Emergency Management Specialist-Director's Office

General Description:

The Broward County Office of Emergency Management works closely with federal, state, and local partners-including all 31 municipalities, the Broward County School Board, and healthcare facilities-to strengthen community resilience and ensure coordinated preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts. OEM develops and maintains the County's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, conducts emergency response exercises, provides technical guidance to County departments and municipal governments, and delivers emergency operations training across the region.

OEM also serves as the lead agency for the Broward Emergency Response Team (BERT), coordinating countywide activities during disaster response and recovery operations. OEM personnel operate out of the County Emergency Operations Center (CEOC) located in Plantation, Florida.

During EOC activations, the EOC Liaison Officer serves on the Director's Command Staff and functions as the primary point of contact for partner agencies and external stakeholders, ensuring timely coordination, addressing concerns, and maintaining efficient interagency communication.

Position Overview
Broward County OEM is seeking a highly motivated, detail-oriented Emergency Management Specialist to support the Director's Office. This role requires a creative problem solver who is comfortable working both independently and as part of a team-especially during high-pressure situations associated with EOC activations. The Specialist will support continuity planning, training development, stakeholder communications, and interagency coordination essential to the County's emergency management mission. The candidate needs to be available to work twelve-hour shifts in the event of an activation of the EOC/EDC in response to a no warning hazard or storm event.

Key Responsibilities
* Support the development, maintenance, and implementation of Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP)
* Utilize WebEOC incident management software to support daily operations and EOC activations
* Create professional training materials, guides, and presentations using tools such as Canva
* Assist with Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP) documentation and compliance efforts
* Support development and coordination of emergency management communications and public outreach
* Assist in the development and support of disaster volunteer programs
* Contribute to exercises, trainings, stakeholder workshops, and interagency planning sessions
* Provide operational support within the County Emergency Operations Center during activations
* Coordinate with internal and external partners to ensure seamless information flow and resource efficiency

Essential Skills
* Previous experience in emergency management, continuity planning, disaster response, or related fields
* Experience with WebEOC, Canva, and emergency management communication practices
* Familiarity with EMAP standards and accreditation processes
* Demonstrated ability to create high-quality training documents and presentations
* Strong attention to detail and a methodical work style, particularly in stressful environments
* Ability to work collaboratively and independently
* Strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills, including the ability to engage diverse stakeholders

Ideal Candidate Attributes
* Creative and adaptive thinker who thrives in fast-paced, dynamic environments
* Effective communicator capable of professional interaction across all levels of government and community organizations
* Passion for public service and supporting community resilience, especially during emergencies

The functions listed below are those that represent the majority of the time spent working in this class. Management may assign additional functions related to the type of work of the job as necessary.

Advises and assists the division director on all operational and technical matters related to the emergency management program section(s) or function(s) assigned.

Assists municipal, county, and state partners with planning, training, and operational outreach relating to the implementation of assigned emergency management programs.

Maintains operational readiness of the Division and the Emergency Operations Center; plans, coordinates, trains, and exercises 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; develops, maintains, trains and exercises the requisite standard operating procedures, checklists and job aids.

Prepares project applications for federal and state funds to provide expansion of facilities and services; researches the feasibility of expanded activities and submits reports to administrative superiors.

Assists in the emergency activation functions of the operations center to ensure the operational readiness and effective performance.

Functions as the duty officer, on a rotating basis, providing the 24-hour emergency point of contact for the Emergency Management Department; provides appropriate referral or information to inquirers and responds appropriately to those situations requiring further intervention.

Develops and delivers emergency management and disaster preparedness education to a variety of audiences.

Assumes project responsibility for administering the activities and operational scope of contracts and grant programs; devises project procedures and schedules; prepares project/progress reports and related data; coordinates preparation of grant proposals and writes grant applications, as needed.

Receives, stores, maintains, and utilizes written materials and equipment necessary for emergency planning, preparedness, response, and recovery to disaster situations.

Facilitates the accomplishment of work through providing, obtaining and coordinating a variety of services.

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

Performs related work as assigned.

• Manages Complexity:
  Makes sense of complex, high quantity, and sometimes contradictory information to effectively solve problems. Looks at complex issues from multiple angles; explores issues to uncover underlying issues and root causes; sees the main consequences and implications of different options.
• Decision Quality:
  Makes good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward. Knows when to act independently and when to escalate issues. Integrates various inputs, decision criteria, and trade-offs to make effective decisions. Typically makes good independent decisions.
• Action Oriented:
  Takes on new opportunities and tough challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy, and enthusiasm. Takes immediate, decisive, independent action to resolve issues or problems. Persists as needed. Quickly and consistently identifies and pursues beneficial new opportunities.
• Optimizes Work Processes:
  Knows the most effective and efficient processes to get things done, with a focus on continuous improvement. Pays close attention to a variety of metrics and benchmarks; determines both major and subtle ways to optimize processes. Swiftly resolves process breakdowns; takes steps to ensure that problems do not recur.
• Communicates Effectively:
  Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences. Tailors communication content and style to the needs of others. Pays attention to others' input and perspectives, asks questions, and summarizes to confirm understanding.
• Persuades:
  Uses compelling arguments to gain the support and commitment of others. Convinces others through a variety of means and methods of persuasion, including well-reasoned rationale. Recognizes when compromise is necessary and shifts approach to accommodate others.

Physical demands refer to the requirements for physical exertion and coordination of limb and body movement.

Performs sedentary work that involves walking or standing some of the time and involves exerting up to 10 pounds of force on a regular and recurring basis or sustained keyboard operations.

Unavoidable hazards refer to the job conditions that may lead to injury or health hazards even though precautions have been taken.

None.

All Broward County employees strive to demonstrate the County's four core behavioral competencies.

• Collaborates: Building partnerships and working collaboratively with others to meet shared objectives.
• Customer focus: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Instills trust: Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.
• Values differences: Recognizing the value that different perspectives and cultures bring to an organization.

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Broward County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to inclusion. Broward County is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. We support the hiring of people with disabilities; therefore, if you require assistance due to a disability, please contact the Professional Standards Section in advance at 954-357-6500 or email Profstandards@broward.org to make an accommodation request.

Note: During emergency conditions, all County employees are automatically considered emergency service workers. County employees are subject to being called to work in the event of a disaster, such as a hurricane, or other emergency situation and are expected to perform emergency service duties, as assigned.

All Broward County employees must serve the public and fellow employees with honesty and integrity in full accord with the letter and spirit of Broward County's Employee Code of Ethics, gift, and conflict of interest policies.

All Broward County employees must establish and maintain effective working relationships with the general public, co-workers, elected and appointed officials and members of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, political affiliation, familial status, sexual orientation, pregnancy, or gender identity and expression.