Employment Process

Recruitment and Selection Process

The City of Napa utilizes a Civil Service Selection System founded on merit. Such a system is competitive and based on broad outreach efforts and equal opportunity for qualified applicants to take part in a process designed to determine the qualifications, fitness and ability of competitors to perform duties of the vacant position. Many of our recruitments are targeted and specific to the needs of a current vacant position, in which case, an eligible list may be exclusively used for that current vacant position. Other recruitments and eligible lists may be more broadly used for both current and future vacancies, or for other alternate jobs with comparable scopes of work.

The first step in the process is usually a review of all submitted application materials to determine if the information is complete and applicants meet the minimum qualifications stated. The next step in the process may include an evaluation of the submitted application materials to identify the "best qualified" applicants based upon the ideal candidate description, including the required competencies and knowledge, skills and abilities for the position. Possession of the minimum qualifications does not always guarantee further advancement in the selection process; only the "best qualified" applicants may advance to the next steps of the selection process. Additional steps may include written, performance and physical ability tests, phone or in-person interviews, or a combination thereof. Selection processes may take into account such factors as experience, education, aptitude, capacity, knowledge, skill, character, physical fitness, or any other factor, quality or attribute, including moral character and reputation, that may determine the relative fitness of a competitor to perform the essential functions of the job.

Should a panel interview be included in the process steps, the interview panel may be comprised of subject matter experts which may include supervisors and managers from the hiring department or others most knowledgeable about the needs and technical expertise of the vacancy. The purpose of the interview is to assess a candidate’s suitability for a position. The primary objectives are to: acquaint interviewer and candidate; learn more about the candidate's background and experience as it relates to the job; and help the candidate understand the position and organization.

The City of Napa is fortunate to have great success in our recruitment efforts, yielding large applicant pools, making our selection processes highly competitive and progressive. Applicants who score the highest in each step proceed to the next step until an eligible list of the best qualified is established.  Candidates' names typically remain on eligible lists for six months and are "certified" in rank order to a hiring department only when a vacancy occurs. Departments that have already interviewed candidates in any step of the selection process may choose not to interview candidates again for the same position.

We reserve the right to make changes to the announced selection process.

Disabled Applicants

The City of Napa will make reasonable efforts in the selection process to accommodate qualified disabled applicants. To request an accommodation, candidates should contact the Human Resources Department. You can send an email to the Human Resources Department, or call the City TDD line at 707-257-9506.

The City of Napa is an Equal Opportunity Employer.