Description
At San Mateo County's Department of Emergency Management, we're building something different. Our vision is audacious:
become the most resilient county in the United States by 2030. We coordinate the full cycle of emergency management across 20 cities, 18 unincorporated areas, and 775,000+ residents. And we do it with a team that operates more like a startup than a bureaucracy-entrepreneurial, innovative, and relentlessly focused on what actually works.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Emergency management is evolving. The threats are more complex, the information environment is more contested, and the expectations on public agencies have never been higher. The departments that will define the future of this field aren't just responding to disasters, they're thinking strategically about how to build resilience before the next crisis arrives.
As our Strategist, you'll be the connective tissue between vision and execution. You'll work directly with department leadership to translate big ideas into actionable plans, ensure our initiatives are aligned and moving forward, and help position this department as a national model for innovative emergency management. This isn't a communications job with some strategy. This isn't an operations job with some planning.
This is a strategy job full stop.
WHAT YOU'LL ACTUALLY DO
Strategy & Initiatives
- Serve as the department's lead strategist, developing, tracking, and driving implementation of strategic plans, frameworks, and departmental initiatives from concept through completion
- Translate leadership's vision into actionable project plans with clear milestones, owners, and accountability structures
- Research and analyze emerging trends, best practices, and policy developments in emergency management, homeland security, and resilience-synthesizing findings into evidence-based recommendations
- Develop and manage the department's strategic initiative portfolio, ensuring alignment across programs and identifying gaps, redundancies, or opportunities for integration
- Prepare high-level briefings, reports, white papers, and presentations for department leadership, the County CEO's Office, Board of Supervisors, and external stakeholders
- Lead or support special projects and research assignments as directed by leadership, often working independently to deliver timely and thorough results
- Design and facilitate strategic planning sessions, workshops, and leadership offsites that move initiatives forward
Leadership & Operations Support
- Partner closely with department executives to analyze complex administrative, operational, and policy issues and develop evidence-based recommendations
- Serve as a liaison between leadership and operational staff, ensuring clear communication of strategic priorities and organizational alignment
- Coordinate cross-departmental and interagency initiatives, building productive relationships across organizational boundaries with diplomatic skill
- Support and represent leadership in external engagements, stakeholder meetings, legislative briefings, and interagency coordination as needed
- Track and manage departmental performance metrics, providing leadership with regular status reporting and data-driven insights for decision-making
- Develop and maintain operational procedures, guidelines, and documentation that provide structure and consistency across emergency management activities
Crisis Communications
- Support the development and maintenance of crisis communications frameworks, protocols, and messaging templates in coordination with the department's communications leads
- Contribute strategic perspective to multi-jurisdictional communications coordination across the county's 20 cities and unincorporated areas
- Assist with after-action reviews of crisis communications efforts, identifying lessons learned and recommending improvements
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Will provide functional guidance, training, and work direction to assigned staff, interns, or fellows
- Assist with onboarding and professional development of team members as assigned
- Model professional standards and contribute to a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement
WHO YOU ARE
You're not just checking boxes-you're connecting dots nobody else sees. A typical way to be prepared for this position includes:
The Foundation
- Bachelors or Masters degree in public administration, emergency management, public policy, strategic planning, communications, political science, homeland security, or a related field (Master's preferred)
- Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in strategic planning, policy analysis, program management, or a related analytical role in a public sector, emergency management, military, national security, or comparable environment
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered
- FEMA ICS courses (100, 200, 700, 800)-or willingness to complete within six months of hire
The Skillset
- Demonstrated ability to conduct complex analyses, synthesize information from multiple sources, and produce clear, actionable recommendations
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including experience preparing executive-level briefings, reports, and presentations
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects concurrently, balancing competing priorities without compromising quality
- Experience coordinating across organizational boundaries-departments, agencies, jurisdictions, or sectors
- Proficiency with standard office software; comfort with project management tools, data visualization, and collaborative platforms
- Working knowledge of crisis communications principles is a plus, but not required
The Mindset That Sets You Apart
- A strategic thinker. You see systems, patterns, and connections. You think two moves ahead and help others do the same.
- Insatiably curious. You read the research. You ask why. You're never satisfied with "that's how we've always done it."
- A trusted advisor. Leadership relies on you because you're discreet, prepared, and consistently deliver quality work.
- Agile under pressure. You don't just tolerate rapidly changing, demanding environments-you thrive in them.
- A team multiplier. You add value wherever you can, not just where your job description ends.
- An exceptional communicator. You write clearly, speak persuasively, and translate complexity into action.
OUR CULTURE: NOT YOUR TYPICAL EM SHOP
We're breaking the emergency management mold. Our approach integrates:
- Growth mindset: Challenges are opportunities. Failures are learning.
- Agile structure: Swift, decentralized decision-making. No permission culture.
- Human-centered design: Solutions built around people, not bureaucracy.
- Our 3C Framework: Connection, Capability, Communication-the lens through which we approach everything.
We pair veteran emergency managers with data scientists, social scientists, and human-centered designers. We operate across Blue Sky (preparedness), Grey Sky (heightened readiness), and Dark Sky (crisis) conditions. And we're building something that will outlast us all.
Application/Examination
Departmental Promotional Only. Only current County of San Mateo employees in the Department of Emergency Management with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term positions prior to the final filing date may apply.
Responses to supplemental questions are required and must be submitted in addition to the Standard County of San Mateo employment application. A resume or reference to a resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses to these questions.
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.
TENTATIVE RECRUITMENT TIMELINE:
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, May 5, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Thursday, May 7, 2026
Panel Interviews: Week of May 11, 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 and serves 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. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work.
The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.
Analyst: Lealoa Numera (04212026) (Management Analyst-D181)
