Department of Emergency Management Coordinator – Alert and Warning (Unclassified) (20526004)

The County of San Mateo’s Department of Emergency Management (DEM) is accepting applications from dedicated individuals for the position of DEM Coordinator – Alert and Warning (Unclassified).

DEM’s mission is to advance community resilience through a proactive and comprehensive approach to emergency management, involving the whole community in every phase of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

To learn more about the DEM please visit https://www.smcgov.org/dem

About The Position

The Alert and Warning Coordinator will be responsible for assessing the County's existing community alert and warning programs and systems in multiple languages for effectiveness, identifying service gaps, and recommending and implementing enhancements. This includes developing emergency notification and communication standards, protocols, and processes; managing vendor services and contracts; coordinating system access and training for authorized users; and initiating plans to integrate the County's program and system with the emergency functions of other government agencies, including Integrated Public Alert and Warning System and reversed 9-1-1.

Additionally, the Alert and Warning Coordinator will assist the County in identifying areas at risk for hazards and threats to the communication system, provide community education, and determine how to integrate community alert and warning systems with other technologies. The selected candidate will handle a variety of tasks to ensure the County's preparedness for any event, including participating in a weekly on-call rotation, maintaining 24-hour readiness, and responding to the field or Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies or disasters.

This crucial role will also require engaging with the public and stakeholder organizations, participating in advisory committees and work groups, and representing the County at all levels of government to develop a comprehensive emergency alert and warning program for the County of San Mateo.

The ideal candidate will possess:

• Strong knowledge of IPAWS protocols.
• Familiarity with local state and federal regulations.
• The ability to understand the current use of technology in emergency response and implement these technologies at DEM.
• Excellent written communication skills, including experience in proposal, report, and grant writing.
• The ability to engage with the public and stakeholder organizations to identify and develop effective outreach strategies and create a holistic Alert and Warning program for the County.
• Proficiency in computer skills and operating standard computer applications, including but not limited to word processing, spreadsheet software, PowerPoint, and email communication.
• The ability to work with a wide variety of situations (field, office, EOC) and disciplines (law enforcement, fire services, and emergency medical personnel).
• The ability to work with information systems and can code in Python, Java, or C++.
• A valid California Driver's License (depending upon the assignment).
• Completion of Incident Command System (ICS) Courses 100, 200, 700, and 800.
• Completion of IS-247.C: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for Alert Originators and IS-248: Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) for the American Public.
• A Master’s Degree in public administration, emergency management, crisis communication, security studies, or a related field is preferred but not required.
• An understanding of Laws, rules, and regulation governing public communication and warnings.
• Knowledge of Information technology, including but not limited to radio communication systems, software, and hardware related to emergency management and communication.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

Any combination of education and experience that would likely provide the required knowledge, skills and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to qualify is:

Education : Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in business, public administration, emergency management or related discipline.

Experience : One year of experience having responsibility for assisting in program planning, development and budgeting in the public, military, or private organization, preferably related to emergency/disaster planning and management.

Application/Examination

If you are interested in being considered for this position the following items must be submitted via e-mail:

• Cover letter with responses to Supplemental Questions (maximum of 2 pages)
• Resume

Supplemental Questions:

• Can you describe in detail your experience in developing and managing alert and warning systems in an emergency management context? What specific alert and warning technologies and platforms have you worked with in your previous roles?
• Describe a time when the communications your team sent out were not accurate. What immediate steps did you take to address the issue, and what long-term actions did you implement to prevent similar mistakes in the future?
• If you’re coordinating an emergency response and encounter a malfunctioning virtual EOC system, walk us through the steps you would take troubleshooting this issue.

Please include the words " DEM Coordinator – Alert & Warning - Unclassified" in the subject line of email submission. Please submit the required materials electronically via email to:

Rick Reed, DEM Coordinator

Email: rreed1@smcgov.org

Application materials will be reviewed as they are received and qualified candidates will be contacted by the department for an interview.

Apply immediately. Application materials will be accepted until the position is filled. This posting is open on a continuous basis and selection may be made at any time within the process.