Deputy Superintendent, California Specialized Training Institute

California Governor's Office of Emergency Services; California; On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Excellent CalPERS state pension plan

Flexible Schedules

Generous paid time off

Health, dental & vision insurance

Career development

Job summary

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) seeks an accomplished Deputy Superintendent for the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI). The role leads statewide emergency management and public safety training programs, oversees campus operations in San Luis Obispo, and coordinates FEMA activities across California.

You will shape priorities, build trust with partners, and translate complex challenges into practical, innovative training solutions for first responders

Qualifications

• Proven ability to lead complex operations, establish priorities, allocate resources and ensure performance.
• Ability to lead diverse, multidisciplinary teams and foster an inclusive workplace culture.
• Experience translating policy, fiscal, and program considerations into executive recommendations.
• Strong data-driven decision making to support executive leadership and program outcomes.
• Excellent written and verbal communication across government partners and the public.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction across CSTI programs and operations.
• Shape statewide training strategies for emergency management, homeland security, hazardous materials, fire and rescue, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Advise Cal OES executive leadership on policy, fiscal, operational, program, and training matters.
• Lead and develop a diverse workforce through subordinate managers, fostering accountability and innovation.
• Oversee CSTI campus operations in San Luis Obispo and coordinate statewide FEMA training activities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Public safety training

Instructional design

Policy analysis

Project management

Communication

Job description

At the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), our mission is bigger than responding to emergencies, we help California prepare for what’s next.

We’re looking for an accomplished executive leader to join the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) as Deputy Superintendent. This is an opportunity to shape the future of emergency management and public safety training across California and make a direct impact on the people and communities who depend on it.

About CSTI

The California Specialized Training Institute is a critical component of Cal OES that operates year-round from our main campus in San Luis Obispo, Cal OES headquarters in Sacramento, and training sites across the state. We deliver over 150 specialized courses covering emergency management, hazardous materials, exercise development, fire and rescue, criminal justice, disaster recovery, and crisis communications - equipping first responders and emergency personnel with the skills they need when every second counts.

As Deputy Superintendent, you’ll serve as a key executive leader in one of California’s most critical public safety training organizations.

Working under the administrative direction of the Assistant Director and Superintendent, you will provide strategic leadership for the statewide development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of CSTI’s emergency management, and public safety training programs and provide high-level oversight of CSTI campus daily operations in San Luis Obispo.

You will help shape priorities, solve complex challenges, and ensure California’s training programs evolve alongside emerging threats and the changing needs of communities across the state.

What You’ll Lead

In this high-impact role, you will:

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction across CSTI programs and operations.
• Shape statewide training strategies for emergency management, homeland security, hazardous materials, fire and rescue, disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Advise Cal OES executive leadership on complex policy, fiscal, operational, program, and training matters.
• Lead and develop a diverse workforce through subordinate managers, fostering accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Manage daily campus operations on the San Luis Obispo campus.
• Oversee statewide coordination of FEMA and other federally supported training activities in California.
• Ensure programs meet applicable state and federal regulations, certification and accreditation standards, and credentialing requirements.
• Strengthen partnerships across government, public safety, emergency management, and other organizations.
• Anticipate emerging risks and translate statewide needs into effective, innovative training solutions.

As Deputy Superintendent, you will have the opportunity to influence statewide policy and program priorities, strengthen California’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities, and help build a resilient public safety workforce.

If you are a strategic and decisive leader who can see the big picture while navigating complex operational environments, build trust and bring people together, and make sound decisions when the stakes are high, we want to hear from you. You know how to turn emerging threats and changing needs into practical solutions, and you are motivated by the opportunity to lead programs that make a meaningful difference for California communities.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Department Information:

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive culture by hiring and retaining individuals from a variety of backgrounds and personal experiences. Our employees are empowered with the tools and resources necessary to meet our mission, while continuing to expand equity and inclusion efforts at all levels of the organization. We are committed to the spirit and work required to ensure the safety and resilience of every community in California.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) is an emergency response, homeland security, and disaster recovery agency and as a result, is a dynamic and exciting place to work in a team-oriented environment. Cal OES provides training to enhance the understanding of emergency and incident management to all employees.

The Planning, Preparedness, and Prevention Directorate develops and maintains statewide plans and planning guidance for local emergency management, state agencies, and tribal governments, including specialized programs for radiological preparedness, dam safety, seismic hazards, and earthquake early warning. This directorate also includes the California Specialized Training Institute which provides exercise support and courses in emergency management, hazardous materials response, criminal justice/officer safety, fire & rescue, and crisis communications

In the event of an emergency, employees may be contacted and requested to report to work in the event of an emergency. This contact may be outside of your normal working hours (evenings/nights, weekends, and holidays). This service may require irregular work hours, work locations other than the official duty location, and may include duties other than those specified in your official position description. Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and you may be required to relocate to emergency sites.

More information may be found here: Planning, Preparedness, and Prevention | California Governor's Office of Emergency Services

Department Website: http://www.caloes.ca.gov

Desirable Qualifications:

• Proven ability to lead complex operations, establish priorities, allocate resources, manage projects, address operational challenges, and ensure effective, consistent, and accountable organizational performance.
• Ability to lead diverse, multidisciplinary teams; establish accountability and performance expectations; develop managers and staff; lead through change; and foster a professional, collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented workplace culture.
• Ability to analyze organizational priorities, operational requirements, risks, trends, and available resources to develop sound recommendations, courses of action, and strategic solutions.
• Experience using data, performance measures, trends, and analysis to identify issues, assess risk, evaluate programs, improve processes, monitor outcomes, and support executive decision-making.
• Experience developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, procedures, guidelines, programs, and operational processes; establishing systems that are documented, consistently implemented, monitored, and compliant with applicable requirements.
• Experience managing complex projects, including establishing priorities and timelines, assigning and coordinating work, monitoring progress, resolving barriers, managing resources, and ensuring quality outcomes.
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to translate complex technical, operational, policy, fiscal, or programmatic information into clear, concise, decision-ready recommendations for executives, employees, partners, and the public.
• Demonstrated ability to build trust, obtain buy-in, mediate differences, exercise diplomacy and sound judgment, and bring together diverse perspectives and partners, including individuals and organizations outside the incumbent’s direct authority, to achieve common goals.
• Ability to represent and advocate for an organization’s mission, programs, priorities, and operational needs while coordinating effectively across organizational boundaries and with government agencies, external partners, multidisciplinary teams, and other interested parties.
• Knowledge or experience in instructional design, adult learning, training delivery, or workforce development, with the ability to connect instructional priorities to operational requirements and organizational mission.
• Experience coordinating operational and facilities requirements, including staffing, resources, security, continuity of operations, technology, and other organizational needs.
• Knowledge of state fiscal processes, human resources, purchasing and contracting requirements, management and supervisory practices, and other public-sector administrative requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise discretion, diplomacy, and sound judgment; resolve complex organizational and interested party issues; and develop practical solutions in challenging or changing environments.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, compliance, consistency, accountability, professionalism, and achieving measurable results aligned with the Cal OES mission and the needs of the communities and agencies it serves.

Cal OES is conveniently located near downtown, many local eateries, financial institutions, and the Light Rail Station. Cal OES employees are eligible for a number of benefits and working for us is a great opportunity to join a committed team. Benefits include but are not limited to the following:

• Excellent CalPERS state pension plan
• 401(k) and 457(b) Plans
• Flexible Schedules
• Generous paid time off
• Health, dental & vision insurance for the employee and their family
• Investment in careers development
• Free Parking
• Electric Carport

Benefit information can be found on the CalHR website and the CalPERS website.

Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025): Effective July 1, 2025, CalHR implemented the temporary Personal Leave Program 2025 (PLP 2025), which reduces employee pay in exchange for leave credits. The reduction amount and leave credits vary by bargaining unit. Salary range(s) listed do not reflect this temporary reduction. For more information, visit the CalHR website (www.calhr.ca.gov).

Questions about the application process?

Email a recruiter at [e-mail] and reference JC-521558