Deputy Director of Emergency Services

Deputy Director of Emergency Services

Salary

$143,244.09 - $200,561.36 Annually

Location

Camarillo and may be required to travel throughout Ventura County, CA

Job Type

Full-Time Regular

Job Number

0524SHF-26AA (SG)

Department

Sheriff

Opening Date

06/01/2026

Closing Date

Continuous

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Description

Under general direction of the Director of Emergency Services, assists in planning, directing, coordinating, and managing the programs and operations of Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services. Serves as a principal advisor to the Director on emergency management matters and provides leadership for disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, homeland security, continuity planning, emergency communications, and Operational Area coordination activities. Exercises direct supervision over professional, technical, administrative, and support staff.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS

The Deputy Director of Emergency Services is a management-level classification responsible for assisting in the administration of countywide emergency management programs and services. The incumbent may act on behalf of the Director of Emergency Services in their absence and serve in a key leadership role during emergencies, disasters, and Emergency Operations Center activations.

The Deputy Director of Emergency Services is expected to function as an emergency management executive and operational leader during disasters and major incidents. The incumbent routinely serves in emergency response and coordination roles, including participation in the Departments Duty Officer Program, Emergency Operations Center activations, Operational Area coordination activities, and field response operations.

PAYROLL TITLE: Sheriffs Senior Manager II

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT: Sheriff / Office of Emergency Services

Ventura County offers an excellent benefit package. For more details regarding the benefits offered by Ventura County click here: https://hr.ventura.org/benefits.

Sheriffs Senior Manager II is a Management/Confidential classification and is not eligible for overtime compensation. Incumbents in this classification are eligible for benefits at the MB3 level.

The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future regular, temporary, fixed-term, intermittent, and extra-help vacancies for this position only. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy within the Sheriffs Office.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

OPENING DATE: Monday, August 24, 2026

CLOSING DATE: Continuous and may close at any time; therefore, the schedule for the remainder of the process will depend upon when a sufficient number of qualified applications are received to meet business needs.

Examples Of Duties

Duties may include but are not limited to the following:

• Assists in directing and managing Ventura Countys comprehensive emergency management program, including mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience initiatives.
• Acts on behalf of the Director of Emergency Services as assigned.
• Supervises professional, technical, administrative, and support staff engaged in emergency management and homeland security activities.
• Assists in the development, implementation, evaluation, and maintenance of countywide emergency management policies, procedures, plans, and programs, including the Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan, hazard mitigation plans, evacuation plans, continuity plans, recovery frameworks, and related emergency management documents.
• Coordinates Operational Area emergency management activities, mutual aid operations, and preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts with local governments, special districts, tribal governments, state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private sector partners.
• Provides technical guidance and policy recommendations regarding emergency management laws, regulations, standards, and best practices.
• Represents Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services on local, regional, state, and federal committees, working groups, and task forces.
• Assists in administering homeland security, emergency management, hazard mitigation, and disaster recovery grants and related funding programs.
• Assists with contract administration, procurement activities, and vendor management related to emergency management programs and projects.
• Develops reports, presentations, grant applications, funding requests, and policy recommendations for executive leadership, elected officials, and external partners.
• Assists in the administration of public warning and emergency notification systems, emergency communications programs, and situational awareness initiatives.
• Oversees or coordinates emergency management training, exercises, and corrective action programs.
• Responds to emergencies and disasters; oversees or participates in Emergency Operations Center activations and incident management activities; serves in Incident Command System and Emergency Operations Center leadership positions; and provides operational coordination and leadership during extended emergency operations, disaster response, and recovery activities.
• Participates in the Ventura County Sheriff Emergency Services Duty Officer Program, providing after-hours emergency management coordination, situational awareness, incident support, and response to emergencies, disasters, and other significant incidents.
• Other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

These are entrance requirements to the examination process and assures neither continuance in the process nor placement on an eligible list.

Education and Experience

Any combination of education, training, and experience which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Typical qualifying experience would include:

• A Bachelors degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Homeland Security, Business Administration, or a closely related field; AND three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, homeland security, disaster recovery, mass care and sheltering, or related governmental/military operations. This experience must include at least two (2) years of experience exercising operational leadership within an emergency management, public safety, or disaster response environment (such as serving as a supervisor, programmatic lead, shift commander, or in an Emergency Operations Center [EOC] leadership capacity).

OR

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, homeland security, disaster recovery, mass care and sheltering, or related governmental/military operations. This experience must include at least two (2) years of experience exercising operational leadership within an emergency management, public safety, or disaster response environment (such as serving as a supervisor, programmatic lead, shift commander, or in an Emergency Operations Center [EOC] leadership capacity).

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Licensing: Ability to obtain and maintain a valid California Class C drivers license.
• Background: Must successfully pass and complete a comprehensive background investigation.
• On-Call Availability: Must participate in a rotating on-call Duty Officer Program and be available for emergency response outside of normal working hours.
• Disaster Response: Availability to respond to incident scenes, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, and emergency assignments throughout Ventura County on a 24-hour basis.
• Extended Operations: Ability and willingness to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight operations, and multi-day activations during emergencies, disasters, and other significant incidents.
• Crisis Leadership: Ability to serve effectively in EOC leadership positions, Incident Command System (ICS) assignments, Operational Area coordination roles, or other emergency management functions during active disasters.

DESIRED:

• Experience working with local, state, and federal elected officials and government agencies. Demonstrated understanding of governmental processes, public policy, and the ability to effectively navigate complex political and intergovernmental environments is highly desirable.
• Progressively responsible experience in local or county emergency management programs, including coordination of multi-agency emergency operations, and collaboration with public safety agencies, government partners, and community stakeholders. Experience leading or supporting Emergency Operations (EOC) activations and implementing SEMS, NIMS, and ICS principles is highly desirable.
• Experience in developing and implementing disaster preparedness training and exercises.
• Experience in obtaining and/or administering state and federal grant programs, including FEMA Public Assistance, FEMA Individual Assistance and California Disaster Assistance Act program.
• Possession of, or the ability to obtain, appropriate emergency management professional certifications (e.g., CSTI or FEMA credentials) within a designated timeframe.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Thorough knowledge of: Principles and practices of emergency management, homeland security, and public administration; The California Emergency Services Act, Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and Incident Command System (ICS); Emergency planning, disaster response, disaster recovery, hazard mitigation, and continuity planning principles; Grant administration and public-sector budgeting practices; Personnel management, supervision, employee development, and performance evaluation; Principles of intergovernmental relations and collaborative problem-solving; Emergency notification, public warning, and emergency communications systems.

Ability to: Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate complex emergency management programs; Effectively supervise, train, motivate, and evaluate subordinate staff; Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, department heads, city managers, public safety executives, community organizations, and members of the public; Analyze complex problems and develop practical solutions; Prepare and present clear and concise reports, recommendations, and policy analyses; Communicate effectively both orally and in writing; Lead emergency operations under stressful and rapidly changing conditions; Interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies, and technical guidance related to emergency management.

Recruitment Process

FINAL FILING DATE: This is a continuous recruitment and may close at any time; therefore, apply as soon as possible if you are interested in it. Your application must be received by County of Ventura Human Resources in Ventura, California, no later than 5:00 p.m. on the closing date.

NOTE TO APPLICANTS: It is essential that you complete all sections of your application and supplemental questionnaire thoroughly and accurately to demonstrate your qualifications. A resume and/or other related documents may be attached to supplement the information in your application and supplemental questionnaire, however, it/they may not be submitted in lieu of the application.

LATERAL TRANSFER OPTION: If presently permanently employed in another "merit" or "civil service" public agency/entity in the same or substantively similar position as is advertised, and if appointed to that position by successful performance in a "merit" or "civil service" style examination, then appointment by "Lateral Transfer" may be possible. If interested, please click here (Download PDF reader) for additional information.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONNAIRE - qualifying: All applicants are required to complete and submit the questionnaire for this exam at the time of filing. The supplemental questionnaire may be used throughout the exam process to assist in determining each applicants qualifications and acceptability for the position. Failure to complete and submit the questionnaire may result in the application being removed from consideration.

APPLICATION SCREENING - qualifying: All applications will be reviewed to determine whether the stated requirements are met. Applicants meeting the stated requirements will be invited to continue to the next step in the examination process.

TRAINING & EXPERIENCE EVALUATION: A Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E) is a structured evaluation of the job application materials submitted by a candidate, including the written responses to the supplemental questionnaire. The T&E is NOT a determination of whether the candidate meets the stated requirements; rather, the T&E is one method for determining who are the better qualified among those who have shown that they meet the stated requirements. In a T&E, applications are either scored or rank ordered according to criteria that most closely meet the business needs of the department. Candidates are typically scored/ranked in relation to one another; consequently, when the pool of candidates is exceptionally strong, many qualified candidates may receive a score or rank which is moderate or even low resulting in them not being advanced in the process.

NOTE: The selection process will likely consist of an Oral Exam, which may be preceded or replaced with the score from a Training and Experience Evaluation (T&E), contingent upon the size and quality of the candidate pool. In a typical T&E, your training and experience are evaluated in relation to the background, experience and factors identified for successful job performance during a job analysis. For this reason, it is recommended that your application materials clearly show your relevant background and specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities. It is also highly recommended that the supplemental questions within the application are completed with care and diligence.

ORAL EXAMINATION - 100%: A job-related oral examination will be conducted to evaluate and compare participating examinees knowledge, skills, and abilities in relation to those factors which job analysis has determined to be essential for successful performance of the job. Examinees must earn a score of seventy percent (70%) or higher to qualify for placement on the eligible list.

NOTE: If there are three (3) or fewer qualified applicants, an examination may not be conducted. Instead, a score of seventy percent (70%) will be assigned to each application, and each applicant will be placed on the eligible list.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year. The eligible list established from this recruitment may be used to fill present and future Regular (including Temporary and Fixed-term), Intermittent and Extra Help vacancies for this and similar positions only. There is currently one (1) Regular vacancy in the Sheriffs Office.

Candidates successfully completing the examination process may be placed on an eligible list for a period of one (1) year.

BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION: PRIOR TO ACTUAL APPOINTMENT FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST, THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE WILL BE REQUIRED TO PASS A THOROUGH BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE SHERIFFS HUMAN RESOURCES BUREAU. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION FINDINGS MAY BE A BASIS FOR REMOVAL FROM THE ELIGIBLE LIST. TO SPEAK TO A SHERIFFS OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE CONCERNING THE BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION PROCESS, CALL (805) 654-2375.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability (mental and physical), exercising the right to family care and medical leave, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religious creed, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, and related medical conditions), and sexual orientation.

For further information about this recruitment, please contact Stephanie Gallagher at stephanie.gallagher@venturacounty.gov or (805) 654-2848.

YOUR BENEFITS AS A COUNTY OF VENTURA EMPLOYEE

MANAGEMENT

To learn more about Benefits, Retirement, and the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), see links below.

• Benefits website or you may call (805) 654-2570.
• Retirement FAQs
• Memorandum of Agreement

Union Codes: MB3, MB4, MS, MT, MCC, MU

01

Please note: You are applying for a position within a law enforcement agency. If you are successful in the application, testing and selection process, you will undergo a thorough background investigation prior to receiving an offer of employment. The background investigation may take up to three (3) months to complete. The following are some of the more common reasons for disqualification from the background investigation: Conviction of a felony. Conviction of two or more misdemeanors in the past ten years. Conviction of a sex related crime. Having had a driving privilege suspended or revoked for non-medical reasons within the past five (5) years. Having any convictions for violent crimes or domestic violence incidents that prohibit the possession of a firearm under 29805 PC. History of having illegally possessed, purchased, or sold any of the following substances in the past seven (7) years: cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, LSD, MDMA, ecstasy, psilocybin (psychedelic mushrooms), or PCP. History of serious financial irresponsibility within the past five (5) years. Having been on any court ordered probation at any time within the past five (5) years. * Dishonesty during any part of the application or hiring process, including the background investigation.

• I read and understand the above statement.

02

This position requires that you possess and maintain a valid California driver license. Do you possess or can you obtain a California driver license at the time of hire?

• Yes
• No

03

Did you graduate from a college or university?

• Yes
• No

04

If you answered yes to the above question, please list degree level (e.g., Associates, Bachelors, Masters), major, and institution.

05

Describe your experience developing emergency operations plans and leading disaster response efforts during an actual Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation, major multi-agency incident, or field command operation (such as a law enforcement Incident Command Post). A. What specific emergency or response plan did you help develop, test, or implement prior to the incident? B. What specific leadership role did you occupy during the active disaster response phase, and what functional authority did you hold? C. How did you apply SEMS/NIMS principles to manage resources and coordinate with overlapping jurisdictions? D. Please include in your response: Employer Name, Your Title, and Dates of Employment. If you do not have this type of experience please indicate N/A.

06

Describe your experience managing programs or initiatives focused on hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, or continuity of operations (COOP) planning. A. For Hazard Mitigation/Planning: Detail your experience identifying long-term risks and implementing programs to reduce vulnerability (e.g., hazard mitigation plans, training/exercises, or infrastructure resilience). B. For Disaster Recovery/Continuity: Detail your experience restoring community functions, handling post-disaster debris/housing, or designing plans to ensure government operations continue during a crisis. C. For Supervision & Personnel Management: Explain your approach to the principles and practices of personnel management during these initiatives or during active operations. Describe how you managed staff assignments, evaluated performance, delegated workloads, or maintained team accountability (whether managing direct county reports, a field shift command, or a matrixed group of external stakeholders). D. Please include in your response: Employer Name, Your Title, and Dates of Employment. If you do not have this type of experience please indicate N/A.

07

A critical aspect of this role is navigating complex political environments and coordinating with local, state, and federal elected officials. Describe an emergency management project or incident where you had to manage relationships across multiple tiers of government (e.g., city, county Operational Area, Cal OES, or FEMA). A. What were the political, jurisdictional, or structural sensitivities involved? B. How did you communicate technical emergency data to non-technical policymakers or elected leaders to achieve consensus? C. Please include in your response: Employer Name, Your Title, and Dates of Employment. If you do not have this type of experience please indicate N/A.

08

Detail your experience identifying, obtaining, and/or administering complex state and federal emergency management grant programs (such as EMPG, HSGP, FEMA Public Assistance, or the California Disaster Assistance Act). A. What was the scope and dollar value of the emergency management budget or grant you managed? B. What specific strategies did you use to ensure strict regulatory compliance, accurate auditing, and successful completion of the programmatic or disaster recovery goals? C. Please include in your response: Employer Name, Your Title, and Dates of Employment. If you do not have this type of experience please indicate N/A.

09

The selected candidate must be available to respond to incident scenes, Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, and emergency assignments throughout Ventura County on a 24-hour basis. The selected candidate must also participate in a rotating on-call Duty Officer Program and be available for emergency response outside of normal business hours. This includes the ability and willingness to work extended hours, including evenings, weekends, holidays, overnight operations, and multi-day activations during emergencies, disasters, and other significant events. The selected candidate must also be able to effectively serve in EOC leadership positions, Incident Command System (ICS) assignments, Operational Area coordination roles, and other emergency management functions during active disasters. By typing your name below, you acknowledge that you have read and understand these requirements and are willing and able to fulfill the duties described above. Name: __

Required Question

Employer Ventura County

Address 800 S. Victoria Avenue

LOC. #1970

Ventura, California, 93009

Phone (805) 654-5129

Website http://hr.venturacounty.gov