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DHR outlines multi‑step recruitment process for permanent San Francisco fire chief; commission liaison named
Summary
City DHR presented a high‑level timeline and steps for recruiting a permanent fire chief: draft job announcement, supplemental questionnaire, 2‑week posting (adjustable), HR screening, commission review of qualified candidates, interviews and referral of finalists to the mayor; Commissioner Nicasio was named commission liaison.
The Department of Human Resources presented the planned approach to recruit a permanent Fire Chief at the Fire Commission’s Oct. 9 meeting.
Anna Biaspis, Employment Services Director, and Lisa Pagula, Assistant Director of Employment Services, described the process: DHR will draft a job announcement and brochure and circulate it to the commission for review; the commission can adjust posting duration and outreach. DHR will prepare a supplemental questionnaire and rating criteria to deepen evaluation of candidates’ skills beyond the basic application. After the announcement closes (two‑week default), DHR screens applicants against minimum qualifications and rates supplemental answers; commissioners will receive a binder of minimally qualified candidates with ratings and select who to interview.
"The commission selects who to interview based on their review of those binders," Lisa Pagula said. The commission will review and approve interview questions; before interviews commissioners will complete fairness and hiring training. Finalists the commission advances are referred to the mayor, who makes the appointment.
Biaspis noted the process requires confidentiality around applicant names: if commissioners request applicant names and qualifications to be discussed publicly, those sessions must be held in closed session. The presenters said the 2018 recruitment took about three to four months from start to finish as a historical example, but the timeline depends on applicant pool size, commission availability and the possibility of special sessions. Commissioner Nicasio was designated as the commission’s primary contact with DHR for this recruitment and asked DHR to provide written materials and the draft job description to the commission.
Next steps: DHR will draft and circulate the announcement and supplemental questionnaire to the commission for review and will coordinate interview logistics if the commission opts to move forward.
