Emergency Planner

This is highly responsible professional work involving the performance of complex administrative and operational coordination in emergency preparedness planning, response, and recovery operations under the city's Emergency Management Program.

An employee in this class of work is responsible for assisting with emergency management, planning, training, and operations.  Work is performed under general supervision requiring the exercise of considerable initiative and independent judgement in completing assigned tasks and meeting time constraints.  

Position has assigned responsibility for the city's NIMS Compliance and emergency management training program. The position may be assigned to plan for and execute the following emergency management training tasks:

Instruct, coordinate, maintain, and support various emergency management trainings and workshops to include National Incident Management System (NIMS) curriculum and other employee needs of the city’s Emergency Management Program.

Support emergency exercise design, development, facilitation and evaluations. Manage numerous resources and logistics for a local government during an emergency or large-scale special event in an EOC setting. Serve in the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), when activated, as a Command or General Staff position (i.e., Logistics Section Chief, Resources Unit Leader, etc.) based on leadership and incident needs. Maintain the EOC Facility space and plan for future improvements that it is operational 24/7.

Coordinate special projects as identified by the program, stakeholders, and/or supervisor’s needs including components for operational readiness and department preparedness pre-planning; specifically related to emergency logistics and resource management.

Maintain, train personnel, and regularly test amateur band radio capabilities and technology.

May represent the City of Tampa at meetings for stakeholder coordination and public outreach.

Research, identify, review, and analyze potential grant funding for department emergency management projects from state and federal agencies, non-profit groups and other sources.

Advise and assist the Office of Emergency Management on all operational and technical matters related to the emergency management program section(s) or function(s) assigned.

Maintain operational readiness of the Office of Emergency Management and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC); plan, coordinate, train, and exercise groups and individuals that function within the assigned section(s) or function(s) of the emergency management program to ensure that the groups or individuals respond as planned; develop, maintain, train and exercise the requisite standard operating procedures, checklists and job aids.

Function as the EM Duty Officer, on a rotating basis, providing the 24-hour emergency point of contact for the Office of Emergency Management; provides appropriate referral or information to inquirers and responds appropriately to those situations requiring further intervention according to Standard Operating Guidelines (SOGs).

Develop and deliver emergency management and disaster preparedness education and messaging to a variety of audiences, including in traditional format (presentations at HOAs, faith-based, community centers, etc.), media, and social media platforms (i.e., Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)

Assume project responsibility for administering the activities and operational scope of contracts and grant programs; devise project procedures and schedules; prepare project/progress reports and related data; coordinate preparation of grant proposals and write grant applications, as needed.

Conduct special studies/assessments in conjunction with a project; analyzes data and makes recommendations based upon findings.

Considerable knowledge of: functions, policies and procedures, principles, practices and techniques of emergency management; public safety operations and services;  training delivery of the incident Command Systems (NICS) and National Incident Management Systems (NIMS), VHF, UHF, conventional and trunked 800-900 MHZ wireless communication systems with Public Safety emphasis; and ARES/RACES Amateur Radio communications and rules; Logistical planning complex incidents like hurricanes, mass casualty incidents or large scale special events.  Homeland Security, Emergency Management, Fire and Law Enforcement Services and Medical Response Operations.

Working knowledge of: Florida Division of Emergency Management operations and concepts, the National Response Plan . Florida State Statue 252; and software systems such as WebEOC and Everbridge. 

Ability to: participate in operation and management of City Emergency Operations Center activities; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; facilitate and/or train classroom-size groups; develop long-term strategies and goals; coordinate the work activities of managerial, professional and support staff; interpret , codes, ordinances, and regulations; communicate effectively both orally and in writing.

Skill in: developing and conducting formal presentations; and trainings; database management;  logistics management ; and radio. Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills to effectively communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Mostly sedentary, indoors, occasional outdoors and lifting, requires frequent use of computer, typing and viewing a monitor.

Graduation from an accredited college or university with a bachelor’s degree in business or public administration, communications, emergency management, or a related field and three (3) year of responsible emergency management experience. Six (6) months of grant writing experience preferred.

Possession of a valid driver’s license required.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

Employees may be required to work rotating shifts, including nights, weekends, holidays and overtime as needed. During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.

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