EM Preparedness and Mitigation Specialist na Williamson County, TX

About the Department

Reporting to the Director of Emergency Management, responsible for managing a comprehensive preparedness program and hazard mitigation program, to include preparedness planning, training coordination, and exercise development and management. Engages with a variety of local, state, and federal organizations, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and private sector partners. The hazard mitigation program responsibilities include plan creation, revisions, grant management, and project management. Analyzes components of the plan (risk assessment, capability assessment, and mitigation strategy) to identify areas of community interest in mitigation actions and works with jurisdictions within the County as well as state and federal partners to develop a strategy for advancing mitigation action. Following a declared disaster, coordinates the Public Assistance and Individual Assistance programs with members of the County and the State and manages the contracts with approved vendors for disaster recovery within the County.

Position Duties

Preparedness/Planning

• Responsible for the development and maintenance of the County's basic emergency operations plan and associated emergency support function annexes, wildfire protection plan, and flood protection plan
• Responsible for maintaining the hazard mitigation plan and managing associated hazard mitigation grants
• Assists with the County's training and exercise program, including all after action reviews and improvement plan processes
• Responsible for the County's business preparedness and hazard mitigation public outreach and education program
• Participates in assigned local or regional planning groups/committees/taskforces
• Performs assessments and gathers data to support the County Threat Hazard identification and risk analysis

Response/Operations

• Responds to all-hazards situations to perform support activities in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or on-scene
• Deploys assets and equipment necessary to support on-scene operations
• Maintains operational readiness of the EOC and response assets
• Develops disaster maps and situational reports during and post-incidents, as needed

Recovery

• Assists in County-wide damage assessments, data collection, and reporting
• Responsible for the disaster recovery process for the County
• Provides guidance in recovering reimbursement for the repair/replacement of critical infrastructure
• Prepares damage assessments and project worksheets with details of work required to restore damaged facilities to its pre-disaster condition
• Ensures eligibility determinations executed by the state are accurate
• Assists with the management of state-administered grants and related emergency management issues
• Generates project extension requests and amendments to ensure compliance with project worksheets and related state Public Assistance grant requirements
• Trains members of the County on disaster recovery
• Responsible for recovery-specific software maintenance and administration

Mitigation

• Performs County wide threat assessments to document capabilities, identifies gaps, and proposes mitigation strategies
• Implements and manages hazard mitigation projects
• Provides planning and community engagement support in a variety of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Risk Mapping Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP) community meetings
• Establishes mitigation program vision and goals
• Tracks mitigation progress against established goals
• Conducts mitigation planning training (in person and via webinar) to local governments
• Conducts presentations and leads meetings involving external stakeholders
• Develops scopes of work for Risk MAP projects, including project descriptions, budgets, and schedules
• Attends all meetings and trainings, as required
• Performs special duties as assigned

ORGANIZATION RELATIONSHIPS

• Reports directly to – Director of Emergency Management
• Direct Reports – No

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Position involves prolonged sitting at a workstation, visual examination of documents, reaching, walking, twisting, bending, standing and occasional lifting/carrying
• Position involves occasional lifting and carrying of up to fifty (50) pounds and exertion of up to twenty-five (25) pounds of force to move objects

ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

• Work consists of a combination of indoor and outdoor tasks
• Regular travel between work sites as required
• Will be required to travel in poor weather conditions, walking in poorly lit or uneven terrain, exposure to hazardous weather, and operations in or near all-hazardous incidents

IRREGULAR HOURS

• Work outside of the normal office hours (Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.) may be required
• May be deemed essential personnel in the event of an emergency
• Regular attendance is required

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified in this position. This job description is subject to change as the needs and requirements of the job change.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in a related field AND three (3) years of experience in a professional field related to emergency management, mitigation and resiliency planning, environmental science, hydrology, strategic planning, research, project management, policy research and program development; OR an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Working knowledge of specific job-related technology

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS

Required

Required within thirty (30) days of employment

Required within sixty (60) days of employment

Required within one (1) year of employment

• Incident Command System (ICS) 300 and 400 courses
• Emergency Vehicle Operations Course (EVOC)
• All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) or Utility Task Vehicle (UTV) Drivers Certification Course
• Emergency Operations Center Credentialing
• CPR and AED Certification

Required within two (2) years of employment

• State ICS Instructor Certification
• Basic Emergency Management Academy or equivalence
• Basic level state or national level emergency management certification (TEM-B or ACEM)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• Texas Emergency Manager (TEM), Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), and/or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Advanced Professional Series certification
• Operational licenses of one or more: EMT or paramedic, firefighter, hazardous materials technician, basic peace officer license, or other public safety licensure

EMPLOYMENT TESTING 

Employment is contingent on passing any post-offer pre-employment screening as listed below:

• Criminal background check: Yes
• Motor Vehicle Record check: Yes
• Drug screening: Yes
• Physical exam: No
• Psychological exam: No
• Additional: N/A

Other Qualifications

A Williamson County online application (resumes alone are not sufficient) must be received before the position is closed. Positions are open until filled, subject to close at any time after five (5) calendar days. The Human Resources Department is located at 100 Wilco Way, Georgetown, TX 78626. Phone (512) 943-1533 or visit our website at www.wilcotx.gov/469/Human-Resources.  
 

Williamson County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).  If you require an accommodation in order to apply for a position, please request assistance from the Human Resources Department.

TOBACCO FREE WORKPLACE POLICY

Williamson County is a tobacco free workplace. The use of tobacco products (e.g., cigarettes, cigars, pipes, snuff, chew, etc.) and Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) (e.g., vapor, e-cigarettes, etc.) is prohibited on all Williamson County premises. Employees who violate this policy are subject to appropriate disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment.