SMC EM Emergency Coordinator - Unclassified (Open)

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SMC EM Emergency Coordinator - Unclassified (Open)

Salary

$102,731.20 - $128,419.20 Annually

Location

County of San Mateo, CA

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

Q002S

Department

Department of Emergency Management

Opening Date

05/13/2026

Closing Date
5/27/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit
35
Description

Benefits

Questions

Description

About the Department

San Mateo County Emergency Management (SMC EM) is not your typical government agency. We operate more like a startup within the public sector, building innovative programs, forging cross-sector partnerships, and redefining what modern emergency management looks like for a county of 775,000 residents across 20 cities and 18 unincorporated areas.

Our mission is to advance community resilience through a proactive and comprehensive approach to emergency management, involving the whole community in every phase of preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

To learn more about SMC EM, visit: https://www.smcgov.org/dem

About the Role

This is not an entry-level role. This is not a position for someone learning the field. This is a role for someone who has already been in the crucible of crisis, learned hard lessons, adapted under pressure, and is eager for more.

The Emergency Coordinator sits at the operational center of SMC EM. You will plan. You will write. You will brief. You will execute. You will move between strategy and the tactical detail of getting things done, across a complex Operational Area of 20 cities, 18 unincorporated communities, and the partners who serve them.

This work requires range. One day you are facilitating a planning cycle that will shape the next twelve months of countywide preparedness. The next, you are translating policy into a one-page brief for a city council, then coordinating an exercise design with fire and law partners, then back at your desk drafting a memo that will move across the Operational Area in 48 hours.

The throughline is judgment. We need someone who can prioritize, pivot, and produce. Someone who has thrived in uncertainty before, and is energized to do more of it here.

What This Role Actually Involves

Planning (Primary Focus)

Planning is the center of gravity for this role. You will lead and contribute to the full planning cycle, from scoping through drafting, coordinating, executing, exercising, and updating operational plans, annexes, and frameworks across the Operational Area. The work means translating federal and state guidance (FEMA, CalOES, SEMS, NIMS) into plans that are usable on a Tuesday and survive a Saturday at 2 a.m. It means coordinating reviews and revisions with internal staff and external partners, building consensus around standards while protecting quality. Asking how could this be better, more practical and more useful in the moment. And it means maintaining a working understanding of the threat and hazard landscape facing San Mateo County, so the plans on the shelf actually reflect the risk on the ground.

Communication and Coordination

You will brief and present to varied audiences on a regular basis and on demand: senior county leadership, elected officials, fire and law chiefs, Operational Area partners, community organizations, and the public. The substance has to hold steady; the delivery has to flex for the room. Alongside the briefing work, you will produce clear, accurate written products on tight timelines: memos, briefings, plans, talking points, after-action reports, and correspondence that moves at the speed of decision-making. You will represent SMC EM credibly in working groups, advisory committees, tabling events, and external meetings at all levels of government, and you will maintain steady, professional communication with partners across all 20 cities and 18 unincorporated communities.

Project Management and Execution

Carry assigned projects from initiation through completion. Own timelines, deliverables, and stakeholder coordination.

Manage multiple concurrent priorities without dropping quality or letting partners go silent.

Identify obstacles early, problem-solve collaboratively, and escalate when needed.

Document the work. Hand off cleanly. Build for the next person.

Exercise, Training, and Operational Readiness

Contribute to the design, development, facilitation, and evaluation of exercises (tabletops, functional, full-scale) aligned with HSEEP standards.

Support training programs for staff, partners, and the broader Operational Area.

Participate in a weekly on-call rotation, maintaining 24-hour readiness and responding to the field or Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies or disasters.

Participate in after-action reviews and improvement planning. Treat lessons learned as a discipline, not a deliverable.

Who We Are Looking For

The right person for this role has been tested. They have been in crisis situations and knows what it's like to be in a real EOC. They have written a plan that was used and know what it means to adapt in the moment. They have briefed leadership when the picture was unclear and the pressure was high. They have learned that emergency management is less about the binder on the shelf and more about the relationships, the judgment, and the ability to keep moving when the information is incomplete.

We are looking for someone who is technically capable, operationally seasoned, relationally skilled, and intellectually restless.

Mindset and Character

You are crucible-tested. You have been through real incidents, real activations, and/or real high-stakes operations, and you did not just survive them; you took something from them. You are agile, able to shift directions quickly when priorities change without losing your composure or your standards. You bring a growth mindset: insatiably curious, always learning, never satisfied with the way it has always been done. You are comfortable with ambiguity and can operate effectively when the situation is messy, the information is incomplete, and the stakes are high. And you lead with integrity and courage. You speak up when something is wrong, you ask for help when you need it, and you verify before you act.

Knowledge and Experience

Working command of the planning cycle. You have led or contributed substantively to plan development, from scoping through publication and exercise.

Familiarity with the five Emergency Management Sections (Management, Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin) and the Incident Command System.

Demonstrated problem-solving. A track record of identifying issues, generating options, and driving toward resolution under pressure.

Strong communicator across audiences. You can hold the room with senior executives, political leaders, Operational Area partners, chiefs, and the public, with demonstrated experience adapting message and tone for each.

Excellent written communication skills, including reports, briefings, plans, and professional correspondence.

Ability to work across a wide variety of settings (field, office, EOC) and disciplines (law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services, public health).

Preferred but Not Required

5 years of professional experience, with at least 2 years dedicated to emergency management, disaster operations, homeland security, public safety, or military operations.

Master's Degree in emergency management, public administration, public policy, homeland security, public health, communications, or a related field.

Completion of ICS Courses 100, 200, 700, and 800 (or ability to complete within the first 90 days)

Exercise design and execution experience (tabletops, functional, full-scale) aligned with HSEEP.

Formal project management experience, including managing scope, schedule, and stakeholders across complex initiatives.

Hands-on experience with alert and warning systems (IPAWS, WEA, EAS, mass notification platforms).

Experience working across multiple jurisdictions or within a complex multi-agency operational environment.

Training instruction or curriculum development experience.

A valid California Driver's License.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Education: Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in business, public administration, emergency management or related discipline.

Experience: One year of experience having responsibility for assisting in program planning, development and budgeting in the public, military, or private organization, preferably related to emergency/disaster planning and management.

Application/Examination

Open. Anyone may apply.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: Pass/Fail) based on the candidates' applications and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%). Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.

IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.

How to Apply

To apply for this opportunity, the following materials must be submitted in addition to the standard Employment Application form:

Resume

Letter of Interest

Responses to the Supplemental Questions (attached to the application form)

Tentative Recruitment Schedule:

Final Closing Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST

Application Screening: Week of June 1, 2026

Panel Interviews: Tuesday, June 16, 2026

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California, serving a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply.

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Analyst: Lealoa Numera (05132026) (Q002 Department of Emergency Management Coordinator)

We invite you to explore our Benefits-at-a-Glance (https://www.smcgov.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/Benefits%20at%20a%20Glance%204.29.25.pdf) page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01
IMPORTANT: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the following supplemental questions. Your responses will give us additional information about your background and experience related to this position and will be used in the selection process. Be concise and specific. Neatness, clarity of expression, grammar, spelling and ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.

I have read and understand these instructions.
02

A Resume and Letter of Interest must be submitted in addition to the standard Employment Application Form and Responses to the Supplemental Questions. Failure to do so may disqualify you from this recruitment.

I have read and understand this important information. Proceed to supplemental questions.
03

Tell us about a time you operated in the crucible of a real crisis, activation, or high-pressure situation. What was your role, what did you do, and what did you learn that still shapes how you work today
04
This role requires moving fluidly across audiences, from senior executives and elected officials to fire and law chiefs to community partners and the public. Describe a time you had to communicate the same information to very different audiences. How did you adjust What did you learn about meeting people where they are
05
Walk us through a planning effort you led or contributed to substantively. How did you define the scope, who did you bring in, what challenges did you face, and what is the final product still doing today
06
How did you learn about this position

County of San Mateo Website

County of San Mateo Job Interest Card Notification

County Hosted Virtual Event

County Hosted Job Fair

CalOpps.org

Civic Match

College/University Career Center

Community-based Organization Posting

Facebook/Instagram

Friend or Relative

GovernmentJobs.com

Indeed

Job Fair

LinkedIn

Professional Publication/Website (Please specify in next question)

X (formerly called Twitter)

Zip Recruiter

Other (Please specify in next question)
07

If you answered, "Professional Publication/Website" or "Other" to the above question, please indicate below how you learned about this position. Your response to this question will help us in better marketing County jobs. Type NA if not applicable.

Required Question

Employer

County of San Mateo

Address

County of San Mateo Human Resources Department 500 County Center, 4th Floor Redwood City, California, 94063-1663

Phone

(650) 363-4343

Website

https://jobs.smcgov.org

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SMC EM Emergency Coordinator - Unclassified (Open)