Emergency Management Assistant Coordinator

Summary

ENTRY SALARY:   $45,000/year  (Plus Benefits)                                                                                                    

The Assistant Coordinator reports directly to the Coordinator of the Woodbury County Emergency Agency and will work in cooperation with the Woodbury County Emergency Management Commission to provide the delivery of emergency management coordination, planning, training and exercises. The Emergency Management Commission is authorized by Iowa Code 29C and Iowa Administrative Code 605-7.  Assist the Coordinator in the daily operation of the emergency management agency including the prevention of, protection of, mitigation of, preparedness for, response to, and recovery from the effects of manmade, technological or natural emergencies/disasters.   Additional responsibilities are the development and updating of the operation plans for County Emergency Management Agency Program.  The Assistant Coordinator assists the Coordinator in managing all aspects of the local Emergency Management Agency program, including but not limited to budget preparation and accountability, supervision of staff, public relations, training of volunteer emergency responders, and liaison with the public and with other agencies involved in providing disaster relief. This position is under the direct authority of the Woodbury County Emergency Management Commission.   

Essential Functions

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

The following duties are typical for this position.   These are not to be construed as exclusive or all inclusive.  

Other duties may be required and assigned.

• Provides technical and management support during crisis events in lieu of the Emergency Management Coordinator as needed.
• Attend work-related meetings, conferences and seminars and maintain all certifications as required.
• Perform all work duties and activities in accordance with Woodbury County EMA policies
• Assist the Coordinator when meeting with the Emergency Management Commission.
• Supports the development, maintenance, and updates of emergency plans including the county-wide multi-hazard emergency operations plan (EOP), recovery plan, and the hazard mitigation plan.
• Coordinate public information campaigns with the Coordinator including delivery methods of print, social media, interviews, etc.
• Assist in the coordination of emergency related activities during a declared or non-declared significant event including requests for state and federal activation of programs as needed.
• Identify training needs and develops, participates in, and/or provides training programs to update emergency response and create opportunities for public safety agencies
• Support exercise coordination and development.
• Prepare reports and maintains records/maps 
• Directs emergency operations; serves as a requesting authority for resources form the state and federal government; manages the operations of the Emergency Operations Center; requests activation of state and federal programs as needed; oversees documentation efforts for FEMA reimbursement.
• Assists with the coordination of emergency management activities with local support agencies, the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), local and state public safety agencies.
• Maintain equipment

Non-Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Ability to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions
• Performs a variety of other duties relative to the scope of designated responsibility under the direction of the Coordinator and the Woodbury County Emergency Management Commission.
• Knowledge of relevant local, state, and federal Emergency Management laws and agencies
• Coordinate emergency operations and resources during events such as floods, tornadoes, windstorms, large scale evacuations, severe winter storms, and other natural and human caused disasters.  
• Represent the Woodbury County Emergency Management Commission and perform duties in a professional, responsible and trustworthy manner
• Be detail oriented and accurate while performing duties.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, commissioners, department heads/elected officials, agencies and members of the public
• Operate common office equipment such as computers, calculators, fax machines, photocopiers, and multi-line telephones
• Use the Internet for gathering information and for communication, including social networking options such as Facebook and Twitter.
• Maintain confidentiality of information as appropriate.
• Handle multiple tasks and competing priorities.
• Organize and present facts, ideas, and opinions clearly and concisely, orally and in writing to groups and individuals in formal and informal situations.
• Ability to express oneself clearly/concisely in both oral and written communications as well as follow complex oral and written instructions.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule and additional time as needed

Essential Knowledge, Experience, and Ability

Minimum Education and Experience Required to Performing Essential Functions:

• Associate’s degree or equivalent in emergency management, public or business administration, public relations, military preparedness or related work; OR
• Two years’ experience in emergency management, contingency planning/risk management, military preparedness, or related work; OR
• Any equivalent combination of education and experience that will have provided the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• The person must comply with the education requirements set In Iowa Administrative Code 605 Chapter 7.

Mental and Physical Abilities Required to Performing Essential Functions:

Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with various municipalities, government agencies, county department representatives, vendors, service providers, members of the public and others.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating, and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals and/or Iowa or County systems.  
• Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  
• Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of the County in clearly spoken English.
• Ability to explain, demonstrate and clarify to others within well-established policies, procedures and standards, as well as the ability to explain instruction and information to the public in a professional manner
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with the general public, public officials, agency directors, federal and state officials.

Judgement and Situational Reasoning Ability

• Ability to classify, compute and tabulate data and information, following a prescribed plan requiring the exercise of sound judgment. 
• Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving a variety of pre-defined duties subject to frequent change.
• Must have the ability to work independently and to exercise good judgment in making decisions in accordance with regulations, ordinances and law and to efficiently process data, records and reports regarding operations and services.  
• Ability to compare, count, differentiate, measure and sort information, and must be detail oriented and possess good communication skills.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  

Physical Demands

Work is typically performed while sitting however there will be standing, walking, occasional bending, stooping requirements.  Must have the ability to: 

• Lift, push, pull, and/or carry up to 50 pounds
• Operate a variety of standard office equipment.
• Reach (horizontal and vertical) and bend to retrieve items.  
• Maintain at a minimum 20/40 vision per Iowa driver’s license requirements and abilities that includes close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust and focus.
• Work with hands, exerting minimal to moderate physical activity with the ability to sit or stand for long periods of time, and potential risk of injury.  At times, walking distance on unstable ground and around heavy equipment will be required.
• Maintain eye/hand/foot coordination, hand and finger dexterity, motor coordination, grasping and repetitive motions, hearing to perceive information.

ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED WITH THE APPLICATION OTHERWISE THE APPLICATION WILL NOT BE FORWARDED.   A completed County Application form and a resume are required. Deadline for receipt of applications shall be:  4:30 p.m., Monday, September 4, 2023 or until positions filled.      Woodbury County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the County will consider reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the Employer.  

Essential Education, Certification, and/or Licenses

Special Requirements 

Valid driver’s license and insurable under county liability coverage. The Emergency Management Assistant Coordinator must reside within a reasonable distance from the Woodbury County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), within one year of hire. In addition, response duties may be required after hours and on weekend and holidays. Must have completed required baseline education courses and maintain continuing education hours as outlined in Iowa Code 605 Chapter 7.

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential tasks.  Possession of an appropriate valid driver’s license and insurance.  Candidate for hire must successfully pass: physical examination, back screen, vision, hearing screen/test, DOT drug screen and background check successfully pass a background check prior to employment.  Attendance is required