Job Description

Application Opening: Tuesday, September 08, 2026
Application Deadline:  This recruitment may close at any time, but not earlier than 5:00pm on Friday, September 18, 2026. 
Recruitment ID: 166389; RTF0168017-01134430

Appointment Type: 
This is a Category 18 Permanent Exempt position, special project-based position limited to no more than 3 years in duration. This position is excluded by the Charter from the competitive Civil Service examination process, is considered "at will" and shall serve at the discretion of the Department Head.

The San Francisco Public Library (SFPL) connects our diverse communities to learning, opportunities, and each other. The library system includes the architecturally significant Main Library, an anchor institution in the city's Civic Center, 27 neighborhood branch libraries that serve all neighborhoods throughout the city, two administrative buildings and four bookmobiles. With a collection of more than 5 million physical and digital items circulating 15 million times annually, SFPL is the highest-rated City department in San Francisco.

The library embraces its role as the most democratic of institutions, providing safe and welcoming facilities for all. Through a robust array of services and programs that serves 4.6 million patrons annually, the library is dedicated to advancing literacy and learning, serving as a cultural amplifier, acting as a catalyst for community engagement, guiding patrons as a thoughtful navigator, and providing essential resources to support healthy, equitable communities. For more information about SFPL, please visit  .

SFPL must build a culture, space and workplace that is accessible and welcoming to all current and future employees and to actively build an environment in which all people regardless of background, identity, or ability, can be equal participants. In this way, our staff at all organizational levels can reflect the communities we serve. A safe, equitable public library is an actively anti-racist public library. Creating an inclusive public library means aligning with the lived realities of people of color. SFPL is committed to advancing racial equity for our workforce and community, and will actively engage in anti-racist practice programs, and collection development in carrying out the Library's mission. 

Job Description

This position serves as SFPL’s lead professional responsible for developing, implementing, and sustaining the Library’s systemwide emergency planning and security program. Operating at a high analytical and operational level, the position provides subject matter expertise, independent judgment, and cross departmental coordination to ensure SFPL’s 30 facilities, staff, and patrons are prepared for and protected during emergencies.

Major functions include conducting comprehensive emergency and security assessments, updating and standardizing emergency plans and procedures, evaluating physical security systems, coordinating with City agencies, leading staff training and exercises, supporting capital and facility safety improvements, and maintaining long term governance, documentation, and compliance for SFPL’s emergency preparedness and security framework.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Emergency Planning

• Reviews and updates systemwide emergency plans (EOP, COOP) and standardizes key procedures such as evacuation, shelter‑in‑place, and lockdown.
• Conducts security risk assessments across all facilities; develops systemwide security standards; and recommends risk mitigation strategies.
• Develops communication tools and coordinates preparedness efforts with DEM, SFPD, SFFD, Public Works, and DT.
• Establishes and maintains an SFPL‑specific ICS structure and coordinates Library roles during City EOC activations.

Security Management

• Conducts security risk assessments across all facilities and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Evaluates badge access, CCTV, alarms, and other security systems to guide upgrades and support capital planning. Develops long‑term security technology strategies and supports capital planning for facility safety improvements.

Training & Exercises

• Provides emergency preparedness, safety, and de‑escalation training for staff.
• Leads systemwide exercises, drills, and readiness assessments.
• Leads after-action reviews following significant incidents and exercises and ensures lessons learned are incorporated into plans, procedures, training, and facility improvements.
• Designs and implements ongoing emergency preparedness training programs and annual exercise schedules.

Governance & Compliance

• Oversees incident reporting, security standards, and compliance with City regulations.
• Maintains governance documentation and contributes to the Health & Safety Committee to ensure ongoing emergency readiness.
• Supports integration of emergency planning and security standards into SFPL’s budget and capital planning processes.

Qualifications

Education: Possession of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university AND

Experience: 4 years of professional experience in the applicable, major functional any of the following or combination of public safety, law or code enforcement, military, security, emergency operations, emergency planning.

Education Substitution:  Additional years of required experience may be substituted for the required degree on a year-for- year basis.

One year of full-time employment is equivalent to 2080 hours. (2080 hours of qualifying work experience is based on a 40-hour work week.) Any overtime hours that you work above forty (40) hours per week are not included in the calculation to determine full-time employment.

License and Certification: Successful completion of National Incident Management System (NIMS) training compliant Incident Command System (ICS) training course 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800 or their recognized NIMS compliant equivalents within six months of employment.

Possession of a valid California driver’s license (to be presented at time of appointment)

Desirable

Qualifications

:

• 2 years of Supervisory and Stakeholder Leadership - Demonstrated experience in supervising professional personnel and effectively managing diverse stakeholder relationships to ensure organizational alignment and accountability.
• Experience in applying Incident Command System (ICS) frameworks in emergencies.
• Experience collaborating with municipal public safety agencies on joint emergency planning initiatives and interagency coordination.
• Experience in updating or developing systemwide emergency plans, including Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) and Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP). 
• Executive Customer Service - A track record of delivering exceptional customer service to varied stakeholders across all internal operations and external entities, including regulatory bodies and community organizations.
• Public Communication and Reporting - Proven ability to prepare comprehensive written reports and deliver clear oral presentations regarding complex findings and strategic recommendations before public hearings and governing bodies.
• Collaborative Relationship Management - Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team environment while establishing and maintaining cooperative partnerships with government agencies, community groups, special interest advocates, and members of the general public.
• Executive Leadership and Strategic Influence - A proven record of functioning as an impactful leader among executive peers, driving continuous improvement and strategic initiatives across the organization.

Verification of Education and Experience:

Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum

qualifications

listed in the job ad. Please review our articles on Employment Application and Minimum

Qualifications

and Verification of Experience and/or Education for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process.

Note: Falsifying one’s education, training, or work experience or attempted deception on the application may result in disqualification for this and future job opportunities with the City and County of San Francisco.

All work experience, education, training and other information substantiating how you meet the minimum

qualifications

must be included on your application by the filing deadline. Information submitted after the filing deadline will not be considered in determining whether you meet the minimum

qualifications

. Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed City and County of San Francisco application.

Applications completed improperly may be cause for ineligibility, disqualification or may lead to lower scores.”

Selection Procedure:  The selection process will include evaluation of applications in relation to minimum requirements. Applicants meeting the minimum

qualifications

are not guaranteed advancement to the interview. Depending on the number of applicants, the Department may establish and implement additional screening mechanisms to comparatively evaluate the

qualifications

of candidates. If this becomes necessary, only those applicants whose

qualifications

most closely meet the needs of the Department will be invited to participate in the oral/performance interview.

Additional Information

Additional Information

Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

HOW TO APPLY

Applications for City and County of San Francisco jobs are  only accepted through an online process. Visit and begin the application process.

• Select the “Apply Now” button and follow instructions on the screen

Applicants may be contacted by email about this recruitment and, therefore, it is their responsibility to ensure that their registered email address is accurate and kept up-to-date. Also, applicants must ensure that email from CCSF is not blocked on their computer by a spam filter. To prevent blocking, applicants should set up their email to accept CCSF mail from the following addresses (@sfgov.org, @sfdpw.org, @sfport.com, @flysfo.com, @sfwater.org, @sfdph.org, @asianart.org, @sfmta.com, @sfpl.org, @dcyf.org, @first5sf.org, @famsf.org, @ccsf.edu, @smartalerts.info, and @smartrecruiters.com).

A pplicants will receive a confirmation email that their online application has been received in response to every announcement for which they file. Applicants should retain this confirmation email for their records.  Failure to receive this email means that the online application was not submitted or received.

Human Resources Analyst Information: If you have any questions regarding this recruitment or application process, please send your inquires to Christian Molina, Senior Human Resources Analyst at christian.molina@sfpl.org.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

Job Tags

Permanent employment, Full time, Work experience placement

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