Emergency Management Coordinator – Coastside (Unclassified)
San Mateo County, CA
Emergency Management Coordinator – Coastside (Unclassified)
Print (https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sanmateo/jobs/newprint/4997218)
Emergency Management Coordinator – Coastside (Unclassified)
Salary
$97,843.20 - $122,304.00 Annually
Location
County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type
Regular
Job Number
POSTING ONLY (Q002)
Department
Department of Emergency Management
Opening Date
07/08/2025
Bargaining Unit
35
+ Description
+ Benefits
Description
Emergency Management Coordinator – Coastside
Building Resilience Where Ocean Meets Community
You see challenges as opportunities to serve.
You build bridges between diverse communities and complex systems.
You thrive when others depend on your ability to adapt and deliver.
You don't just manage crises; you prevent them by building lasting relationships and trust.
If this sounds like you, we want you to help us protect one of California's most beautiful and vulnerable coastlines.
A Role Like No Other: EM Coordinator – Coastside | $97K to $122K | San Mateo County
The San Mateo County coastside isn't just geography. It's home to tight-knit communities facing unique challenges from tsunamis to wildfires, from infrastructure vulnerabilities to communication gaps. We're looking for someone who sees 75,000+ coastside residents and thinks, "How do I serve them better?"
This isn't typical government work. Our mission is to build the nation's most resilient county, and that requires people who break through old patterns that no longer serve our communities.
This role is for you if service drives everything you do. It's not just your job, it's who you are. You see people first. Behind every emergency plan is a neighbor, a family, a community. Complex challenges energize you because you would rather build solutions than follow outdated playbooks. You also believe relationships are infrastructure. Trust and connection prevent more disasters than any protocol.
The Work: Where Strategy Meets Community
You’ll be the primary connection between our Department of Emergency Management and the unique coastside communities of San Mateo County.
You will evaluate and enhance coastside emergency preparedness programs, develop emergency response standards specific to coastal hazards and geography, identify at-risk areas, and create community education programs. You’ll also work to integrate coastside emergency systems with modern technology that supports both residents and responders.
When emergencies happen, you'll participate in a weekly on-call rotation with 24-hour readiness, deploy to field locations or the Emergency Operations Center, manage vendor relationships, and coordinate system access for authorized users. After real-world incidents or exercises, you’ll lead gap assessments and implement improvements to strengthen future response.
In your day-to-day work, you’ll engage directly with residents, stakeholder organizations, and community groups. You’ll represent the County before governing bodies and advisory committees, facilitate planning meetings across agencies, and develop emergency plans that work for real people. More than anything, you’ll build partnerships that turn neighbors into first responders.
Why This Work Matters
The coastside faces unique challenges like limited evacuation routes, communication dead zones, and a high tsunami risk. In a crisis, your work could be the difference between families having time to evacuate safely or not, whether responders can communicate clearly, and whether a community can recover quickly or not. You’ll be part of a team focused on preventing crises, not just reacting to them. We value innovative solutions, strong community partnerships, and a people-first mindset.
What Sets You Apart
We’re looking for someone who brings both heart and expertise to emergency management. You are a relationship builder who can engage diverse communities and design meaningful outreach strategies. You understand how to implement emergency response technologies in practical ways. You’re a clear communicator with experience in writing proposals, reports, and grants. You work well across disciplines including law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services. You're also a systems thinker who can coordinate across jurisdictions and bring multiple emergency functions into alignment.
Our Commitment to You
We offer comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, and professional development opportunities. Your work will have direct impact, protecting and empowering communities. We support a growth-oriented culture and value innovation that is grounded in service to people.
About San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management
Our department is rethinking emergency management to focus on community-centered, proactive strategies. We empower residents, strengthen operations, and support people before, during, and after emergencies. Learn more at www.smcgov.org/dem
Qualifications
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:
Bachelor’s 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.
Preferred Qualifications
A master’s degree in public administration, emergency management, crisis communication, security studies, or a related field is preferred. Candidates should also have completed ICS Courses 100, 200, 700, and 800, or be willing to complete them immediately.
Knowledge We're Seeking
We're looking for someone who understands coastside infrastructure and its associated risks. You should be familiar with emergency preparedness systems, have knowledge of both natural and human-caused disaster response (such as tsunamis, earthquakes, fires, floods, or hazardous materials), and have experience training and developing staff.
On-Call Expectations
Emergency Coordinators may be assigned on-call duties with a minimum of 7 days' advance notice. Assignments will be distributed equitably among qualified staff. During on-call periods, employees must:
+ Remain within 30 miles of the facility
+ Maintain reliable communication at all times
+ Be able to respond within 30 minutes of notification
Employees will be compensated for on-call hours outside of normal working hours in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act and applicable labor laws. Staff retain the ability to engage in personal activities during on-call periods, provided they remain available to respond. No employee will be assigned on-call duty for more than 7 consecutive days without a 48-hour break.
Application/Examination
To apply, submit your materials with "Emergency Management Coordinator – Coastside (Unclassified)" in the subject line to:
Rick Reed
Email: rreed1@smcgov.org
Required Materials:
+ Cover letter (max 2 pages) responding to the following:
+ How do you foster communication and coordination among different agencies and community groups during emergencies? Share an example.
+ Describe a difficult emergency or challenging situation you managed. How did you approach it?
+ How do you develop preparedness plans that work for the people they’re designed to protect?
+ Resume highlighting relevant experience
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Qualified candidates will be contacted for interviews.
We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. The County of San Mateo is committed to equity, inclusion, and building a workplace where everyone thrives.
NOTE: Application materials are only accepted via e-mail. Materials sent via regular mail and/or fax will not be accepted. Submittals that do not include all required elements (cover letter with responses to supplemental questions and a resume) will not be considered.
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 and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities.
The County of San Mateo is committed to advancing equity in order 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. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels .
HR Contact: Shannon Oh (07112024) (Department of Emergency Management Coordinator - Q002)
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.
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
Please verify your email address Verify Email
Por favor confirme su dirección de correo electrónico: Send Email