Emergency Preparedness Watch Officer bei City of Jacksonville, FL

About the Department

Are you looking for a position with a work/life balance? Do you want to earn four (4) weeks off during your first year of employment? Do you want low and no cost health insurance options? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you need to complete your application now. Work for the city you love!!!

The Fire and Rescue Department is actively seeking an Emergency Preparedness Watch Officer.

Did you know as a City of Jacksonville employee, you would also have twelve (12) paid holidays and a personal leave day as well? In addition to health insurance, dental, vision, life insurance and flexible spending plans are also available. City of Jacksonville employees are also eligible for Federal Student Loan Forgiveness after ten (10) years of public service and on-time payments.

This is professional work in researching, analyzing, developing, and coordinating natural and man-made disaster response and recovery plans, and providing public preparedness and education outreach. This position requires monitoring incidents and events in and around the County and preparing spot and situation reports and communicating incident details with senior leadership. Work requires establishing and developing dialogue with community and stakeholders including the private sector. Work requires knowledge of principles, practices, and techniques of emergency planning, which is usually gained through a combination of education, training, and related experience. Contacts require skill in understanding and influencing people which are important in coordinating emergency preparedness plans. Leveraging advanced technologies and public safety tools, the Watch Officer collects information regarding potential and actual risks, threats, and on-going incidents that may have operational consequences for the five (5) urban service districts in Duval County.   Often functioning in a high stress and time-critical environment, the incumbent must determine the validity, urgency, and significance of available information and disseminate it to relevant parties.  The work is performed following substantially diversified emergency management principles and policies with latitude permitted in considering which among many procedures should be followed and in what sequence and involves differing situations requiring the use of good judgment in search of solutions or new applications. Work is performed primarily in an office environment and occasionally in the field where risks and hazards are minimal, known, predictable, and controllable. Operates standard office equipment such as personal computers. May be required to lift objects weighing less than 50 pounds. Work is performed under general supervision in which the work assignments are varied and, although subject to standardized practices and procedures, the worker is permitted to set priorities with the superior's approval. Work may include substantial overtime during emergency situations and incumbent could be separated from family for an extended period of time.

Position Duties

• Assists in researching, analyzing, developing, and coordinating natural and man-made disaster response and recovery plans for the city, including reviewing other plans to prevent conflict.    
• Reports to the Emergency Operations Center (and Planning Section) and assists in coordinating activities during an emergency.
• Operates standard office equipment such as personal computer using Microsoft Office Suite and other related software. 
• Prepares responses to inquiries, reports, and related correspondence. 
• Analyzes and reports potential hazards in the community and develops corresponding action plans.
• Updates and maintains EOC messaging and asset sharing system, the city resident emergency alert notification system and public outreach programs.
• Utilizes advanced technologies and public safety tools to collect information regarding potential and actual risks, threats, and on-going incidents. 
• Determines the validity, urgency, and significance of available information and disseminates it to relevant parties.
• Demonstrates proficiency in the City of Jacksonville’s competencies. 
• Performs related work as required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Knowledge of federal, state, and local Emergency Management programs.
• Knowledge of principles and techniques of emergency preparedness planning and management. 
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of research, statistical analysis, and forecasting. 
• Knowledge of public safety communications equipment, systems, and use.
• Knowledge of National Incident Management System (NIMS), Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Preparedness Goal’s five mission areas and 32 core capabilities, post-disaster recovery process (PDRP). 
• Knowledge of locally used signal codes and 10-codes.
• Skilled in the preparation of clear and precise reports.
• Ability to analyze problems, develop and implement solutions.
• Ability to operate equipment such as personal computers, using Microsoft Office Suite other related software, audio-visual equipment, hand-held radios, and radio base stations. 
• Ability to communicate effectively. 
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships. 
• Ability to respond to incidents and events, which may require working beyond regularly scheduled work hours.
• Ability to work independently and/or as a member of a team.
• Ability to work various shifts on a rotating schedule, including nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to travel and/or work in the field environment during disaster conditions necessary.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) compliance.
• Ability to research and compile data and prepare written reports and correspondence. 
• Ability to adapt to rapidly changing environments.
• Ability to manipulate database, word processing, graphical software, GIS, and spreadsheet applications to create reports, summaries, graphs, charts, maps, and tables.

Other Qualifications

• Four years of education and/or professional experience in public safety communications or emergency dispatch.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS: The probation period for this class is six (6) months.  

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION/REGISTRATION: 

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver’s license during employment in this class.  

• Must qualify for, obtain, and maintain a City of Jacksonville public driver certification for employment in this class.

• EVOC Certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation. 

• DHS (Dept. Homeland Security) Exercise and Evaluation Program Training Certification must be obtained prior to completion of probation.  

• Department of Homeland Security independent study on-line courses:  IS-100, IS-200, IS-700. and IS-800 are required prior to completion of probationary period. 

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Certain servicemembers and veterans, and the spouses and the family members of such service members and veterans, receive preference and priority, and certain servicemembers may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements, in employment and are encouraged to apply for positions being filled.

If claiming veteran's preference, you must attach a DD-214 (Member Form-4 copy) or military discharge papers, or equivalent certification from the Department of Veterans Affairs listing military status, dates of service and character of discharge.  You must also attach the Veterans Preference Certification Form and if applicable, the additional forms as noted here:  http://www.coj.net/departments/employee-services/veterans-preference

If a candidate believes he or she was not afforded veteran’s preference, he or she may file a written complaint, within 60 calendar days upon receipt of notification of the hiring decision, requesting an investigation to:

Florida Department of Veterans Affairs
Attention:  Veterans’ Preference Coordinator
11351 Ulmerton Road, Suite 311-K
Largo, FL  33778-1630
Email: [email protected]