Emergency Services Manager

Salary: $153,944.00 - $192,430.00 Annually
Location : Sunnyvale, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 26-00176
Department: Public Safety
Division: Division of Investigations & Community Services
Opening Date: 11/12/2026
Closing Date: 12/9/2026 5:00 PM Pacific

Description
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