Careers at Cal OES
Join Cal OES
Thank you for your interest in employment with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). Cal OES is the nation’s premier state-level homeland security and emergency management agency, charged with protecting California from all threats and hazards, whether natural or human-caused. To achieve its mandates, Cal OES employs over 1,500 individuals in various locations and career fields.
How to Apply
Step 1: Create or Login to Your CalCareer Account
With a CalCareer account, you can take state civil service examinations, save templates of your applications, apply for vacancies, and save your resume all in one place.
Step 2: Take Examination/Assessment
Before you can work for the State, you need to take and pass an examination for the job classification that you wish to be considered for employment. The assessment process can take many forms (i.e. self-assessments, written exams, or structured interview) and may be required to be completed in-person or online. Examination Bulletins list the minimum qualifications and steps required to apply and/or complete the examination/assessment. If you have current or past state experience, you may have Transfer Eligibility or Reinstatement Rights.
Step 3: Search and Apply for Jobs
Once you have taken the examination or established eligibility for the job classification you wish to be considered for employment, you may be considered for open positions in that job classification by applying for job vacancies. Login to your CalCareer account, locate the job you are interested to apply for.
Visit the Cal Careers website to see a complete list of Cal OES vacancies.
Featured Job Opportunities
Now Hiring: Southern Regional Administrator (C.E.A – B)
Join the leadership team of the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) — the nation’s premier state-level emergency management and homeland security agency, charged with protecting the people of California from all threats and hazards.
Cal OES is seeking an experienced emergency management leader to serve as Southern Regional Administrator. This senior leadership role oversees regional emergency management operations across 11 counties and more than 200 cities, strengthening preparedness, response, recovery, and mutual aid capabilities.
The ideal candidate brings extensive emergency management experience, strategic policy expertise, strong intergovernmental partnerships, and a proven ability to lead teams and coordinate complex, multi-agency operations.
Ready to make an impact? Apply by November 20th here.
Now Hiring: Deputy Superintendent, California Specialized Training Institute (C.E.A – A)
Lead California’s statewide emergency management and public safety training mission as Deputy Superintendent of the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI). As Deputy Superintendent, you will provide executive leadership for the development, implementation, evaluation, and oversight of CSTI’s statewide emergency management and public safety training programs. In this executive role, you will shape strategic priorities, oversee critical training programs, advise Cal OES leadership on training efforts, and guide statewide coordination of FEMA and other federally supported training activities in California.
Interested applicants are encouraged to apply here.
Exam Opportunities
Associate Telecommunications Engineer
Public Safety Communications (PSC), Technical Services Branch is responsible for a wide array of engineering activities and services related to the public safety communications systems engineering and design for public safety agencies of the State of California. As an Associate Telecommunication Engineer, individuals are responsible for providing engineering support to ensure services for public safety communications meet the critical operational requirements of the state.
Interested candidates can apply for the Associate Telecommunications Engineer examination to gain list eligibility.
Department Specific Classifications
Disaster Assistance Programs Specialist I/II
As a Disaster Assistance Programs Specialist (DAPS) I or II, individuals are integral in the transition from disaster response to disaster recovery. Individuals will be required to travel to disaster affected areas, work in a team environment to quantify event-related damages and capture the affected jurisdiction’s proposed scope of work in a reimbursement grant for state and/or federal disaster public assistance programs.
Interested candidates can apply for the DAPS I and DAPS II examination to gain list eligibility.
Emergency Services Coordinator
Emergency Services Coordinators perform a wide variety of consultative, coordinative, developmental, planning, and evaluative duties in the preparation, implementation, and maintenance of the statewide emergency management system including emergency plans, and the emergency response operations of State and local agencies and relief, recovery, mitigation, and preparedness programs at Cal OES.
Interested candidates can apply for the ESC examination to gain list eligibility.
Emergency Management Coordinator Instructor
The California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) is recruiting for an Emergency Management Coordinator/Instructor I (EMCI I) in support of the Hazardous Materials training programs and exercises at CSTI. CSTI delivers specialized training throughout California as well as at its main campus in San Luis Obispo year-round. Currently, CSTI offers over 100 course titles in the disciplines of emergency management, criminal justice/officer safety, terrorism, hazardous materials, disaster mitigation, preparedness and recovery, and crisis communications.
Interested candidates can apply for the EMC II examination to gain list eligibility.