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Emergency Plans Officer Senior

Position Overview:
The Emergency Plans Officer Senior is a shared position between Austin Water and HSEM to improve communication, operational awareness, and response during incidents and emergencies between the two departments. This position is responsible for assisting in the implementation and coordination of Austin Water’s Emergency Management Program and is an onsite liaison between Austin Water and HSEM and lead utility efforts to promote neighborhood resilience; organizing and facilitating community resilience and engagement meetings with diverse communities and applicable stakeholders that focuses on building and cultivating strong relationships with local and diverse community partners, volunteers, other service providers, and the public.

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

  1. Supervises the Citizen Emergency Response Team (CERT) coordinator and oversee the department’s volunteer and public outreach efforts.
  2. Provides financial and administrative management to the department on an on-going basis during emergencies.
  3. Assists with the development of the OEM Operating Budget, the Financial Forecast and Business Plan.
  4. Responsible for setting up and monitoring of special revenue funds, monitoring of grant availability, securing grant funds and managing grant funds and programs.
  5. Assumes a lead role during major emergencies, coordinating and facilitating the City’s emergency response and recovery effort from the Emergency Operations Center.
  6. Acts as the single point of contact for federal and state counter-terrorism funding and equipment purchasing for public safety department.
  7. Coordinates various emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation projects and workshops for the community.
  8. Provides departmental and public education training programs and disaster exercises and presentations on emergency management topics to community groups and organizations.
  9. Reviews and modify planning issues, coordinate planning groups and committees, preparing plan drafts, distributing final plan products.
  10. Assists agencies in developing internal emergency standard operating procedures and action plans. Assists in coordinating disaster exercises including identifying exercise scenario and objectives, coordinating exercise planning groups, and monitoring and evaluating exercises.
  11. Attends various meetings with government and private sector agencies and officials throughout Austin and Travis County.

Responsibilities- Supervision and/or Leadership Exercised:
May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, training, and guidance to others.

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

  • Knowledge of the operation of local, state and federal governments in general and public safety.
  • Knowledge in researching and analyzing emergency management related issues.
  • Knowledge of city practice, policy and procedures.
  • Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and methods.
  • Skill in oral and written communication.
  • Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  • Skill in using computers and related software.
  • Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  • Ability to handle extremely intense and chaotic emergency situations.
  • Ability to speak at presentations.
  • Ability to facilitate cooperative group decision making among diverse organizations and individuals serving on planning committees.
  • Ability to deal effectively and cooperatively with a wide range of local, state, and federal government officials, the news media, and private business people.
  • Ability to operate a variety of communications and audio-video systems maintained in the Emergency Operations Center.
  • Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  • Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with other city employees and the public.

Minimum Qualifications:
  • Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Liberal Arts, Public Administration, Business Management, or equivalent military curriculum plus three (3) years experience in the public safety field, which may include emergency management, fire service, law enforcement, or emergency medical services, military service, industrial safety, business disaster recovery, or related field.
  • Graduation with a Master’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in a government, management, or scientific field may substitute for one (1) year of required experience.

Licenses or Certifications:
  • Valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s License.
  • Certified Emergency Manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers or ability to acquire certification within two years of employment

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Background and involvement in an emergency management team in a utility, municipality, or other similarly regulated entity; and knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws, regulations, and policies in regard to emergency management
  • Background in leading and coordinating emergency management activities including facilitating and delivering training related to the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS), and conducting drills, workshops, and exercises related to emergency planning and response
  • Effective communication skills (both verbal and written), strong presentation skills, and ability to engage diverse community partners, volunteers, the public, and other stakeholders with diplomacy and tact to build and cultivate strong relationships
  • Strong problem-solving, decision making, and organization skills with the ability to prioritize tasks and make decisions independently in an environment with frequent interruptions and under intense pressure
  • Ability to develop relationships with other entities and outside organizations including Homeland Security, fire, and police organizations, the state office of emergency services, red cross, and volunteer/non-profit organizations to ensure a rapid and coherent response in emergency situations