Emergency Services Manager

Job Description

Description

The Department of Public Safety is currently looking to hire one regular, full-time Emergency Services Manager. The Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety is one of the nation’s largest fully integrated public safety departments, providing police, fire, and emergency medical services to the community. In addition to these core services, the department coordinates the City’s emergency management and preparedness efforts, bringing together sworn and professional staff from multiple disciplines to support a coordinated approach to protecting lives, property, and the continuity of essential City services. This position offers a unique opportunity to lead and advance Sunnyvale’s citywide emergency management program. The Emergency Services Manager will collaborate with City departments, community organizations, and regional partners to strengthen preparedness and support the community’s continued resilience and ability to respond effectively to emergencies and disasters.

Under general direction, plans, organizes, manages, and evaluates the City's comprehensive all-hazards emergency management program, including preparedness, mitigation, prevention, protection, response, recovery, continuity, and resilience. The Emergency Services Manager must have extensive familiarity with Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions and activations, as the position coordinates citywide emergency planning, EOC readiness and operations, training and exercises, community preparedness, interagency activities, and the City's Office of Emergency Services (OES) volunteer programs under Sunnyvale Emergency Response Volunteers (SERV). This position supervises assigned staff; administers budgets, grants, contracts, and program resources; represents the City with local, regional, state, federal, nonprofit, community, and private-sector partners; and performs related work as required.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED AND EXERCISED
Receives general direction from the Director of Public Safety or designee. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, and administrative support staff.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

This position is distinguished from the lower-level Emergency Medical Services Coordinator classification by its broader scope of responsibilities, program leadership, supervisory duties, and higher level of decision-making authority. The manager oversees the full spectrum of emergency management functions, including preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery, and is responsible for developing policies and procedures that guide citywide emergency operations.

This classification is expected to exercise independent judgment in complex situations, develop strategic partnerships with external agencies, and represent the City in multi-jurisdictional coordination efforts. Unlike roles focused primarily on implementation of specific programs or operational support, this role involves comprehensive program management, budget oversight, and leadership in emergency operations center readiness and incident coordination.

Essential Job Functions

(May include, but are not limited to, the following):

• Serve in the role of EOC Coordinator when the Emergency Operations Center is activated, supporting the designated EOC Director and coordinating EOC staffing and operations. Direct and oversee assigned emergency management personnel and programs, and coordinate interdepartmental efforts before, during, and after emergencies to ensure an organized and effective response and recovery.
• Develop, maintain, evaluate, and implement the City's Emergency Operations Plan, hazard-specific and functional annexes, continuity and recovery plans, and other emergency plans and procedures.
• Develop, coordinate, and conduct training programs and exercises for City employees, volunteers, and EOC staff to ensure operational readiness, effective EOC operations, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Establish strategic priorities and provide oversight for all phases of emergency management, including mitigation, prevention, protection, preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity planning.
• Manage a portfolio of emergency management programs and complex projects; establish work plans, timelines, milestones, capability measures, and reporting processes; identify program gaps and recommend improvements.
• Select, supervise, train, assign, and evaluate assigned staff; oversee consultants, contractors, and interns as appropriate.
• Coordinate the City's use and operational readiness of emergency alert and warning, emergency communications, situational awareness, and information-management systems.
• Oversee all community disaster preparedness education and outreach.
• Manage and support the City's OES volunteer programs under SERV, including recruitment, onboarding, training, exercises, deployment, supervision, retention, and recognition.
• Develop, monitor, and maintain department grants related to emergency management.
• Ensure the operational readiness of emergency facilities, equipment, supplies, technology, and redundant communications systems, including primary and alternate EOCs.
• Develop and administer the Office of Emergency Services budget; forecast resource needs; manage procurement, contracts, expenditures, and financial records.
• Represent the City and serve as liaison to the Santa Clara County Operational Area, neighboring jurisdictions, regional, state, and federal agencies, mutual aid partners, nonprofit and community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain partnerships with private-sector organizations, utilities, educational institutions, healthcare providers, and owners or operators of critical infrastructure to strengthen preparedness, continuity, and community resilience.
• Participate in and represent the City at regional planning efforts, committees, trainings, drills, exercises, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Provide emergency management guidance and technical assistance to City departments on departmental emergency procedures and continuity planning; serve as an emergency management resource to Human Resources/Risk Management in the development and review of facility emergency action plans.
• Monitor emerging hazards, regulatory changes, technology, and lessons learned; recommend and implement revisions to emergency plans, procedures, systems, and programs as needed.
• Interpret, apply, and explain city and county policies, and state and federal legislation related to emergency management.
• Coordinate disaster damage assessment, cost documentation, financial recovery, and state and federal reimbursement activities with responsible City departments and outside agencies.
• Lead and develop post-incident EOC after-action reports.
• Develop and maintain improvement plans and corrective-action tracking based on after-action findings from exercises, planned events, EOC activations, and actual incidents.
• Perform other duties as required.

WORKING CONDITIONS

When assigned to an office environment, must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person and over the telephone; ability to stand and walk between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.

When assigned to field environments , must possess mobility to work in changing site conditions; possess the strength, stamina, and mobility to perform light to medium physical work; to sit, stand, and walk on level, uneven, or slippery surfaces; to reach, twist, turn, kneel, and bend, to climb and descend ladders; and to operate a motor vehicle and visit various City sites; vision to inspect site conditions and work in progress. The job involves fieldwork requiring frequent walking in operational areas to identify problems or hazards, with exposure to hazardous materials in some site locations. Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects averaging a weight of 25 pounds, or heavier weights, in all cases with the use of proper equipment and/or assistance from other staff. Some of these requirements may be accommodated for otherwise qualified individuals requiring and requesting such accommodation.

Environmental Conditions:
Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees also work in the field and are exposed to loud noise levels, cold and hot temperatures, inclement weather conditions, road hazards, vibration, chemicals, mechanical and/or electrical hazards. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or the public in interpreting and enforcing divisional policies and procedures.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of experience and education (or training) that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in emergency management, public administration, public safety, homeland security, or a related field; AND Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in emergency management, disaster preparedness, response, recovery, continuity, or a closely related field, including two years of supervisory, lead, or significant program-management responsibility.

Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of comprehensive all-hazards emergency management, including preparedness, mitigation, prevention, protection, response, recovery, continuity, and resilience; California Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System (ICS), EOC organization and operations, the Operational Area concept, and mutual aid systems.
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, plans, standards, and guidance, including requirements related to emergency planning, public warning, and disaster assistance.
• Emergency planning, risk and hazard assessment, training and exercise design, evaluation, after-action review, improvement planning, and corrective-action management.
• Whole-community preparedness, public education and engagement, management of the City's OES volunteer programs under SERV, access and functional needs, cultural competence, and inclusive communication.
• Principles and practices of public administration, organizational management, supervision, program evaluation, budget development, procurement, contract administration, and grant management.
• Emergency facilities, equipment, supplies, technology, alert and warning, communications, situational-awareness, and information-management systems.
• Interagency and multi-jurisdictional coordination, emergency resource management, and operational communications.
• Disaster recovery, continuity planning, damage assessment, cost documentation, public assistance, and state and federal reimbursement processes.
• Principles of critical infrastructure protection, community resilience, homeland security, and public-private partnership development.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and City staff.
• The structure and content of the English language, including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions, programs, projects, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.

Ability to:

• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, with a variety of audiences; prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, documentation, and other written materials.
• Plan, organize, direct, supervise, and evaluate comprehensive emergency management programs, assigned staff, multidisciplinary teams, consultants, and volunteers.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate emergency plans, training programs, exercises, after-action reviews, improvement plans, and corrective actions.
• Coordinate EOC readiness and operations and complex citywide and multi-agency activities before, during, and after emergencies.
• Analyze hazards, operational problems, legislation, data, and alternatives; develop sound conclusions and recommendations under emergency conditions.
• Maintain program, facility, system, equipment, and operational readiness.
• Prepare and administer budgets, grants, contracts, procurements, financial documents, and disaster-recovery records accurately.
• Exercise sound judgment, initiative, tact, prudence, resilience, and flexibility in rapidly changing or high-stress situations and within general policy, legal, and procedural guidelines.
• Independently organize work, establish priorities, manage multiple complex projects, meet critical deadlines, and follow up on assignments.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Effectively use emergency-management systems, software applications, communication tools, and modern business equipment.

Willingness to:

• Work irregular and extended hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, during emergency incidents, EOC activations, planned events, recovery operations or as needed.
• Respond outside normal working hours as needed
• Travel to regional, state, and federal meetings, trainings, exercises, and conferences as required.
• Adapt quickly to rapidly changing emergency operational environments and priorities.
• Engage proactively with internal departments, external agencies, volunteers, and the public to support emergency readiness.

Licenses/Certificates

• Completion of FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800, or current successor courses. Completion of ICS-300 and ICS-400, and appropriate SEMS Training courses within six months of appointment.
• Possession of a valid driver’s license in the jurisdiction or the ability to provide alternative transportation as approved by the appointing authority.

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Possession of a current Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) credential issued by the International Association of Emergency Managers, completion of the Cal OES/CSTI Emergency Management Specialist Certificate Program, or comparable advanced emergency management training or certification.
• Experience serving in a leadership or coordination role during significant emergencies, planned events, EOC activations, or other complex incidents.
• Experience developing community preparedness, public education, and outreach programs for culturally and linguistically diverse communities, including people with access and functional needs.
• Experience with emergency management software and technology, public alert and warning, situational-awareness systems, and operational communications.

Application and Selection Process

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a City of Sunnyvale employment application and responses to the supplemental questions to the Department of Human Resources no later than 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 9, 2026 (postmarks or faxes are not accepted). Candidates are asked to fully describe any training, education, experience or skills relevant to this position. Electronic applications may be submitted on-line through the City's employment page at Sunnyvale.ca.gov and click Jobs. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.

EXAM PROCESS

Applications will be competitively screened based on the minimum qualifications of this position. Based upon a review of the application materials, the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in the examination process scheduled for Thursday, January 7. The process will be in person at Sunnyvale City Hall. (Note: The examination process may be changed as deemed necessary by the Director of Human Resources).

SELECTION PROCESS

Those candidates that receive a passing score on the examination will be placed on an eligibility list for up to one year, in accordance with the City's Civil Service Rules and Administrative Policies. Any candidate selected by the hiring department will be required to successfully complete a pre-employment process, which may consist of a comprehensive background investigation, as well as medical exam(s) administered by a City-selected physician(s) before hire.

Prior to starting work, all newly-hired employees will be fingerprinted to check conviction history. A conviction history will not necessarily disqualify an applicant from appointment; however, failure to disclose conviction history will result in refusal of employment or termination. Positions which are covered by the Department of Transportation regulations are required to submit to a pre-employment drug test and to random drug and alcohol testing.

INFORMATION ABOUT PROOF OF EDUCATION

Any successful candidate selected by the hiring department may be required to submit proof of education (i.e., original copy of the diploma or college/university transcripts). An applicant with a college degree obtained outside the United States must have education records evaluated by a credential evaluation service at the candidate’s expense. Candidates may utilize any third-party agency for the evaluation. If you search ‘education equivalency verification’ or similar online, you will obtain results for agencies that provide this evaluation service.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Positions in this job classification are represented by the Sunnyvale Managers Association (SMA).

For assistance on how to fill out your job application, watch the following video:

• How to Apply for a City of Sunnyvale Job - YouTube (5:13)

The information contained within this announcement may be modified or revoked without notice and does not constitute either an expressed or implied contract.

The City of Sunnyvale is an equal opportunity employer. Applicants for all job openings will be considered without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful under any federal, state, or local laws. The City of Sunnyvale is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to job applicants with disabilities. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact us at (408) 730-7490 or recruitments@sunnyvale.ca.gov.

Summary of Management SMA Benefits

Notice of CFRA (California Family Rights Act) Rights and Obligations

Closing Date/Time: 12/9/2026 5:00 PM Pacific