Director of Emergency Services - Department of Emergency Management (0942)

City and County of San Francisco•San Francisco, CA

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The San Francisco Department of Emergency Management (SFDEM) manages disaster preparation, mitigation, and response; 9-1-1 dispatch, and homeland security grant distribution for the City and County of San Francisco. This is a Permanent Exempt (PEX) appointment not to exceed three (3) years. This position is exempt from Civil Service Commission rules and incumbents are considered “at will” and serve at the discretion of the Appointing Officer. This is a full-time, 40 hours per week appointment. The Director of Emergency Services reports to the Chief Deputy Director of SFDEM and serves as the lead emergency manager for the City and County of San Francisco. This position establishes and implements the mission and long-term vision of SFDEM’s Emergency Services, overseeing the development of strategic plans, establishing policies, determining priorities, and adjusting plans to respond to emerging issues. The Director directs the allocation of resources to achieve timely outcomes and measurable goals within budget guidelines, making decisions of critical impact affecting the safety and resiliency of the City and the public. This position assumes major responsibility for all programs and activities under Emergency Services. Due to the nature of emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, the Director will be expected to be on-call outside of normal business hours and respond/report to work during emergencies, including working nights, weekends, and holidays with little notice.

Requirements

Possession of a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university; OR equivalent work experience (1 year of work experience is equivalent to 30 semester units or 45 quarter units).
Five (5) years of experience in a responsible managerial capacity involving the delivery of emergency communication services or emergency management services with a government agency public safety environment, all of which must include supervisory experience.
Possession and maintenance of a valid driver's license (Note: A valid California driver's license is required at the time of appointment).

Nice To Haves

Verifiable completion of Incident Command System courses 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 706, 800, or equivalent.
Verifiable completion of Incident Command System/Emergency Operations Center courses 2200, G-191, E/L/G 2300 or equivalent within the last 5 years.
Certified Emergency Manager from the International Association of Emergency Managers.
Possession of an advanced degree in Emergency Management, Public Policy, Public Administration, City Planning, or equivalent field.

Responsibilities

Prioritize and align emergency management activities to executive direction, ensuring that operational priorities, messaging, and resource allocation reflect the City’s executive leadership needs and expectations.
Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability by adjusting operational plans, staffing assignments, and response strategies as conditions evolve, including during rapidly developing incidents, shifting political priorities, or unexpected resource limitations.
Exercise sound judgment under pressure by evaluating limited or conflicting information, making timely operational decisions, and clearly communicating next steps to staff, partner agencies, and departmental and city leadership.
Model high‑performance behavior by setting expectations for responsiveness, accountability, and adaptability, reinforcing a culture of operational excellence within the Emergency Services team.
Determine the organizational structure, staff assignments, service levels, and administrative systems required to accomplish mission and objectives in an effective and efficient manner that meet the needs of the City.
Support and implement the Executive Director’s department-wide priorities and initiatives, including operations and incident management, preparedness and planning, training and exercise, external partnerships, and coordination of city resources related to citywide special events.
Activate the City and County of San Francisco Emergency Operations Center (EOC) when appropriate; identify the appropriate level of activation and secure necessary staffing, and serve as primary EOC Director for all major incidents or events.
Direct the production of citywide or regional preparedness trainings, exercises, workshops, and associated deliverables.
Ensure compliance with federal and state Homeland Security and other applicable regulations.
Consult with Mayor’s Office staff and Chief Deputy Director regarding the activities within Emergency Services and proper prioritization of citywide initiatives related to emergency preparedness.
Coordinate with other City Departments regarding compliance with federal, state and local guidelines and directives, and their overall emergency preparedness responsibilities as agencies serving the City and County of San Francisco. This includes managing the network of citywide emergency managers across multiple City Departments.
Coordinate with partner agencies, including representatives from the private sector, not-for-profit groups, community-based organizations, and other non-governmental organizations to ensure coordinated citywide emergency preparedness and response.
Represent the Department before commissions, boards and committees, and representatives from federal, state and local agencies and jurisdictions.
Oversee long-term financial planning, including directing the preparation and implementation of the unit’s annual budget, monitoring expenditures to ensure adherence to the approved budget, ensuring compliance with grant-funded position requirements, and coordinating with the Bay Area Urban Areas Security Initiative for grant submissions and allocations.
Facilitate citywide working groups, briefings, or large coordinating meetings as needed.
Guide the development of standard operating procedures for emergency operations and response.
Promote and prioritize City Department and partner agency emergency preparedness and compliance through training, exercise, and experience opportunities.
Support and work directly with the External Affairs team to promote citywide preparedness efforts and legislative initiatives.
Ensure timely review and response to all work‑related communications, including email, phone calls, and text messages, to support rapid decision‑making and effective coordination with internal and external partners.
Maintain staff productivity during both routine operations and emergency activations by managing workflows, setting priorities, and ensuring personnel remain responsive and engaged.
Provide insight and recommendations to the Chief Deputy Director as appropriate.
Maintain positive working relationships with local, state, and federal partners.
Foster a positive workplace culture that invests in professional development, expands team perspective and experience, and focuses staff time on Emergency Services priorities and deliverables.
Oversee the overall operation and quality control of the unit and its functions and programs, including setting objectives and monitoring the performance of subordinate staff.
Perform other related duties as assigned.