Salary : $106,050.60 - $128,716.80 Annually
Location : 922 Machin Avenue, Novato, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2026-18
Department: Police
Opening Date: 07/30/2026
Closing Date: 8/5/2026 11:59 PM Pacific

Job Description

POLICE CORPORAL
(Internal Promotional Opportunity ONLY)
Application Deadline: 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, August 5, 2026
*ORAL BOARD IS TENTATIVELY SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2026*
Class specifications are intended to present a descriptive list of the range of duties performed by employees in the class. Specifications are not intended to reflect all duties performed within the job.
DEFINITION

To perform advanced journey level law enforcement and crime prevention work; to act as a lead worker assigned to a specialized program within a Police Department division; and to provide lead supervision to assigned staff.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

Receives general supervision from higher level police personnel.
Exercises functional and technical supervision over assigned sworn and non-sworn personnel.

Example of Duties
ESSENTIAL AND MARGINAL FUNCTION STATEMENTS - Essential and other important responsibilities and duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Essential Functions:

• Perform a variety of advanced journey level duties within an assigned program of a department division; coordinate, supervise and participate in program activities; provide lead supervision to assigned staff.
• When assigned to the Patrol or Traffic Section; provide training and technical assistance to other officers patrolling the City in radio equipped car or on foot.
• When assigned to the crime prevention or youth services program; supervise and participate in the development of program activities; promote and evaluate assigned programs and ensure compliance with Department policies.
• When assigned to investigation; perform the more difficult and complex investigative duties; act as lead detective on large or unusually sensitive and/or complex cases.
• Assist higher level police personnel in supervisory and management activities; provide input into performance evaluations of other officers; act as watch commander as required; conduct roll-call briefings.
• Supervise and train other sworn personnel; informally evaluate the performance of recruit officers; review and approve reports.
• Maintain statistical data and prepare reports related to the assigned programs.
• Coordinate assigned activities with other agencies and local citizens: exchange information; make oral presentations to community groups.
• Assume control of crime scenes; direct other officers in the collection and maintenance of evidence; ensure crime scene security and use of appropriate investigative techniques.
• Perform crime scene laboratory technician duties including the preservation and analysis of physical evidence.

Marginal Functions:

• Perform the full range of duties assigned to a Police officer as required.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS:
Knowledge of:

• Police methods and procedures, including patrol, crime prevention, traffic control, and identification techniques, equipment, police records and reports, and first aid techniques.
• Criminal law with particular reference to the apprehension, arrest, and custody of persons committing misdemeanors and felonies, including rules of evidence pertaining to the search and seizure and the preservation of evidence in traffic and criminal cases.
• Principles and practices of supervision, training, and performance evaluation.

Ability to:

• Supervise and train subordinates.
• Gather, assemble, analyze, evaluate and use facts and evidence.
• Analyze situations and adopt effective courses of action.
• Interpret and apply laws and regulations.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
• Meet and deal with the public tactfully and effectively.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain mental capacity which allows the capability of:
  1. Making sound decisions
  2. Demonstrating intellectual capabilities
• Maintain effective audio-visual discrimination and perception needed for:
  1. Making observations
  2. Communicating with others
  3. Reading and writing
  4. Operating assigned office equipment

Experience and Training - Any combination of experience and training that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities would be qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge, skills, and abilities would be:
Experience:

Two years of responsible law enforcement experience.
Training:

Equivalent to completion of twelfth grade, supplemented by specialized law enforcement training and 30 units of college level course work.
License or Certificate:

Possession of an appropriate P.O.S.T. certificate.

Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid California driver's license.

Additional Information
WORKING CONDITIONS

Essential duties require the following physical skills and work environment:

Work is performed in both an office and field environment with exposure to natural or man-made disaster, and routine peace keeping environment with travel from site to site; work in intense life-threatening conditions; exposure to dangerous persons, firearms and communicable diseases; the employee regularly works near moving mechanical parts; regularly exposed to outside weather conditions and wet and/or humid conditions; occasionally works in high, precarious places and with explosives; exposed to fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration; risk of electrical shock and radiation; exposed to potentially hostile environments; extensive public contact; the noise level in the work environment is usually moderate; however, the noise level is occasionally very loud due to sirens, firearm training, etc. Duties require the ability to work irregular and on-call hours including weekends, evenings and holidays.

Duties require positions to, on an intermittent basis, sit at desk or in patrol vehicle; walk and stand during patrol activities; bend, squat and kneel during inspection of crime scene or conducting building searches; climb stairs and/or ladders while in the field; twist while making arrests; perform simple and power grasping, pushing, pulling, and fine manipulation; continuously wearing utility belt and other police equipment of 30 pounds; and intermittently carry weight of 100 pounds or less.
SELECTION PROCESS

It is important to complete all required application materials, including the supplemental questionnaire and any required additional documents. All applications will be screened for completeness and possession of minimum qualifications. Qualified applications will be reviewed in detail to identify the most qualified candidates to continue in the selection process which will consist of an application screening and will also include an oral board appraisal and writing exercise. The elements of the selection process will be weighted as follows; Oral Board 80% AND Writing Exercise 20%. A passing score is 70% or above. As a result of the selection process an eligibility list of qualified candidates will be established to fill current and future vacancies as long as the eligibility list remains active.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Only Online Applications will be accepted. To be considered for this exciting promotional opportunity, candidates must complete an online application and the required supplemental questionnaire.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: 11:59PM on Wednesday, August 5, 2026
Accommodation: Applicants who may require special assistance in any step of the selection process should advise Human Resources by emailing [email protected] upon submittal of application.

Salary:
Starting salary is generally the first step of the range listed; however, advanced step appointments may be approved based upon qualifications when warranted. Subsequent salary increases within the range are scheduled yearly and may be granted based upon satisfactory service.

Other Compensation:
Specialty Assignments carry an additional percentage of compensation on top of base pay. See the Unit B MOU for a listing of specialty assignments.
Bilingual Pay: 5%

Educational Incentive:
Intermediate POST: 3%
Advanced POST: 5%

A.A.: 4%
B.A./B.S.: 5%
Masters: 6%

If a unit member possesses both a college degree and a P.O.S.T. certificate, the employee may choose either incentive pay but may not receive both. Only degrees earned from a college or university that has been accredited by an organization that is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as an accrediting agency will apply.

Uniform Allowance:
$800 at time of hire and $80/month at the 13 month. $20 per month to defray the cost to dry clean uniforms.

Benefits include but are not limited to:

• Health Insurance (Including Medical, Dental, and Vision)
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) allows employees to set aside pre-tax dollars to pay for dependent care and/or out-of-pocket health care costs. Employee paid.
• Wellness Program; including workout-on-duty, mental health counseling, peer support team.
• Department gym, wellness room, and on-site chiropractic services.
• Mentoring Program.
• Employee Assistance Program - Available for employees and members of their household at no cost to employee.
• Varied Special Assignments and career advancement opportunities.
• Educational expense reimbursement.
• Deferred Compensation Savings Plans (457) are available to employees through a deferred compensation program. Employee paid.
• California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS)
• Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability - Employee paid optional benefit plan.

The City participates in the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS). In compliance with AB 340, CalPERS retirement formula is 3% @ 55 retirement for Classic Safety employees and 2.7% @ 57 retirement for New Safety employees.

The City provides a specific dollar amount to each employee based on the employee's benefit enrollment level to apply to medical, dental, life and disability insurance. The dental program and life insurance policy are mandatory. Health, vision and disability options are available. Employees who do NOT enroll in a healthcare plan through the City will receive $250 per month as an addition to their gross earnings. This is taxable income.

Employee must pay an amount equal to 1.45% of salary toward Medicare. An equal amount is paid by the City.

The City does not participate in Social Security.

Paid Time off Includes:

Vacation: A minimum of 80 hours per year are provided at the time of hire. If you are currently working for another agency (state, federal or local), your vacation rate will be adjusted to account for years of service with that public agency.

Sick Leave: 40 hours provided at time of hiring. Accrue one day of sick leave per month.

Paid Parental Leave: 320 hours, after 12 months of employment.

Leaves:
The City offers 14 paid holidays; 88 hours of vacation after 1 year (graduates to 176 hours for 21 years of service); New employees will receive 40 hours of sick leave on their start date (unused sick leave applied to service credit at retirement).

01

I certify that all information provided on my application and supplemental questionnaire is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge; and I understand that all information is subject to verification; and that false or incomplete information will result in disqualification from the selection process or dismissal, if hired.

• Yes
• No

Required Question