About Central County Fire Department
The Central County Fire Department (CCFD) was established through a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) between the The Central County Fire Department proudly serves the communities of Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae. Formed in April 2004, the Central County Fire Department provides all-risk fire protection, emergency medical and community risk reduction services to 66,000 residents and tens of thousands of visitors each year.
With a service area of approximately 15 square miles around the San Francisco International Airport (SFO) our communities are a primary stopping point for SFO’s 53 million-plus passengers each year. The main features are the Millbrae BART station, which is the largest intermodal terminal west of the Mississippi and includes a cross-platform connection to Caltrain. Our jurisdiction also has wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas that border the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission Peninsula Watershed.
We serve a diverse area of single-family homes, multi-residential buildings, retail and business districts, hotels, a regional hospital, care facilities, as well as a large industrial area. Our two major highways, 101 and 280, are a vital vehicle transportation link between San Francisco and Silicon Valley.
The top-ranking person of the Department is the Fire Chief who is supported by a command staff of a Deputy Chief, Fire Marshal, Battalion Chiefs, Human Resources Director and Administrative Services Manager. We have six strategically located and professionally staffed fire stations, in addition to an administrative headquarters and training facility. Our daily staffing consists of six engine companies, one ladder truck, and one Battalion Chief, 24 hours a day, every day. We maintain a State of California Type I heavy rescue Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) unit that is cross-staffed daily in addition to a Type 6 wildland unit. Many of our Special Operations trained personnel are members of California Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 3.
CCFD’s Fire Prevention Division is comprised of a Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, two fire inspectors, three fire prevention specialists and a Community Risk and Resiliency Specialist. The Prevention Division manages several significant community risk reduction initiatives including vegetation and hazard abatement programs, plan reviews, comprehensive code enforcement activities, and fire investigations. They also produce and deliver numerous programs throughout the community intended to promote and teach fire safety and emergency preparedness.
We are also supported by our team of administrative and office assistants, account technicians, and emergency vehicle technicians.
CCFD personnel are highly trained, highly motivated, and prepared to answer the needs of the community under routine and emergency conditions. We continually strive to exceed the expectations of those we serve.
Location
Description
The Central County Fire Department is seeking a dynamic, community-focused Emergency Management Program Manager to plan, organize, coordinate, implement, and maintain a comprehensive emergency management and disaster mitigation program for the City of Burlingame and the Town of Hillsborough (“agencies”); develop, coordinate and implement training and exercises for agency employees; develop and maintain community-based programs for mitigating community risk; and provide expert professional assistance to the agencies’ executive management staff.
This is your opportunity to have a meaningful impact by supporting public safety, leading preparedness initiatives, and helping our communities respond and recover when it matters most.
Our Department
The Central County Fire Department is an all-risk emergency response and community service organization. The Department’s core purpose is to make Burlingame, Hillsborough, and Millbrae safe for all community members to live and work through the protection of life, property, and the environment.
What You Will Do:
- Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives related to the Department’s Emergency Management Program; establish schedules and methods for program development, implementation, and monitoring; implement policies and procedures.
- Develop and implement Emergency Management Program activities including the joint Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).
- Evaluate emergency management program activities; recommend improvements and modifications; prepare various program reports.
- Prepare and conduct public outreach and education related to emergency management and preparedness including CCFD Emergency Management website pages, the preparation of social media posts and campaigns, newsletters, and training announcements; provide educational presentations to the community.
- Develop and maintain plans including but not limited to Emergency Operations Plans and Annexes, Local Hazard Mitigation Plans and Annexes, Continuity of Operations Plans, Continuity of Government Plans, and Crisis Communications Plans.
- Assist with the coordination of emergency preparedness classes offered to the public, including CERT, CPR and First Aid.
- Coordinate EOC operations including the creation of Emergency Operation Center (EOC) procedure manuals and checklists, training and maintenance of response platforms, ensuring that the EOC is properly equipped, and serving as liaison with the San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management in the event of an EOC activation.
- Provide CSTI/Cal OES emergency management classes for agency staff.
- Provide resources and other information as requested for EOC staff and support and provide necessary National Incident Management System (NIMS) training for agency employees.
- Represent the Department with dignity, integrity, and the spirit of cooperation in all relations with elected officials, staff, and the public.
Knowledge and Abilities
You possess knowledge of theories, principles and practices of emergency program planning, development, management techniques and training; National Incident Management Systems; function and operation of a municipal government and an Emergency Operations Center; community emergency and disaster support and assistance resources; development of public education programs utilizing 5-step planning process, development of community risk reduction programs utilizing methods of evaluation; customer service principles and problem resolution techniques; business letter writing and report preparation.
You possess the ability to organize, implement and direct Emergency Management Program activities; effectively manage all aspects of the Emergency Management Program including resources, staff and budget; identify resources and needs and develop means to obtain and meet them; acquire a thorough knowledge of local geography and resources as they relate to the Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP), National Response Framework (NRF), and civil defense and emergency management planning and operations; develop, coordinate and train others on emergency operations plans and procedures; speak professionally advocating principles of community risk reduction; coordinate EOC activities, before, during and after activations; communicate effectively, tactfully and positively in both oral and written form; contribute effectively to the accomplishment of Department goals, objectives and activities.
Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Any combination of education, experience, and training that would provide the best qualified candidates. A typical way to obtain knowledge and abilities would be:
Education
- Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college with coursework in emergency management, public administration, business administration or a related field. (Up to two years of qualified experience can be substituted for education on a year-for-year basis.)
- NIMS/ICS coursework as outlined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI)/Cal OES is desirable.
Experience:
- Three years of increasingly responsible experience in emergency management, professional level administrative/operations, preferably in a public setting, law enforcement, fire/EMS or related field; or three years of increasingly responsible experience working with community-based groups or organizations.
Benefits
Central County Fire Department offers a competitive total compensation package. This classification is part of the Fire Operational Support Services (FOSS) Group and the summary of benefits can be found here:
Benefits provided nclude the following:
- 2.5% @ 55 retirement formula for PERS Classic members
- 2% @ 62 retirement formula for PERS New members
- Department contributes 3% - 5% of base salary toward a Retirement Health Savings Account, based on years of service
- A choice of medical plans are available through PERS. The Department contributes 100% up to the Blue Shield Access + HMO (Region One) family premium
- Comprehensive Department-paid dental and vision reimbursement plan for employee and dependents
- Department paid long term disability coverage
- Department paid life insurance policy of $100,000, with optional employee paid supplemental life insurance
- Ten to twenty days annual vacation, based on length of service
- Administrative Leave: 80 hours per calendar year
- Twelve (12) paid holidays per year, plus additional tweny-four (24) floating holiday hours
- 120 hours of sick leave accrued per year
- Tuition reimbursement up to $2000 per year
- Employee assistance program, Flexible Spending (Section 125 ) plan, and deferred compensation plans are also available
Special Instructions
Are you ready? Apply to join our team.
Submit an online application, supplemental question responses, and resume through Cal Opps: https://www.calopps.org/ or https://www.calopps.org/central-county-fire-department/job-20736981 or to:
Central County Fire Department, 1399 Rollins Rd, Burlingame, CA 94010.
Recruitment closes Friday, May 29, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
Examination Process:
All applications, supplemental question responses, and resumes received will be reviewed for minimum qualifications. A limited number of the most highly qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the examination process, which may consist of oral board panel(s) interviews and Chiefs’ Interview.
An employment list will be established for those who pass the examination process. Current and future vacancies may be filled from that list. The list will remain in effect for at least twelve months (unless exhausted sooner or abolished) with the possibility of an extension for up to another twelve months. The Central County Fire Department reserves the right, at its discretion, to limit the number of qualified applicants invited to the examination process.