CORRECTION: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Darryl Oliveira, former fire chief and Civil Defense administrator, will serve as interim basis on a volunteer basis until a new administrator is hired. The Tribune-Herald regrets the error.

With Tropical Storm Lala bearing down on the Big Island, Hawaii County is accepting applications for a new Civil Defense administrator to succeed Talmadge Magno, who retired Aug. 1 after nine years in charge of the emergency preparedness and response agency.

County Managing Director Bill Brilhante — the second-in-command in Mayor Kimo Alameda’s administration — has assumed the role of acting Civil Defense administrator.

“He’s taking an active role. We’re in daily discussions and things like that,” said Bill Hanson, a Civil Defense administrative officer. Hanson added there’s “no lack of leadership” in the organization’s storm response.

Brilhante described his role as “acting administrator in a supervisory capacity,” noting he can rely on Hanson and fellow administrative officer Barry Periatt, both of whom have decades of service at Civil Defense.

“They’re the boots on the ground, and they’re providing the operational input,” Brilhante said.

He added that the response to Lala, which is expected to be either a hurricane or strong tropical storm as it approaches the island, is “a team effort” between Alameda’s administration and the Civil Defense operations staff.

Darryl Oliveira, a retired former county Civil Defense administrator and fire chief, has been serving as a volunteer this week. On Monday, Oliveira, who currently chairs the Resilience Alliance — which is described on the Vibrant Hawaii website as “a network of Hawaii Island non-governmental organizations and businesses committed to building internal resilience and preparedness in the case of emergency” will become interim administrator on a 89-day contract.

“He will serve in that capacity until a permanent administrator is identified,” said Brilhante, who added that because of Oliveira’s unique qualifications, he’ll assist Alameda in the county’s hiring of new Civil Defense chief.

Brilhante noted that Maui Mayor Richard Bissen brought Oliveira in after the deadly Maui fires in 2023 “to assist with the whole process” of that island’s recovery.

“We’re going to utilize him in the same capacity, going forward with our selection process,” Brilhante said.

Under Ordinance 25-90, which became law late last year, Alameda retains the authority to appoint the Civil Defense administrator from the list of names provided by HR and can consult with his advisers, but the hiring process for the position now requires the advice and consent of the County Council.

The law established stricter minimum qualifications for candidates. The administrator must now have at least five years of experience in law enforcement, fire control, public safety or emergency management — with at least three years in a supervisory capacity.

The county’s Department of Human Resources website has posted the vacancy on its website.

According to the recruitment announcement, the job pays between $92,040 and $169,524 yearly, depending on qualifications.

It requires knowledge of “emergency management principles and practices; incident command system; civil defense laws; federal legislation affecting civil defense administration at local level; principles of organization and administration; organization of the state of Hawaii and its political subdivisions; and public relations.”

In addition, candidates should have the “ability to assimilate details and analyze problems; act decisively in emergencies; coordinate and direct emergency response activities involving multiple agencies spanning all levels of government as well as private and non-profit organizations; speak effectively before large groups and the media; organize and chair meetings and conferences at executive level; and organize and coordinate activities of large numbers of volunteers and organizations.”

“It’s been on continuous recruitment,” Brilhante said of the HR posting. “From what I understand, we have at least five names. We don’t know who the names are, but HR has informed us there are five qualified candidates. And we’ll continue to hold the recruitment open for another week.”

Email John Burnett at john.burnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.