SMC EM Emergency Coordinator - Unclassified (Open)

About the Department San Mateo County Emergency Management (SMC EM) is an agency that builds innovative programs, forges cross‑sector partnerships, and redefines emergency management for a county of 775,000 residents across 20 cities and 18 unincorporated areas. Mission: build resilience by empowering communities, strengthening operational capabilities, and coordinating support before, during, and after emergencies. About the Role This is a mid‑level position requiring experience in real crisis, adaptability, and a desire for growth. The Emergency Coordinator works in the operational center, planning, writing, briefing, executing, and balancing strategy with tactical execution across a complex operational area and its partners. Strengths needed: prioritization, pivoting, producing under uncertainty, and sound judgment. What This Role Actually Involves The Daily Rhythm and Duty Officer Rotation The baseline work is steady program tasks. In addition, the Coordinator participates in a duty officer rotation with daily situational awareness and the duty phone full time during scheduled duty periods. During that time you handle early notifications, brief leaders, make partner calls, and support on‑scene work as appropriate. Disaster Operations When the county activates for an event, the Coordinator deploys into response, in the EOC or in the field, taking a section role as needed. This can involve long shifts, nights, weekends, and holidays for the duration of the activation. Planning Lead and contribute to the full planning cycle: scoping, drafting, coordinating, executing, exercising, and updating operational plans, annexes, and frameworks. Translate federal and state guidance into usable plans. Coordinate reviews, build consensus, and maintain an understanding of threat and hazard landscape. Communication and Coordination Brief and present to senior county leaders, elected officials, fire and law chiefs, operational area partners, community organizations, and the public. Produce clear written products under tight timelines: memos, briefings, plans, talking points, after‑action reports, and correspondence. Represent SMC EM in working groups, advisory committees, and external meetings. Project Management and Execution Carry projects from initiation through completion, owning timelines and deliverables. Manage multiple concurrent priorities without compromising quality. Identify obstacles early, problem‑solve collaboratively, and elevate when necessary. Document work, hand off cleanly, and build for the next person. Exercise, Training, and Operational Readiness Design, develop, facilitate, and evaluate exercises (tabletop, functional, full‑scale) aligned with HSEEP standards. Support training programs for staff, partners, and the operational area. Participate in after‑action reviews and improvement planning. Who We Are Looking For Mid‑level professional with crisis experience, autonomous and resilient. Demonstrated grit, curiosity, integrity, and proactivity. The Ideal Candidate Will Possess Minimum 5 years of professional experience, 2 years in 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 related field. Working command of the planning cycle. Strong communication across audiences. Problem‑solving track record. Ability to work in varied settings and disciplines. Experience designing and executing exercises aligned with HSEEP. Formal project management experience managing scope, schedule, and stakeholders. Hands‑on alert and warning systems experience. Experience across multiple jurisdictions or complex multi‑agency environments. Training instruction or curriculum development experience. Excellent written communication skills. Familiarity with the five Emergency Management Sections and Incident Command System. Completion of IBS courses 100, 200, 700, 800 or ability to complete within first 90 days. Valid California driver’s license or ability to obtain one. Education and Experience Any combination that provides required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Typical qualification: Bachelor’s degree in business, public administration, emergency management or related discipline; one year of experience in program planning, development, or budgeting in a public, military, or private organization, preferably related to emergency/disaster planning and management. E‑Equal Opportunity The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels. #J-18808-Ljbffr County of San Mateo