Director of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications

Job Description:

Director of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications

Description

THE COMMUNITY:

Idyllically located on the Pacific Coast just south of Los Angeles and adjacent to Orange County, Long Beach is a vibrant city of approximately 450K residents. Known for its diverse and inclusive community, Long Beach features a unique blend of urban sophistication, cultural richness, and coastal charm. The City encompasses about 51 square miles, offering an array of parks, beaches, and recreational opportunities. Residents enjoy mild climate year-round perfect for outdoor activities such as biking, running, water sports, and much more. Long Beach is home to world-class attractions including the Aquarium of the Pacific, the historic Queen Mary, the annual IndyCar Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach, and the 11k seat F&M Bank Amphitheater – the largest waterfront amphitheater on the West Coast. The City of Long Beach will serve as a major Venue City for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Long Beach also boasts a thriving economy supported by industries such as aerospace, education, health services, manufacturing, tourism and professional services. With two advanced educational institutions, California State University Long Beach and Long Beach City College, and robust K-12 schools, the City is a hub for learning and innovation. Transportation options abound. The Long Beach and Metro transit systems along with the City’s own airport provide convenient access throughout the broader Southern California region. Long Beach is recognized as one of the nation’s most walkable and bike-friendly cities.

THE CITY GOVERNMENT:

Long Beach operates as a charter city governed by an elected Mayor and nine City Council members elected by district. The City Manager, appointed by the Mayor and City Council, oversees the daily operations of 15 departments and a Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) annual budget of $4B. The City employs over 6K full-time and part-time staff; dedicated to providing exceptional public services with the vast majority being represented by eleven employee associations. As the City navigates a challenging fiscal environment and addresses projected budget shortfalls, City Leadership remains focused on strategic prioritization, operational efficiency, and long-term organizational sustainability while continuing to deliver high-quality services to the community.

• City Departments
• Citywide FY27 Budget
• 2030 Strategic Vision
• Elevate ’28 Infrastructure Investment Plan

The City of Long Beach fosters an environment where every employee is celebrated for their individuality and unique talents they bring to their role. Reflecting the diversity of the community within the workforce is a key priority embraced at every level of the organization and integrated into hiring, professional development, leadership, and organizational decision-making. City Leadership actively promotes equity and inclusion by partnering with staff and community stakeholders to foster a more inclusive, accessible, and transparent organization. Transparency remains a cornerstone of these efforts with demographic data, including workforce diversity and pay equity by race and gender, shared publicly to ensure accountability and progress. 

THE DEPARTMENT – PREPARED. RESPONSIVE. RESILIENT.

The Department of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications (DPEC) plays a critical role in protecting the Long Beach community and its first responders through emergency communications and comprehensive disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery. With an FY27 budget of approximately $16.8M and 88 budgeted positions, the Department is organized into three divisions: (1) Disaster Preparedness, (2) Emergency Communications, and (3) Administration & Grants. DPEC operates with a lean organizational structure, particularly outside of its 24/7 emergency communications operation, requiring team members to take on broad responsibilities and work across functional areas.

• Disaster Preparedness Division (2 FTE): Leads citywide planning for emergencies, maintains the City’s emergency plans and Emergency Operations Center, coordinates training and exercises, and advances community preparedness through education and partnerships. The Division also coordinates Los Angeles County Disaster Management Area F, which includes Long Beach, Avalon, and Signal Hill.
• Emergency Communications Division (80 FTE): Provides 24/7 9-1-1 call-taking and Police, Fire, and Emergency Medical Services dispatch. Long Beach currently operates a hybrid model between co-located and fully consolidated emergency communications, with Police and Fire dispatch housed within one department and a growing number of employees cross-trained across both disciplines. The City continues working toward a fully consolidated model.
• The Administration & Grants Division (6 FTE): Supports the Department’s financial, personnel, procurement, contracting, and administrative functions while overseeing the Citywide Homeland Security Grants Program. This work supports DPEC’s operations while helping secure and administer critical federal and state resources that strengthen emergency preparedness and response capabilities citywide.

To learn more about the Department visit:

• Department Organizational Chart
• Department Website
• Department FY27 Budget

STRATEGIC PRIORITIES & MAJOR INITIATIVES:

1. Strengthen Citywide Disaster Preparedness: Evaluate the resources and next steps necessary to update the City’s 2015 Emergency Operations Plan and supporting annexes, while strengthening the frequency and effectiveness of tabletop exercises and other training opportunities that prepare City staff for emergency activation. This work will also be critical as Long Beach prepares for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, severe weather events, and other large-scale emergencies.
2. Modernize Critical Public Safety Systems: Lead major technology initiatives with the Department of Innovation & Technology, including replacement of the City’s integrated Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system shared between Police and Fire Departments and continued modernization of the Emergency Operations Center.
3. Advance Emergency Communications Training & Consolidation: Continue the transition toward a fully consolidated 9-1-1 communications model by expanding cross-training across Police and Fire dispatch functions, strengthening operational integration, and building greater flexibility across the workforce.
4. Community Resilience & Engagement: Expand the Department’s visibility and engagement throughout the community through disaster-preparedness education, outreach events, and stronger partnerships with community organizations and regional stakeholders. A particular focus will be increasing awareness and participation in Alert Long Beach and ensuring residents understand how to prepare for and receive critical information during emergencies.
5. Expand Citywide Homeland Security Grant Funding: Strengthen the City’s ability to identify, pursue, and secure Homeland Security grant funding to support investments in equipment, planning, training, and other preparedness initiatives that enhance the City’s ability to prepare for, mitigate, and respond to natural and human-caused disasters.

THE POSITION & DYNAMIC LEADER:

Reporting directly to the City Manager and serving as a key member of the City’s 26-member executive leadership team, the Director of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications (Director) provides executive leadership for a unique department responsible for citywide disaster preparedness, emergency response and recovery, Homeland Security programs, and 24/7 emergency communications.  Leading a lean organization with three (3) Administrative Officers reporting directly to the Director and oversight of nearly 90 staff total, this executive will remain closely engaged in the work while providing the strategic direction, judgment, and leadership necessary to strengthen Long Beach’s readiness for emergencies and major disasters.

The City is particularly interested in a leader with significant disaster preparedness and emergency activation experience and a strong understanding of the Homeland Security framework in which local and regional emergency-management agencies operate. The Director serves as Long Beach’s representative within the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI), participating alongside regional public safety and emergency-management leaders in decisions surrounding preparedness priorities and the allocation of federal Homeland Security resources. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating in this sophisticated regional environment and understand how to effectively advocate for Long Beach’s needs while advancing broader regional preparedness.

This role also calls for a visible, energetic, and highly engaged leader who is genuinely passionate about preparedness and public service. The Director must be an effective relationship-builder with Police, Fire, City leadership, regional partners, community organizations, and residents. Strong customer-service instincts are essential, including the ability to personally engage with residents during difficult or frustrating situations, listen with empathy, communicate clearly, and demonstrate that their concerns are being taken seriously. The City is also looking for a forward-thinking leader who is open to exploring new tools, including the thoughtful use of artificial intelligence to strengthen and create efficiencies in tabletop exercise planning and implementation.

The City will be particularly interested in candidates who bring:

• Humble, grounded leadership
• Sound judgment and discernment
• A collaborative, relationship-driven approach
• An engaged and visible leadership style
• The ability to empower subject-matter experts
• A confident presence under pressure
• A strong customer-service mindset
• Intellectual curiosity and openness to innovation

Salary:

$224,424 - $270,326