Countywide Alert & Warning Program Lead

Smcgov; Redwood City, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

County of San Mateo is seeking a skilled Emergency Management professional to lead countywide alerting and warning initiatives. You will coordinate with 32 agencies, craft effective alerts, and align communications for unified public messaging during emergencies.

You will train staff, supervise incident communications, and support on‑call and disaster response activities. This role requires strategic thinking, strong relaying of critical information, and a track record of improving warning

Qualifications

• Master’s degree or higher in emergency management or a related field.
• Minimum five years of professional experience, including two in emergency management or disaster operations.
• Strong understanding of IPAWS, WEA, EAS, and mass notification systems.
• Proven ability to train, brief senior leaders, and coordinate across agencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and issue emergency alerts that drive protective action.
• Coordinate with 32 agencies to standardize alerting practices.
• Lead training seminars and practice sessions for authorized users.
• Maintain readiness through exercises, plans, and after action reviews.
• Support on‑call duty and disaster response activations across jurisdictions.

Skills

5+ years exp

Emergency management

Crisis communications

IPAWS / EAS / WEA knowledge

ICS knowledge

Public briefing senior leaders

Education

Master’s degree in emergency management / related field

Bachelor’s degree in business / public administration / emergency management

Tools

IPAWS knowledge

Emergency notification platforms

Job description

County of San Mateo is seeking a skilled Emergency Management professional to lead countywide alerting and warning initiatives. You will coordinate with 32 agencies, craft effective alerts, and align communications for unified public messaging during emergencies.

You will train staff, supervise incident communications, and support on‑call and disaster response activities. This role requires strategic thinking, strong relaying of critical information, and a track record of improving warning