8310/8510 Sheriff's Lieutenant

• Department: The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office
• Job class: 8310/8510 Sheriff's Lieutenant
• Salary range: $166,816 – $212,732 verified as updated salary range
• Role type: Permanent Civil Service What does this mean?
• Hours: Full-time
• Exam type: Class Based Test
• Rule: Rule of 3
• List type: Promotive

 Company Description

Application Opening: August 3, 2026
Application Deadline: August 17, 2026
Compensation Range: $166,816 – $212,732
Eligible List ID: C00462

FOR CURRENT CITY EMPLOYEES ONLY. This is a Promotional Only position in accordance with Class-Based Test (CBT) Civil Service Rules. This recruitment is restricted to current employees of the City and County of San Francisco who are working in classes 8308/8508 Sheriff’s Sergeant.

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office (SFSO) works with the public, the criminal justice system, and community stakeholders to safeguard the lives, rights, and property of all people we serve.

The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office keeps people safe — inside and outside the county jails, in the buildings we help protect, and in the communities we serve.

We help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives. We provide mutual aid to our law enforcement partners in emergencies and natural disasters. We offer education and job training to support those leaving the justice system, which builds stronger, safer communities.

Under direction, the Sheriff’s Lieutenant acts as the operational and/or administrative manager of a facility/unit/watch in the Custody, Field Operations, Administration and Programs and Planning and Projects divisions: performs and manages performance of general law enforcement duties; commands a detention or program facility on an assigned watch; commands civil process work and/or manages and coordinates civil/criminal courts; may perform, coordinate or review investigative services, manages field operations units and/or manages alternative to incarceration, and all training programs.

According to Civil Service Commission Rule 109, the duties specified below are representative of the range of duties assigned to this job code/class and are not intended to be an inclusive list.

1. Evaluates and documents the work performance of subordinates (sworn and civilian), both formally and informally, including annual performance evaluations and day-to-day evaluations; ensures adherence to employee standards and departmental code of conduct, recommends corrective action to chain-of-command within policy guidelines and sees that it is properly administered; identifies training needs and instructs subordinates during muster or through formal or informal training sessions on proper performance of their duties, safety and emergency procedures, investigative techniques, etc.; reviews/schedules work assignments, may recommend or assign subordinates to various shifts, assignments or projects; provides day-to-day guidance and experiential knowledge for subordinates on work-related issues; advises subordinates as to meaning and consequences of SFSO policies and procedures, and ensures adherence; assists subordinates in dealing with personal, family, career and job-related problems, provides positive reinforcement to improve morale and productivity; investigates and handles complaints and grievances from citizens, subordinates and inmates/detainees.

1. Initiates and conducts formal and impromptu inspections of subordinates, civilian staff, inmates, facilities, records and equipment in order to ensure that SFSO policy and regulations are being followed; performs, coordinates or reviews investigative activities, determines if specialized personnel/resources are needed and coordinates activities with other sections in the SFSO; prepares reports, issues intra- and interdepartmental memos and written correspondence, and reviews, evaluates and approves various types of reports as to completeness and form.

1. In case of major incidents, determines the situation and probable impact, directs subordinates, the public, civilians and/or inmates and manages the scene; administers or recommends disciplinary action within policy guidelines, reviews inmate disciplinary recommendations and procedures; and ensures that inmate discipline is properly administered.

1. Conducts research, complete special projects and assignments; coordinates operations with other facilities, coordinates inmate services; provides relief for subordinate staff; monitors food quality and orders supplies, services and equipment for assigned facility; acts as facility commander in facility commander's absence; monitors use and maintenance of a variety of equipment, devices and apparatus; maintains records and files in a variety of areas such as assignment and attendance of subordinates, overtime and payroll records, personnel files, petty cash and specialty funds, commendation referrals, equipment issuance and usage, rounds sheets and facility logs.

1. Represents the SFSO on a variety of committees, boards or task forces both within the SFSO and for the City and County of San Francisco; responds to verbal and written requests of the public/community for information and assistance via telephone, personal contact or written/electronic communication.

1.  Performs and supervises performance of related law enforcement duties as assigned, codified under section 830.1 PC.

1. Experience: Two years of experience as an 8308/8508 Sheriff’s Sergeant in the San Francisco Sheriff’s Office.

1. License: Valid California Driver License

Applicants must meet the minimum qualifications above by close of application filing

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

Selection Procedures:

After application submission, candidates deemed qualified must complete all subsequent steps to advance in this selection process, which include three components: 1) a video-based human relations exercise; 2) an in-basket exercise; and 3) a performance exercise.

A pass-point will be established, and only candidates scoring at or above the minimum passing score will be placed on the eligible list and considered for appointment. In addition, the office may conduct interviews before making final selections from the eligible list. A Prep Guide will be made available prior to exam administration. A description of the exam components, including component weights, will be included. The Prep Guide will also list the job-related task clusters and knowledge and abilities for the job classification. The exam will be designed to measure candidates’ relative knowledge and ability in job-related areas.

Reference Materials:

Candidates should be familiar with all Sheriff’s Office policies, manuals and other references listed on this link. This is a suggested reading list only.

Testing Information:

Qualified applicants will be notified by email of the exact dates, times, and locations of the exam components, which are tentatively scheduled to be administered in late September 2026. Candidates must successfully complete all exam components to receive a final score.

Certification:

The certification rule for the eligible list resulting from this exam will be Rule of Three scores.

Eligible List:

A confidential eligible list of applicant names will be created from this recruitment. Candidates that successfully achieve passing scores on all the selection procedures listed above will be placed on the eligible list. An examination score report will be established, so applicants can view the ranks, final scores, and number of eligible candidates. Applicant information, including names of applicants on the eligible list, shall not be made public unless required by law. However, an eligible list shall be made available for public inspection upon request once the eligible list is exhausted or expired and referrals resolved. The eligible lists resulting from this exam are 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 lists resulting from this exam process will be 24 months and may be extended with the approval of the Human Resources Director.

Terms of Announcement & Appeal Rights:

Applicants must be guided solely by the provisions of this announcement, including requirements, time periods and other particulars, except when superseded by federal, state or local laws, rules or regulations. [Note: The correction of clerical errors in an announcement may be posted on the Department of Human Resources website at https://careers.sf.gov/.]

The terms of this announcement may be appealed under Civil Service Rule 110.4. Such appeals must be submitted in writing to the Department of Human Resources, 1 S. Van Ness Ave., 4th Fl, S.F., CA 94103- 5413 by close of business on the 5th business day following the issuance date of this exam announcement. Information concerning other Civil Service Commission Rules involving announcements, applications and examination policies, including applicant appeal rights, can be found on the Civil Service Commission website at https://sf.gov/departments/civil-service-commission.

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About the Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview  
• Equal Employment Opportunity
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Right to Work
• Copies of Application Documents
• Diversity Statement

Where to Apply 
All job applications for the City and County of San Francisco must be submitted through our online portal. Please visit https://careers.sf.gov/ to begin your application process.  

Computers are available for the public (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday) to file online applications in the lobby of the Dept. of Human Resources at 1 South Van Ness Avenue, 4th Floor and at the City Career Center at City Hall, 1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 110. 

Ensure your application information is accurate, as changes may not be possible after submission. Your first and last name must match your legal ID for verification, and preferred names can be included in parentheses. Use your personal email address, not a shared or work email, to avoid unfixable issues. 

Applicants will receive a confirmation email from [email protected] that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records. Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received. 

Exam Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please contact the exam analyst, Crystal Cervantes at [email protected] .

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.