C.E.A. B, Southern Regional Administrator

Job Description and Duties

Join the leadership team of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) — the nation’s premier state-level emergency management and homeland security agency, charged with protecting the people of California from all threats and hazards. Cal OES employs over 1,700 dedicated individuals who achieve the agency’s mission through service to all. It is a dynamic, high energy work environment, where a team oriented approach to complex problem solving is encouraged and skills and leadership development of its employees is a priority.

If you are an experienced leader seeking a challenging and rewarding opportunity to strengthen public safety and emergency management across Southern California, we encourage you to apply for the Southern Regional Administrator position.

Position Summary

The Southern Division seeks an experienced emergency management leader to provide strategic, operational, and intergovernmental leadership across 11 operational county areas and more than 200 cities. The position plays a critical role in strengthening regional preparedness, response, recovery, continuity of operations, and mutual aid capabilities.

The Southern Regional Administrator leads regional emergency management programs and advances policies, plans, and operational frameworks aligned with state and federal requirements, FEMA standards, and regional needs. The incumbent also oversees the activation, staffing, and operational readiness of the Southern Regionional Response Team, the CalOES Southern Region Campus and the alternate Emergency Operations Center in Southern California.

As a senior representative of Cal OES, the incumbent builds and maintains partnerships with local, state, federal, tribal, military, and other governmental organizations; provides guidance on emergency management policy, FEMA programs, mutual aid, and disaster recovery; and may serve as a Deputy State Coordinating Officer or Governor’s Authorized Representative at a Joint Field Office following a major disaster declaration.

The ideal candidate is an accomplished emergency management leader with:

• Extensive emergency management experience spanning preparedness, response, recovery, continuity of operations, and disaster operations, including leadership of complex, multi-agency programs across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong strategic and policy expertise, including developing, implementing, and evaluating emergency management plans, procedures, and operational frameworks in alignment with state and federal requirements.
• Operational expertise in Emergency Operations Centers, incident management, mutual aid, regional coordination, and emergency response readiness.
• Knowledge of FEMA programs and disaster assistance, including applicable regulations, grant requirements, and recovery operations. Experience with declared disasters and emergency management grants is highly desirable.
• Proven leadership and staff development skills, including building high-performing teams, managing performance, and supporting professional growth.
• Exceptional judgment and analytical skills, with the ability to make timely decisions under pressure, manage competing priorities, and use exercises, after-action reviews, and operational data to drive continuous improvement.
• Outstanding communication, collaboration, and relationship-management skills, including the ability to brief executive leaders and elected officials, develop actionable policy recommendations, negotiate effectively, and influence outcomes across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries.

When you join Southern Region, you join a family of professionals that function as a team. You will build trust and camaraderie with your co-workers, as together you respond to emergencies and challenging situations. Cal OES provides employees with a variety of career choices and opportunities. We hope that you will consider a rewarding and challenging career with us!

You will find additional information about the job in the .

Working Conditions

The Southern Regional Administrator position headquarters is based in Orange County, but will be expected to travel throughout the state.

DMV Pull Program

Participation in the DMV Pull Program is required. The position(s) require(s) a valid Driver’s License (DL). You must answer the questions addressing your DL on your application. Ensure you provide your DL number, class, expiration date, and any endorsements and/or restrictions.

Conflict of Interest

This position is designated under the Conflict of Interest Code and is required to complete Form 700 within 30 days of appointment. Failure to comply with the Conflict of Interest Code requirements may void the appointment.

All hires may be subject to a criminal background check.

Special Requirements

Follow the Statement of Qualifications (SOQ) guidelines carefully, applicants that do not comply with the SOQ and application filing instructions will be disqualified from the examination.

When preparing your Statement of Qualifications, you are required to follow these guidelines:

• Responses to the Statement of Qualifications must be addressed and numbered in the same order as is listed on the bulletin
• Responses must be in paragraph form
  
• Responses must be typewritten on 8 1/2" x 11" paper, single spaced, using 11-point, Arial font
• Responses must be limited to five (5) single sided pages
• One-inch margins must be used
• Specific examples must be provided to justify your knowledge and experience described.

Evaluation of each candidate will be based on the content of the SOQ responses, demonstrating written communication skills, and the ability to present information clearly and concisely in writing.

Note: Each response must clearly identify your specific role in the example provided, including the number of years of experience in that role and the dates of that experience.

The SOQ must address the following statements and in order listed below:

1. Describe your independent leadership and management experience, including how you have led people toward organizational goals and objectives, fostered an inclusive workplace, supported the professional development of others, and promoted cooperation and teamwork within a multidisciplinary organization.
2. Describe your experience communicating and interacting effectively with executive management, legislators, senior and elected officials, and the media. Provide examples that demonstrate your ability to communicate complex or sensitive information to diverse audiences.
3. Describe your experience overseeing, developing, reviewing, and/or obtaining approval for budgets supporting a major program area or department. Include the size and scope of the budget and your specific responsibilities.
4. Describe your experience managing or supporting a complex emergency, major special event, or other high-impact incident. Include your specific role, the scale and complexity of the event, your responsibilities, and how you coordinated personnel, resources, and communications while managing competing operational priorities.
5. Describe your high-level experience developing, implementing, evaluating, or improving policies and programs. Include examples of recommending policy direction, modifying existing policies, or developing new policies or programs to address organizational needs.

Note: Resumes or a cover letter do not take the place of the Statement of Qualifications. Please review the bulletin in its entirety before submitting your application package. 

Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate's relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

• Extensive experience in emergency management, disaster preparedness, response, recovery, continuity, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, multi-agency emergency management programs.
• Experience directing emergency management operations across multiple jurisdictions or geographic areas.
• Experience managing and developing professional staff, including performance management, recruitment, training, and organizational development.
• Demonstrated ability to make sound decisions in high-pressure, rapidly changing environments.
• Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating emergency management policies, procedures, plans, and operational frameworks.
• Strong analytical ability and experience developing policy recommendations for senior executives.
• Experience managing or coordinating complex emergency or disaster operations involving multiple agencies and jurisdictions.
• Familiarity with state, federal, local, tribal, and/or military emergency response structures.
• Experience serving in an incident management, recovery, coordination, or executive role during a declared disaster would be highly desirable.
• Experience with the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) or other emergency management grant programs.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with local government, state agencies, federal agencies, tribal governments, military organizations, and other emergency management partners.
• Experience representing an organization before executive-level governmental or intergovernmental bodies.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to brief senior executives and elected or appointed officials.
• Strong organizational, negotiation, facilitation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Demonstrated commitment to developing staff and building high-performing teams.
• Ability to communicate complex emergency management, regulatory, and operational issues clearly to both technical and executive audiences.

Benefits

Cal OES is conveniently located near downtown, many local eateries, financial institutions, and the Light Rail Station. Cal OES employees are eligible for a number of benefits and working for us is a great opportunity to join a committed team. Benefits include but are not limited to the following:

• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) Plans
• Flexible Schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental & vision insurance for the employee and their family
• Investment in careers development
• Free Parking
• Electric Carport

Benefit information can be found on the  CalHR website and the  CalPERS website.

Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025): Effective July 1, 2025, CalHR implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025), which reduces employee pay in exchange for leave credits. The reduction amount and leave credits vary by bargaining unit. Salary range(s) listed do not reflect this temporary reduction. For more information, visit the CalHR website ().

Standard State Application (STD 678) Information

• List the Job Code (JC) and Position Number for this position in the “EXAMINATION(S) OR JOB TITLE(S) FOR WHICH YOU ARE APPLYING” section on the State Application, STD. 678.
• List your most current employment history first in the “EMPLOYMENT HISTORY” section on the STD. 678.
• Provide the “From” and “To” dates with the month, day and year, the “Hours Per Week” that you worked and the Total Worked (Years/Months). You may include overtime hours.
• You must complete the “DUTIES PERFORMED” on the State Application (do not note “see attached resume” in this section). Failure to comply and your application is considered incomplete.
• Please note consideration shall be given to work experience gained in a part-time or full-time job, regardless of whether the job was a paid or a volunteer position or was within, or outside of, state service.

NOTE: Incomplete applications received may not be considered. Resumes are welcomed but do not take the place of the completed State Application STD 678. Applications received via fax or email will NOT be accepted. If you would like confirmation of receipt, please send certified mail.

**A candidate pool may be established for subsequent vacancies.**

**We encourage applicants to apply electronically.**

Required Application Package Documents

The following items are required to be submitted with your application. Applicants who do not submit the required items timely may not be considered for this job:

• Current version of the State Examination/Employment Application STD Form 678 (when not applying electronically), or the Electronic State Employment Application through your Applicant Account at All Experience and Education relating to the Minimum Qualifications listed on the Classification Specification should be included to demonstrate how you meet the Minimum Qualifications for the position.
• Resume is required and must be included.
• Statement of Qualifications - In addition to completing your standard state application (STD 678) and resume, you must provide a Statement of Qualifications (SOQ). Please see the Special Requirements section for instructions and questions for the SOQ. Applications received without an SOQ will not be considered.