Job Information
City of Somerville Deputy Director of Emergency Management in Somerville, Massachusetts
Statement of Duties
The City of Somerville is seeking an innovative, contemporary Emergency Management professional who has a proven track record of promoting high standards of professionalism and performance, delivering results, building accountability for staff, pursuing equity-driven policies, and creating a positive work environment characterized by teamwork and innovation. This critical leadership position will be responsible for assisting the Director of Emergency Management in planning, coordinating, and implementing emergency management strategies and programs to strengthen resilience and ensure the safety and well-being of our community during emergencies, disasters, and related emergent incidents and planned events. The candidate will have the opportunity to play a significant role in the design and implementation of emergency response infrastructure and systems across the city. The candidate will bring robust change management skills and experience to Somerville’s endeavor to build a robust and comprehensive emergency plan and systems response. The position is expected to be on-call and respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours.
Essential Functions
The essential functions or duties listed below are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position.
Serves as the backup to the Director of Emergency Management, as the senior official responsible managing all aspects of emergency management as well as directing the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in the event of an emergency impacting the city or planned event.
Responsible for assisting the Director with developing inter-departmental structures and administration of emergency systems across police, fire, communications, health, public works, inspectional services, and other city agencies.
Assist the Emergency Management Director as planning liaison to the Federal Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and other state and local communities and agencies.
Interact with senior management and operations staff at local, state, and federal agencies to incorporate cutting edge standards and ensure the community remains a leader in the emergency response field.
Develops and maintains standard operating procedures and workflows.
Serve in a key emergency management role during incidents, emergencies, and disasters of all types and sizes. At times response to the scene may be required.
Supports the standing up of physical and/or virtual Emergency Operations Center (EOC), when opened.
Selects, trains, develops, counsels, and evaluates assigned personnel; provides or coordinates staff training and periodic drills and both tabletop and field exercises; works with employees to correct deficiencies; implements reward and discipline procedures.
Assist with mitigation planning and collaboration with other city departments as well as state and federal agencies.
Manages recovery operation including initial damages assessment and FEMA PDA, IDA, and SBA after a federal Presidential Stafford Act declaration.
Ensures compliance with all applicable codes, federal and state laws, local ordinances, rules, regulations, standards, policies, procedures, and general orders; ensures adherence to established safety procedures.
Compiles and/or monitors various administrative and/or statistical data pertaining to operations; performs research and makes applicable calculations; analyzes data and identifies trends; summarizes data and prepares reports, graphs, and charts.
Supports the Public Safety for All Task Force and any resulting recommendations pertaining to emergency management and emergency response by providing relevant expertise.
Supports the Emergency Operations Center design, procurement of equipment and systems, and build-out, including oversight of contractual services and vendors.
Facilitates the design and implementation of innovative interdepartmental emergency communications between teams/responders and service delivery workflows in collaboration with key stakeholders including fire, police, public works, communications, human resources, information technology, and law departments.
Participate in the development and administration of department goals, objectives, and procedures.
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.
Lead interdepartmental teams to complete assigned projects on time, to specifications, within budget, and with accuracy and efficiency.
Lead change and spearhead initiatives to develop employees’ and stakeholders’ understanding and acceptance of impacts on specific job roles, policies, technology impacts, and business practices.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience: Equivalent professional experience and/or education may be considered to meet total minimum qualifications.
Bachelor’s degree with major course work in emergency management, criminal justice, business, public safety, public administration or related field and at least three (3) years of emergency management experience; or a master’s degree with major course work in emergency management, criminal justice, business, public safety, public administration or related field and at least one (1) year of emergency management experience.
Completion of FEMA ICS-700, and ICS-800; ICS-100, ICS-200, and ICS-300.
Must possess and maintain a valid Massachusetts driver’s license.
Preferred Experience/Qualifications:
FEMA ICS 400
FEMA Basic Academy
FEMA Fundamentals of Emergency Management
FEMA Emergency Planning
FEMA Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
FEMA Public Information and Warning
FEMA Basic Operations Center Functions
FEMA Science of Disaster
Massachusetts Professional Emergency Manager (MPEM) or other professional emergency management recognition/certification.
Working knowledge of MEMA WebEOC platform.
Working knowledge of Boston OEM WebEOC platform.
Experience working with common emergency management grants including EMPG, HMEP, and CCP
Experience with recovery operations especially involving initial damages assessment and FEMA PDA, IDA, and SBA after a Federal Presidential Stafford Act declaration.
Experience creating, facilitating and evaluating exercises in compliance with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP).
Experience with initial post disaster recovery operations such as with the American Red Cross and MEMA Recover Resource Centers.
Experience with all aspects of emergency shelter operations.
Experience managing, developing, and training volunteer programs such a FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
Experience and fluency in public speaking and delivering briefings, training and educational programs.
Experience working with private and public partners to coordinate projects and deconflict concurrent jurisdictions such as universities and/or state/federal organizations.
Knowledge, Abilities and Skills
Knowledge: Thorough understanding of project management and change management principles and planning. Superior knowledge of applicable emergency management standards and best practices. Experience developing, promulgating and maintaining emergency policies, procedures and guidelines. Experience supervising and managing teams. Experience with strategic planning.
Abilities: Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work. Ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders. A strong skill set working with diverse populations and stakeholders is critical. The ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people of all ages, incomes, and backgrounds. Flexible, resilient outlook; ability to adapt to challenges and integrate learned lessons. Ability to engage in process documentation and improvement, to prepare and administer budgets; ability to recruit, train and supervise staff effectively. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, in typical and emergency situations. Ability to communicate with City employees, City Councilors, and other community stakeholders in a tactful and professional manner at all times. Ability to handle confidential information in a discreet manner. Ability to function independently within the broad scope of municipal and department policies and goals.
Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make sound decisions under high-pressure situations. Experience in the management of contracts and grants including FEMA and MEMA reimbursement protocols. Proficiency in using emergency management software, incident management systems, and other relevant tools and technologies. Excellent management skills; skill in coordinating various programs and projects simultaneously; strong communication skills, verbal and written; training in interpersonal communication and mediation. Excellent presentation skills. Strong emotional intelligence. Multilingual skills preferred. Proficiency in all office software systems including Microsoft Office including Excel. Valid driver’s license and ability to safely operate an emergency vehicle.
Work Environment
The work environment involves everyday comforts typical of indoor environments such as office settings, with occasional exposure to outside elements. Noise or physical surroundings may be distracting, but conditions are generally not unpleasant. Employees may be required to work beyond normal business hours in response to attend evening meetings and emergency and/or planned events.
Physical and Mental Requirements
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the position’s essential functions.
Physical Skills
Little or no physical demand is required to perform the essential functions of this position. Work effort principally involves sitting to perform work tasks, with intermittent periods of stooping, walking, and standing. There may also be some occasional lifting of objects such as office equipment or photocopy paper (up to 30lbs.).
Motor Skills
Duties may involve assignments requiring application of hand and eye coordination with finger dexterity and motor coordination. Examples include operating a phone system or a personal computer.
Visual Skills
Visual demands include constantly reading documents for general understanding and analytical purposes.
Hours: Full-time. City Hall hours
Salary: $99,367.27 annualized plus benefits
Union: Non-Union
Date Posted: September 30th, 2024
City of Somerville residents are especially encouraged to apply.
The City of Somerville is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, age, national origin, disability or any other protected category. Women, minorities, veterans, and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Auxiliary aids and services, written materials in alternative formats, and reasonable modifications in policies and procedures will be provided to qualified individuals with disabilities free of charge, upon request. Persons with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication (i.e., CART, ASL), written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures in order to access the programs, activities, and meetings of the City of Somerville should please contact Adrienne Pomeroy at 617-625-6600 x 2059 or apomeroy@somervillema.gov.
Pre-Employment Requirements for All Employees:
MA Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) clearance
Completition of Conflict-of-Interest Law Education training for municipal employees
Overview of Total Rewards:
4 weeks annual vacation (for non-union positions) union positions vary by contract
Medical insurance through the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) - 80% of premium costs paid by City
Dental coverage low and high plans through Cigna
Vision care through Vision Service Plan (VSP)
Long term disability through Sun Life
Group and voluntary life insurance through Boston Mutual
Health Care and Dependent Care flexible spending through Benefit Strategies
Deferred compensation plans through a choice of three vendors
Free, confidential services through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provided by E4Health
Annual cancer screening & wellness release
Somerville Retirement Pension System
Tuition reimbursement
MBTA pass program
FREE Blue Bikes membership
Eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)
Benefits listed are for benefits-eligible positions and the above information is meant to be a general overview of the benefit programs offered by the City of Somerville and not a binding contract.
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