Emergency Management Liaison Officer

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works to mitigate, plan, and prepare for emergencies; educate the public about preparedness; coordinate emergency response and recovery efforts; and develop tools and identify resources to support the overall preparedness of the City of Philadelphia.

Job Description

The OEM mission in a 24/7/365 commitment. Mitigating, Preparing, Responding, and Recovering for planned and unplanned events requires around-the-clock dedication. The Emergency Management Liaison Officer’s (EMLO) role is to fill the OEM mission on behalf of OEM subject matter experts and to ensure that OEM is meeting the enduring needs of our partners. Specifically, the candidate will work with many different entities from governmental and non-governmental organizations. The lines of effort will focus on six main areas:

• Provide essential staffing to the Regional Integration Center to maintain staffing minimums and support 24/7 emergency management activities in a remote capacity.
• Provide on-scene and remote response to emergency incidents and planned events, representing OEM and coordinating response agencies
• Conduct short-term recovery activities including coordination of critical lifeline restoration, and individual and public assistance activities after disasters
• Assist in OEM’s Logistics mission, including support of OEM vehicle maintenance, transport of equipment to events, and assistance at OEM’s warehouse
• Conduct preparedness activities including leading public engagement events, conducting planning efforts, and performing readiness activities such as trainings and exercises
• Fulfill administrative functions of the EMLO program

Candidates should possess a strong desire to work in a team-oriented, fast paced, flexible, professional public safety environment, and a willingness to serve the public in the sixth largest city in the nation. The ideal candidate has exceptionally strong leadership and negotiation skills, is self-motivated, inquisitive, adept at working with diverse groups in stressful situations, and has a proven track record of effectively operating under emergency circumstances. Work will require a rotating schedule to include nights, weekends, and holidays and will, at times, be conducted in the field as the sole OEM representative or in a group setting.

Essential Functions

Under the administrative direction of the Operational Coordination Program Manager, Emergency Management Liaison Officer Group Leader, and the Response Executive, the Emergency Management Liaison Officer is responsible for a range of activities including the following:

• Perform functions of the Regional Integration Center Coordinator to maintain staffing levels and support operations within the Regional Integration Center.
• Perform functionality checks and supply replenishment to ensure readiness of facilities, vehicles, and equipment
• Perform field observation duties for various planned events, emergencies, and disasters gathering situational awareness and informing OEM response actions
• Coordinate emergency response and resource support at incident command posts and the emergency operations center (EOC) before a full on-call team deployment
• Deliver public education and engagement opportunities to increase the readiness of all Philadelphians
• Support of public information officer duties, including collection of photos and video
• Conduct planning functions for short-fused incidents including interagency meetings, written or verbal incident action plans, and other planning products
• Serve displaced residents in reception centers and shelters
• Coordinate short-term recovery activities at incidents including infrastructure restoration, financial and human service recovery, and public information
• Assist in development of OEM plans, including data analysis, content review, and links to OEM operations and logistics functions.
• Build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders through regular visits at various stations, offices, or other worksites
• Conduct neighborhood familiarity tours, increasing awareness of neighborhood hazards, conditions, and assets
• Operate equipment including technology and communications, vehicles and trailers of various sizes, and other mechanical items all in a safe and approved manner
• Participate in trainings and exercises
• Support the EMLO program with scheduling, training, quality assurance, procedure writing and implementation, technology and data management, and other project management
• Maintain proficiency in agency equipment and technology systems for situational awareness, incident management, data visualization, and alert and warning
• In the absence of immediate or direct guidance from OEM Executive staff, be prepared to carry out and lead others through approved procedures

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

COMPETENCIES

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and negotiation skills
• Confidence in front of groups
• Proven ability to operate and lead during emergencies
• Sound judgement and ethical decision making
• Professional conduct and accountability
• Proven time-management skills

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES

• Ability to problem solve and work with others under pressure
• Ability to multitask effectively
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and develop partnerships
• Ability to coordinate diverse groups toward a common goal
• Ability to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner
• Ability to contribute and coordinate work in a team
• Ability to remain calm and operate effectively in volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments symptomatic of emergency incidents
• Ability to work with little direct oversight or supervision
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook) and ability to operate other web-based platforms for situational awareness, information management, and mass notification

Qualifications

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is preferred
• Three (3) or more years’ experience working within an emergency management or other public safety organization is preferred
• Three (3) or more years’ experience supervising personnel is preferred, especially in completion of objectives under difficult circumstances or potentially hazardous situations
• Familiarity with the City of Philadelphia is preferred
• Experience working in outdoor environments for prolonged periods is preferred
• Experiencing training or teaching audiences of different ages
• An equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field will be considered with approval by MDO-OEM and the Office of Human Resources.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certification

• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six months of hire; commercial driver’s license to be pursued after employment
• Successful completion of FEMA Independent Study courses (IS 100.a, 200.a, 700.a, and 800.b) within first month of appointment.
• Candidate will have access to secure public safety information.  All selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of placement in this position.

Other requirements

• OEM personnel are essential, working during states of emergency or other city closures.
• All OEM personnel are “emergency managers first.” During times of disaster, work assignments and schedules may be altered to meet the incident objectives.
• Full-time residency within the City of Philadelphia geographic boundaries required within six months of hire.  There are no exceptions to this policy.
• Ability to physically perform the duties during and outside of normal business hours, to include driving and working outside.
• Nature of work inherently has risks, certain functions will require the use of various personal protective equipment (PPE) in hazardous situations.

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, resume and writing sample (showing your ability to write a policy or report-style document).

Salary Range: $68,000

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx