Salary : $161,470.40 - $201,905.60 Annually
Location : County of San Mateo, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: D190A
Department: County Executive's/Clerk of the Board
Opening Date: 09/22/2026
Closing Date: 10/13/2026 5:00 PM Pacific
Bargaining Unit: 50B

Description
The County Executive's Office is seeking an accomplished, strategic, and innovative communications leader for the position of
Please view our Online Brochure for a detailed description of the position and instructions on how to apply.

Application/Examination
Open and Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current San Mateo County and San Mateo County Superior Court employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, extra-help, or temporary position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questionnaire. 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 above. If you are not on the County's website, please go to http://jobs.smcgov.org to apply.

Responses to the three supplemental questions in the Supplemental Questionnaire must be provided along with County of San Mateo Employment Application Form.

Tentative Recruitment Timeline
Final Filing Date: Tuesday, October 13, 2026 by 11:59 PM PT
Application Screening: Week of October 19, 2026
Panel Interview: Week of November 9, 2026

Analyst: Priscilla Bermudez (09222026) (Chief Communications Officer - D190)
We invite you to explore our page for a snapshot of the comprehensive and competitive benefits available to eligible employees of the County of San Mateo. From health and wellness to financial security, our benefits are designed to support you at every stage of your career. (Please note that benefits are subject to change.)

In addition to core benefits, the County is proud to offer a variety of wellness and professional development programs to help you grow both personally and professionally. Most of these enriching opportunities are available during work hours and come at no cost to you.

As a County employee, you'll also be covered by the federal Social Security system, earning valuable retirement benefits based on your salary and years of service.
01

IMPORTANT NOTE: Applicants for this position are required to submit responses to the supplemental questions below. Your responses will provide detailed information about your background and experiences related to this position. This information will weigh heavily in the application screening by the subject matter experts and will also be used in the selection process. Answer the questions completely, paying attention to the multi-parts of the questions. While being thorough and detailed, also be concise. Your strategic use of language as well as neatness, clarity of expression, attention to detail, proper use of grammar, and the ability to follow instructions will be considered in the evaluation process. Responses should be no more than three or four paragraphs per question.While we recognize that AI can be a useful tool, we are interested in learning about your individual qualifications and experience through your responses to these questions. Please ensure that your responses are your own and reflect your personal experience, knowledge, and professional accomplishments.A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for your responses. I have read and understand this information.

• Yes
• No

02

Describe a situation in which you had to communicate about a decision or issue that was politically sensitive or publicly contested. What competing interests were in play, how did you decide what to say and when, and how did you keep elected officials, department leadership, and the public appropriately informed? Please describe the outcome, including anything you would do differently.
03

Describe a time you led a communications team through a period of high demand or rapid change, such as a crisis, reorganization, or surge in competing priorities. How did you set priorities, allocate staff and/or vendor resources, and ensure key deliverables were completed on time? In your response, include how you developed or supported individual team members through that period.
04

Describe a public communication campaign or program you developed and led from concept to completion. What was the objective, what audiences and channels did you use, how did you build support for it across departments or partner agencies, and how did you measure whether it worked?
Required Question