Sheriff's Office Communications Management Analyst (Open & Promotional)

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is seeking a highly qualified candidate to serve as the Sheriff’s Office Communications Management Analyst, supporting social media content, public information and internal communications.

Reporting directly to the Sheriff’s Director of Communications, this position will oversee development of the Sheriff’s Office Annual Report, assist with major updates to the Sheriff’s Office website, and serve as a lead content developer for the Sheriff’s Office social media accounts.

The Sheriff’s Office Communications Management Analyst will research social media best practices and trends and provide recommendations and ideas to the Sheriff’s Director of Communications and the Sheriff’s Office Communications Team.

This position will also serve as a brand champion, helping define the Sheriff’s Office brand for years to come.

The Sheriff’s Office Communications Management Analyst will assist in writing news releases, feature stories, and other materials. During emergencies, this position may also be called upon to serve as a Public Information Officer (PIO) in the County’s Joint Information Center (JIC).

There is no better time to join the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office. With a new leadership team and a culture grounded in excellence and public service, the Sheriff’s Office is the place to be. The selected candidate will join a high-performing Communications Team where content opportunities are endless and no two days are the same.

Primary duties may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Create engaging content for Sheriff’s Office social media accounts following best practices in policing and local government.
• Manage Sheriff’s Office social media accounts with a customer-service mindset, monitoring messages and comments to ensure timely responses to community questions.
• Capture content at community events, which may occur outside of regular business hours. 
• Edit videos for social media and internal training purposes. 
• Ensure social media and website content complies with accessibility standards.
• Develop and make regular updates to content on the Sheriff’s Office website. 
• Prepare and disseminate internal messaging, news releases, e-newsletter content, and other public information materials as needed.
• Respond to media inquiries in the absence of the Sheriff’s Director of Communications.
• Work collaboratively with members of the Sheriff’s Office Communications Team and Public Information Officers from County departments and allied agencies.
• Design graphics, PowerPoints, and promotional materials for internal and external use.
• Develop an Annual Report for the Sheriff’s Office, coordinating closely with internal stakeholders. 
• Perform related duties as assigned. 

The ideal candidate will possess: 

• A people-oriented outlook and thrive as an enthusiastic team player, bringing creativity and a willingness to think outside the box.
• Experience with editing video and multimedia content for social media.
• Knowledge of graphic design and photo editing. 
• Experience with responding to media inquiries and developing news releases.
• Excellent writing and copyediting skills, including familiarity with AP Style.
• Thoughtfulness, discretion, and tact in advising leaders and colleagues on sensitive issues and proposing solutions.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues and partners from allied agencies.
• Excellent public speaking and presentation skills.
• Flexibility, adaptability, and a willingness to learn new skills and processes.
• Ability to work with minimal supervision and produce superior work on deadline.

In addition, the ideal candidate will possess a bachelor's degree with coursework in journalism, communications, or a related field and will possess three years of public relations, communications, or related experience.

NOTE: The eligible list generated from this recruitment may be used to fill future extra-help, term, unclassified, and regular classified vacancies.

 

Qualifications

 

Education and Experience: Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be:

• Equivalent to graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration, public administration, or a related field.
• At least three years of professional administrative experience is typically required for the Management Analyst level.

Knowledge of:

• Project and/or program management, analytical processes, and report preparation techniques.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis, evaluation, development, and implementation of programs, policies, and procedures.
• Principles of mathematical and statistical computations.
• Research and reporting methods, techniques, and procedures.
• Modern office practices, methods, and computer equipment and applications related to the work.
• English usage, grammar, spelling, vocabulary, and punctuation.
• Applicable Federal, State, and local laws, regulatory codes, ordinances, and procedures relevant to assigned area of responsibility.
• Principles and practices of public administration as applied to operational unit and program administration.
• Principles and practices of county management and government.
• Sources of information related to a broad range of county programs, services, and administration.
• Basic principles, practices, and procedures of funding sources and grant funds disbursement.
• Principles and practices of contract administration and evaluation, public agency budget development and administration, and sound financial management policies and procedures.
• Recent and ongoing developments, current literature, and sources of information related to the operations of the assigned division.
• Record-keeping principles and procedures.
• Techniques for effectively representing the County in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, educational, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• Techniques for providing a high level of customer service by effectively dealing with the public, vendors, contractors, and County staff.

Ability to:

• Assist in the development of goals, objectives, policies, procedures, and work standards for the department.
• Coordinate and oversee programmatic administrative, budgeting, and/or fiscal reporting activities.
• Perform responsible and difficult administrative work involving the use of independent judgment and personal initiative.
• Conduct research on a wide variety of administrative topics, including grant funding, contract feasibility, budget and staffing proposals, and operational alternatives.
• Evaluate and develop improvements in operations, procedures, policies, or methods.
• Research, analyze, and evaluate new service delivery methods, procedures, and techniques.
• Prepare clear and concise reports, correspondence, policies, procedures, and other written materials.
• Interpret, apply, explain, and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State, and local policies, procedures, laws, and regulations.
• Establish and maintain a variety of filing, record-keeping, and tracking systems.
• Organize and prioritize a variety of projects and multiple tasks in an effective and timely manner; organize own work, set priorities, and meet critical time deadlines.
• Operate and maintain modern office equipment, including computer equipment and specialized software applications programs.
• Use English effectively to communicate in person, over the telephone, and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Plan, organize, and carry out assignments from management staff with minimal direction.
• Plan and conduct effective management, administrative, and operational studies.
• Analyze, interpret, summarize, and present administrative and technical information and data in an effective manner.
• Use tact, initiative, prudence, and independent judgment within general policy and legal guidelines in politically sensitive situations.
• Effectively represent the department and the County in meetings with governmental agencies, community groups, and various businesses, professional, and regulatory organizations, and in meetings with individuals.

Licenses and Certifications:

• Depending upon assignment, possession of a valid California Driver's License.

 

Application/Examination

 

Open & Promotional. Anyone may apply. Current County of San Mateo and County of San Mateo Superior Court of California employees with at least six months (1040 hours) of continuous service in a classified regular, probationary, or extra-help/limited term position prior to the final filing date will receive five points added to their final passing score on this examination.

The examination process will consist of an application screening (weight: pass/fail) based on the candidates' application and responses to the supplemental questions. Candidates who pass the application screening will be invited to a panel interview (weight: 100%), which may include the evaluation of a written or performance exercise given immediately preceding the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, an application appraisal of education and experience may be used in place of other examinations or further evaluation of work experience may be conducted to group applicants by level of qualification. All applicants who meet the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement through any subsequent phase of the examination. All examinations will be given in San Mateo County, California and applicants must participate at their own expense.
 
IMPORTANT: Applications for this position will only be accepted online. If you are currently on the County's website, you may click the "Apply" button above. If you are not on the County's website, please go to https://jobs.smcgov.org/ to apply. Responses to the Supplemental Questionnaire must be submitted in addition to the standard County employment application form. A resume will not be accepted as a substitute for the required application materials. Online applications must be received by the Human Resources Department before midnight on the final filing date.
 
Tentative Recruitment Schedule:
Final Filing Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, by 11:59 PM PST
Application Screening: Week of June 1, 2026
Panel Interviews: Wednesday, June 17 and/ or Thursday, June 18, 2026
 

About the County

San Mateo County is centrally located between San Francisco, San Jose, and the East Bay. With over 750,000 residents, San Mateo is one of the largest and most diverse counties in California and serves a multitude of culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities. 

The County of San Mateo, as an employer, is committed to advancing equity to ensure that all employees are welcomed in a safe and inclusive environment. The County seeks to hire, support, and retain employees who reflect our diverse community. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to apply. Eighty percent of employees surveyed stated that they would recommend the County as a great place to work. 

The County of San Mateo is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion at all levels.

Talent Acquisition Analyst: Lealoa Numera (05042026) (Management Analyst – D181)