Sheriff (20677469)

San Mateo County is accepting applications for qualified candidates interested in being appointed as Sheriff

 

To apply for consideration to be appointed as Sheriff overseeing the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, the following materials must be electronically submitted online at https://jobs.smcgov.org. 
 

1. Qualifications Declaration- Click here to download the Qualifications Declaration -Please print, sign and upload the signed document as an attachment to your application
2. Resume
3. Head shot and professional bio (no more than 200 words)
4. Cover Letter- (no more than 4 pages long and addresses the following questions):
   1. What qualifications, knowledge, and experience do you possess that will allow you to successfully serve as the San  Mateo County Sheriff?
   2. What values and principles guide your leadership philosophy?
   3. What would be your three highest priorities as Sheriff?
   4. Why is serving as Sheriff important to you?
   5. Describe your experience managing a large and complex budget. Please specify the size and scope of that budget. 
   6. Describe your experience and/or philosophies around operating correctional facilities.
5. Responses to the following required supplemental questions:
   1. Do you presently reside in San Mateo County?
   2. How long have you resided in San Mateo County?
   3. Describe how you satisfy the requirements of Government Code Section 24004.3.
   4. Describe your experience leading a law enforcement agency, including, but not limited to, managing a large staff of peace officers and civilians and leading coalitions across jurisdictions.
6. Once you submit your online application materials, please email a personal video- (no more than 2 minute video). The video must be received by November 5, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. PST
   1. The video content should include:
      1. Introducing yourself
      2. Describing why you want to be appointed as the Sheriff for San Mateo County
   2. The video must be emailed to SMCJobs@smcgov.org

   3. Video Specifications:

      • Duration: Maximum 2 minutes
      • File Size: Up to 100 MB
      • Accepted Formats: .mp4, .mov, or .wmv
      • Orientation: Record in landscape (horizontal) mode with clear audio and good lighting.
      • File name: LastName_FirstName_PositionTitle.mp4
        (Example: Garcia_Ana_Sheriff.mp4)

   4. Before emailing, please review your video before submitting to confirm it plays properly on multiple devices and audio/video are synchronized.
      
      By submitting your application, you certify that you meet the legal qualifications for the Sheriff position, or will meet the legal qualifications by November 12, 2025, and affirm, under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of California, that all of the information submitted is true and correct.

Please note: This application, including all attachments and video, may be made available to the public in its entirety. Additionally, once you submit your application you may be contacted directly to begin the background check process. By submitting your application you are agreeing to cooperate with the background check process including signing of any necessary waivers.

Online application must by submitted by November 5, 2025 at 12:00 p.m. PST. Materials submitted in any other form including mail, email, express mail, or facsimile may be rejected.

 

 

 

Qualifications

 

Knowledge of:

• Management principles and practices including options for use of human, fiscal and material resources.
• Principles and practices of modern law enforcement administration and criminal investigation.
• County and state ordinances and laws, codes and court decisions.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of organization, administration and personnel management.
• Principles and practices of budget preparation and administration.
• Principles of supervision, training and performance evaluation.

Skill/Ability to:

• Plan, organize, direct and control the administration and operations of the Sheriff's Department.
• Develop and implement department policies and procedures.
• Properly interpret and make decisions in accordance with appropriate laws, regulations, and policies.
• Gain cooperation through discussion and persuasion.
• Work cooperatively and effectively with elected officials, other officials, departments and employees of other agencies.
• Successfully develop, control and administer departmental budget and expenditures.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solution, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Interpret and apply County policies, procedures, rules and regulations.
• Effectively communicate both orally and in writing.
• Supervise, train and evaluate assigned personnel.

Other Requirements:

• Must be a resident of San Mateo County.
• Must meet the requirements of Government Code Section 24004.3 identifying the qualifications for the Office of Sheriff.

 

Application/Examination

Applicants must successfully pass the application screening to move forward to the interview process. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the selection process. 

Recruitment Timeline

Final Filing Date: November 5, 2025, by 12:00PM PST
In-Person Interviews/ Selection of Finalists: Thursday, November 6, 2025

In-Person Public Candidate Forum for Finalists: Monday, November 10, 2025
Interviews, Selection and Appointment (In-person): November 12, 2025

If you have questions regarding this position or application process, please send an email to: SMCJobs@smcgov.org