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BC
Barnstable County
Emergency Management Planning Specialist
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What they do
An Emergency Management Director plans and directs disaster response or crisis management activities, primarily for state and local governments. Directs preparation of emergency plans and disaster preparedness training. Surveys community resources available for emergencies, provides outreach to community groups and businesses on disaster and/or emergency response plans and procedures.
$97,549 / year median in Massachusetts
+12% projected growth
Job Description
Local Emergency Planning and Plan Development Support Summary Professional, technical, and administrative support to the Barnstable County Department of Emergency Management in conjunction with the County's support of the Barnstable County Regional Emergency Planning Committee (BCREPC). The primary focus of this position is the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of emergency plans at the local and regional levels, encompassing hazard mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and continuity of operations. Performs all other related work, as required. Supervision Works under the technical and administrative direction of the Emergency Management Director. Work is performed with considerable independence on planning and exercise tasks, with regular coordination with the Director. Unusual situations or matters requiring policy decisions are discussed with the Director. Initiates planning activities considered necessary to advance the emergency management mission. May receive direction from local municipal authorities when deployed to municipalities, provided such direction does not contravene County policies and practices. 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. Local Emergency Planning and Plan Development Support Serves as the primary point of contact for Barnstable County member municipalities on all emergency planning matters, building and maintaining productive working relationships with local Emergency Managers, Fire and Police Departments, Boards of Health, and other town officials. Supports collaborative development, review, and continuous improvement of local-level emergency operations plans (EOPs), continuity of operations plans (COOPs), hazard mitigation plan annexes, and other required or recommended emergency planning instruments for municipalities and associated organizations within the BCREPC service area, as requested by municipal authorities. Facilitates formal planning processes with municipal stakeholders consistent with CPG 101 and MEMA guidance, ensuring plans address all hazards identified in applicable threat and hazard identification and risk assessment (THIRA) processes and incorporate lessons learned from exercises and real-world incidents. Develops and maintains standardized planning templates, toolkits, and technical guidance documents to support consistent and high-quality local planning across all member communities, scaling guidance to community size, capacity, and hazard profile. Maintains current knowledge of applicable state and federal requirements, FEMA guidance (including CPG 101, the National Preparedness Goal, and associated frameworks), and MEMA directives, and ensures local plans reflect current standards. Supports municipalities in the development and maintenance of access and functional needs annexes, ensuring plans address the needs of populations with disabilities, limited English proficiency, and other access and functional needs. Regional Planning Frameworks and BCREPC Integration Develops and maintains regional planning frameworks that integrate local-level plans into a coherent regional capability, ensuring that when incidents exceed local resources, regional coordination mechanisms activate smoothly and with clear roles, responsibilities, and mutual aid pathways. Collaborates with the Emergency Management Director and BCREPC members to develop, revise, and exercise regional plans including the Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Operations Plan, Regional Sheltering Plan, and other regional planning instruments, ensuring local plan elements align with and support regional operations. Supports development of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs), and mutual aid agreements with municipalities, regional partners, and state agencies in coordination with the Emergency Management Director; maintains a current repository of these documents and associated emergency planning records. Participates in and supports BCREPC subcommittee and Task Group meetings related to planning; prepares planning-related agenda items, maintains meeting records consistent with Massachusetts Open Meeting Law requirements, and tracks action items to completion. Conducts and oversees hazard vulnerability assessments and risk analyses to prioritize planning investments across the region, incorporating findings into local and regional plan revisions. Exercise Program Development and Management Leads the design, development, conduct, and evaluation of a comprehensive multi-year exercise program consistent with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) doctrine, covering the full range of discussion-based and operations-based exercises for BCREPC members, municipalities, partner agencies, and internal County emergency management staff. Develops exercise objectives, scenarios, master scenario events lists (MSELs), controller and evaluator guides, and all supporting exercise documentation for tabletop exercises, functional exercises, full-scale exercises, and drills. Facilitates exercise conduct, including serving as lead facilitator or exercise director as appropriate to exercise type and scope; coordinates controller and evaluator teams, injects, and participant communications throughout exercise play. Designs and delivers exercise programs for municipalities, schools, hospitals, EMS providers, and other regional stakeholders, adapting scope and complexity to organizational capacity and preparedness priorities. Plans and supports exercises for internal Barnstable County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) cadre and emergency management staff, building and sustaining EOC operational capability and familiarity with plans and procedures. Leads after-action processes following exercises and real-world incidents, compiling and analyzing evaluator observations, facilitating after-action meetings, developing After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans (AARs/IPs), and tracking corrective actions to resolution through continuous improvement cycles. Manages the Integrated Preparedness Planning (IPP) process for the BCREPC service area, facilitating the Integrated Preparedness Planning Workshop (IPPW) and maintaining the multi-year Integrated Preparedness Plan. EOC and MACC Activation Support Supports activations of the Barnstable County EOC and/or Multi Agency Coordination Center )MACC) in a planning function, including situation assessment, development of operational period action plans, tracking of operational priorities, and documentation of activation activities. May serve in a continuity function as Emergency Operations Center Manager in the absence of the Emergency Management Director, as designated. Maintains availability on a 24-hour, 7-day-a-week basis to support emergency response activations as directed by the Emergency Management Director; modifies work schedule as required prior to, during, and following emergency operations. General Duties Attends state, regional, and local meetings and events in support of emergency management and planning objectives. Supports the Emergency Management Director in grant-related planning activities, including contributing to grant applications and project deliverables with a planning or exercise focus. Works closely with member municipalities, the BCREPC, partner agencies, and the Emergency Management Director to ensure that local-level plans are robust, integrated, and capable of scaling to regional frameworks when incidents exceed local resources. Leads and supports exercise programs consistent with HSEEP doctrine and assists with internal County emergency planning. Performs similar or related work as required, directed, or as the situation dictates. Recommended Minimum Qualifications Education and Experience Bachelor of Science Degree in emergency management, public administration, environmental health, environmental science, or a related field; two to five years of experience in emergency planning, preparedness program management, or related emergency management functions; additional experience in exercise design, municipal emergency planning, or regional coordination is advantageous; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.