro-rated for mid-year hire or promotion date) will be provided to Executive Management employees to cover health care costs and other select benefits including:
- Accidental death and dismemberment insurance
- Medical Flexible Spending Account
- Cash prorated each pay period or lump sum of cash at year end
OBP begins on the 1st day of the month following a 28-day waiting period.
Retirement
All regular OCFA employees are members of the Orange County Employees Retirement System (OCERS) - a defined benefit retirement program. Employees are enrolled in one of the following retirement formulas based on date of hire.
Safety Membership
Legacy Safety Members: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 3% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan R). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into a reciprocal retirement system). The compensation limit for Legacy members for 2024 is $345,000.
New Safety Members (PEPRA): Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.7% at age 57 retirement formula (Plan V). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into OCERS). The compensation limit for PEPRA members for 2022 is $181,734 (non-Social Security Participants).
For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit OCERS, or view the Retirement Plan HERE.
General Membership (Non-Safety Positions)
Legacy General Members: Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 who establish reciprocity with OCERS are enrolled in the 2% at age 55 retirement formula (Plan N). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into a reciprocal retirement system). The compensation limit for Legacy members for 2024 is $345,000.
New General Members (PEPRA): Employees hired on or after January 1, 2013 without reciprocity are enrolled in the 2.5% at age 67 retirement formula (Plan U). Employees contribute 50% of the normal retirement cost toward the employee's retirement contribution but no higher than their maximum employee contribution (based on age of entry into OCERS). The compensation limit for PEPRA members for 2024 is $181,734 (non-Social Security Participants).
For more information about OCERS retirement, please visit OCERS, or view the Retirement Plan HERE.
Deferred Compensation Plan
The Authority contributes 4.5% of the executive's base salary into a deferred compensation 401(a) plan.
Retiree Medical Savings Plan
Employees participate in an employer sponsored retirement Healthcare Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) with a contribution of 4.0% of base salary.
Social Security
Orange County Fire Authority employees are not covered under the provisions of Federal Social Security (OASDI); therefore, they are not required to contribute 6.2% of salary towards Social Security.
Medicare
Executive Management employees contribute 1.45% to Medicare. Executives whose wages exceed $200,000 in a calendar year shall contribute an additional 0.9%.
Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
Short-term and long-term disability insurance coverage are provided to Executive Management employees at no cost.
Life and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
A life and AD&D policy is provided to Executive Management employees at no cost. Insurance coverage is based on the employee's annual base salary rounded to the nearest $10,000. Executive Management employees may purchase additional life, dependent life, and accidental death and dismemberment insurance.
Vehicle or Cash In Lieu of Allowance
At the discretion of the Fire Chief, an Executive Management employee will either be assigned an emergency/code 3 response vehicle or receive a cash allowance of $500 per month.
Vacation
Executive Management employees accrue vacation based on hours of completed continuous service:
- Upon employment, up to approximately 120 hours per year
- After 3 years, but less than 10 years, up to approximately 160 hours per year
- After 10 years, up to approximately 200 hours per year
Holidays
Executive Management employees observe 13 holidays within the calendar year:
- New Year's Day
- Martin Luther King Jr.'s Birthday
- Lincoln's Birthday
- President's Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- Veteran's Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Day after Thanksgiving
- Christmas Eve
- Christmas Day
When a holiday occurs on a regularly scheduled day off, Executive Management employees receive eight (8) hours of compensation time or holiday pay.
Sick Leave
Sick leave is accumulated from year-to-year and accrues as follows:
- Upon employment, up approximately 72 hours per year
- After 3 years, up to approximately 96 hours per year
At retirement, executives receive a payoff of their sick leave based on their years of service.
Paid Annual Leave (PAL)
Upon hire, Executive Management employees will be eligible to use up to forty (40) hours of paid annual leave (PAL) per calendar year. PAL cannot be cashed out or rolled over to the next calendar year. On January 1 of each subsequent year, Executive Management employees will receive forty (40) hours of PAL which must be used within the calendar year.
Tuition Reimbursement
Tuition reimbursement is $2,000 per fiscal year to cover certain expenses associated with academic pursuits.
Bilingual Pay
If qualified, bilingual pay is $0.30 per hour.
Annual Physical Examination
Executive Management employees are provided a voluntary annual physical examination by an Authority-designated physician at no cost.
Uniforms
The Authority provides uniforms to Executive Management employees in designated positions.
Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
The OCFA offers regular, limited-term, and probationary employees both a Medical and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), which allows you to contribute pre-tax dollars into an account that can be used throughout the year on qualified medical or dependent care expenses. Participants pay fewer taxes and take home more money. For 2023, the maximum employee contribution is $3,050 for eligible medical expenses. The maximum employee contribution is $5,000 for eligible dependent care expenses.
Behavioral Health and Wellness
OCFA offers a variety of behavioral health and wellness services to our employees and their dependents, including access to the OCFA Peer Support Team Members, OCFA Chaplains, and the Counseling Team International (TCTI). TCTI provides behavioral health and wellness services to public safety agency employees and their eligible family members with confidential professional assistance. Support services include, but are not limited to, the following types of situations: marital and family problems, stress/burnout, anger management, separation/divorce, child/adolescent issues, depression, and critical incident/trauma. TCTI also offers life care resource assistance for child care, adoption, elderly and senior care, and financial information.
Pet Discount Program
OCFA has partnered with United Pet Care to offer a pet healthcare program. This program helps employees reduce the cost of escalating veterinary bills at an affordable rate. All pets are eligible regardless of their age or medical condition.
Benevolent Association
Employees have the option to join OCFA’s Benevolent Association which was created to “Take Care of Their Own.” Included in your $8.00 per pay period cost is $10,000 Member Death Benefit, $4,000 Dependent Death Benefit, $30,000 Annual Scholarships for Members and Dependents, Hardship Grants/Loans, Annual Picnic for Members, Holiday Ball, and Retiree Tribute. In addition, Discount Offers- Recreation/Amusement Parks, fitness 19 and 24-Hour Fitness gym membership, discount movie tickets, Angels Baseball game with tailgate party, etc. Membership also allows access to very good supplemental insurances of many types, including, Long Term Disability, Long Term Care, various AFLAC (ICU, Cancer, Accident Injury, CSFA membership, Living Trusts and more. The Family Auxiliary and KIDS Fund (provides monetary assistance only to kids of members), both operate under the Benevolent Association.
Revised 06/24/2024
This benefit summary is intended to provide an easy way for current and prospective employees to access fringe benefit information, including voluntary options. This summary is intended to be accurate, but it is not an official plan document, and has no legal or binding effect as an expressed or implied contract, or otherwise, and does not alter or amend any provision of the Memoranda of Understanding, Personnel and Salary Resolution, retirement contract, insurance policy contract, or any other official document of the Orange County Fire Authority, including Standard Operating Procedures and General Orders. All insurance benefits described in the summary are subject to the terms and limitations of the Orange County Fire Authority's insurance contracts with individual insurance providers. Should you have any questions pertaining to information in this summary, please contact Human Resources Department at (714) 573-6018.
