Job Description

Job Description

Under general supervision is responsible for the safe piloting and navigation of a fire boat in response to fire alarms, emergency incidents, public service activities, training, and other activities requiring the support or services of the vessel; maintains the vessels equipment in top operational condition; keeps up-to-date logs and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations; ensures that personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards; and performs other related duties as required.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES

An H120 Pilot of Fire Boats is distinguished from H110 Marine Engineer in that the H120 is responsible for piloting and navigating the fire boat, and the H110 is responsible for the mechanical and electrical systems, and engine room of the fire boat.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED

Supervises boat crew.

Major, Important, and Essential Duties

1. Operates the vessels pilot house and bridge equipment while responding to an emergency or service, or in preparation to get underway.
2. Takes the helm, gives engine orders, and operates propulsion controls, radar, compass, radio, and other communications and navigation equipment.
3. Navigates the fire boat in all weather conditions and at all hours of the day in response to all calls requiring fire boat support and services.
4. Participates in fire suppression duties as necessary and practicable.
5. Maneuvers fire boats in position to enable crew members maximum effectiveness to fight fires and protect life and property.
6. Takes effective damage control measures to save personnel and equipment in case of casualty or emergency caused by collision, grounding, foundering, explosion, or fire.
7. Inspect fire boats and equipment and performs or arranges for required maintenance of a variety of deck and navigation equipment.
8. Participates in cleaning, scaling and painting duties, performs minor repairs and alterations to topside areas, holds, and deck equipment.
9. Maintains up-to-date log books and other records in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations.
10. Ensures all personnel aboard the fire boat adhere to safety standards.
11. Participates in inspections of occupied and unoccupied buildings and other structures in the area of the San Francisco Bay for fire suppression planning purposes.

Qualifications

These minimum qualifications establish the education, training, experience, special skills and/or license(s) which are required for employment in the classification. Additional qualifications (i.e., special conditions) may apply to a particular position and will be stated on the exam/job announcement. The selection process is open to individuals meeting all of the minimum qualifications listed below at the time of application filing.

• Education: A high school diploma or an equivalency certificate (e.g., G.E.D., California High School Proficiency Certificate).
• Experience: 10 years verifiable experience as master aboard commercial vessels. One year of experience [2080 hours] within the last two years as master aboard commercial vessels.
• License and Certification: Possession of a current license of 500 gross tons issued by the United States Coast Guard in any of the following categories: Masters license valid for ocean, coastwise, or inland; Master Freight and Tow; Master (Operator), Un-inspected Towing Vessels; Above license must include radar endorsement; Pass federally mandated random drug screening.

Desirable Qualifications

• Recent experience maintaining and operating vessels on the San Francisco Bay and in its tributaries.
• Recent experience operating tugboats and/or fireboats.

A completed application must be submitted by the final filing date. Applicants are encouraged to file immediately as this recruitment may close at any time, but no earlier than October 31, 2025.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; safety procedures in hazardous conditions; seamanship; nautical terms; applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; operational and tactical maneuvering of fire boats during emergency response; aids and hazards of navigation in the Bay; depths of water in the Bay; characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; locations of all berths, anchorages, and other facilities in the area of the San Francisco Bay; local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, ocean, and inland waters; use and care of a fire boat navigation system; Fire Department communications system related to fire boat operations; fire boat command structure and how it relates to the Incident Command System; sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting navigation of vessels in the Bay; objectives, principles, and practices of waterfront pre-fire planning; Fire Department organizational functions, rules, regulations, and procedures; and principles of supervision and training.

Ability or Skill to: Effectively operate and maneuver a fire boat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; work effectively with others; properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances or under adverse situations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing to members of the department, the public, or representatives of other agencies; establish and maintain good working relations with employees and the general public; complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties (e.g., journal entries, log books, etc.); navigate a fire boat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc.

VERIFICATION

A copy of the current valid license issued by the United States Coast Guard must be received in by 4:00 PM on November 03, 2025. The verification must be submitted by email to DHR-publicsafety@sfgov.org [specify H120 in the subject line]. Applicants who do not submit the verification by the deadline may be disqualified.

Candidates who are listed on the eligible list, but do not yet have radar endorsement, will be placed under waiver on the list and will not be eligible for consideration for hire until such time as radar endorsement has been submitted.

Selection Process

All applicant information will be reviewed by subject matter experts. Those candidates whose experience is determined to most closely match the requirements of the position will be invited to participate in a performance exercise. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee advancement in the process, and the decision of the screening committee is final.

Performance Test (100%)

The performance exercise will be designed to measure knowledge areas and abilities including but not limited to the following: knowledge of navigation rules and regulations; knowledge of safety procedures in hazardous conditions; knowledge of nautical terms; knowledge of applicable piloting and navigation instructions and directives; knowledge of the operation and tactical maneuvering of fireboats during emergency and non-emergency operations; knowledge of the aids and hazards to navigation in the Bay; knowledge of the depths of water in the Bay; knowledge of the characteristics of local waters, tides, currents, winds, weather, and general hydrographs; knowledge of the locations of all berths, anchorages, and other facilities in the area of the Bay; knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, rules, and regulations pertaining to the operation of vessels in the Bay, the ocean, and inland waters; knowledge of compass errors; knowledge of the use and care of the fireboat navigation system; knowledge of sources of information relating to laws, rules, and regulations affecting the navigation of vessels in the Bay; knowledge of the principles of supervision and training; ability to effectively operate and maneuver fireboat in emergency situations in all types of weather and at all hours of the day; ability to work effectively with others; ability to properly and effectively use Fire Department equipment; ability to think quickly and use good judgment in making decisions under stressful circumstances; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing to Department members, members of the public, and personnel from other agencies; ability to establish and maintain effective working relations with other employees and the general public; ability to efficiently complete all necessary reports, correspondence, and documentation as required in the performance of assigned duties; ability navigating a fireboat using radar, radios, signal equipment, etc.; ability to attach to and tow a vessel in distress; and ability to operate a vessel with draft restrictions.

Certification

In accordance with Civil Service Rule 313.3.4, the certification rule to be used for the eligible list will be Rule of Ten.

Eligible List

The eligible list resulting from this test is subject to change after adoption (e.g., as a result of appeals), as directed by the Human Resources Director or the Civil Service Commission. The duration of the eligible list will be two years and may be extended to one additional year with approval of the Director of Human Resources.

Notes

1. This announcement is issued in accordance with Civil Service Rule 310. Civil Service Rules 310, 311 and 312 relate to Class-Based Testing for the City and County of San Francisco. They specify announcement, application and examination policies and procedures, ]]>

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