Eastern Shore Liaison Officer

MDEM is looking for a diligent, detail-oriented individual who is excited about making Maryland a safer place to live and work by assisting with the Local Support Branch within the Consequence Management Directorate.

MDEM’s mission is to proactively reduce disaster risks and reliably manage consequences through collaborative work with Maryland’s communities and partners. MDEM is the department of State government with primary responsibility and authority for emergency preparedness policy, and for coordinating hazard mitigation, incident response, and disaster recovery. MDEM is a national leader in Emergency Management that provides Maryland residents, organizations, and emergency management partners with expert information, programmatic activities, and leadership in the delivery of financial, technical, and physical resources “to shape a resilient Maryland where communities thrive.” We do this by being Maryland's designated source of official risk reduction and consequence management information.

NOTE: This position operates within an on-call rotating schedule according to assignment within the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) to attend to all emergencies on a statewide 24/7 basis. This may involve working 12-hour shifts and extended periods of time in support of 24-hour consequence management activities.

The position is considered emergency essential and supports emergency functions during times of heightened activity during scheduled events, emergencies, and disasters, including operating within an on-call, rotating schedule to attend to all emergencies on a statewide 24/7 basis, supporting both Local & State Emergency Operations Centers. This position could also respond in the field in support of a local incident. The Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM) is the department of State government with primary responsibility and authority for emergency preparedness policy, and for coordinating hazard mitigation, incident response, and disaster recovery. MDEM works to ensure that all Marylanders engage in preparedness activities and that the entire state is more disaster resilient.

This position reports to the Local Support Branch Manager within the Consequence Management Directorate and works closely with all local jurisdictions. The position supports the other directorates and the Secretary and critically supports the public safety mission of the Department by:

• Maintaining 24/7/365 situational awareness across the State of Maryland for potential and/or actual threats, incidents, and disasters.
• Supporting MDEM’s strategic initiatives across all 26 local jurisdictions, the two Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI) regions within Maryland, and across all Offices of Emergency Management within State government.
• Providing all 26 local jurisdictions within Maryland and Offices of Emergency Management within State government support in preparation for, mitigation from, response to, and recovery from an emergency.
• Supporting MDEM’s Consequence Management Directorate with specific tasks and initiatives across all 26 local jurisdictions, the two UASI regions, and all Offices of Emergency Management within State government.
• Serve as the Eastern Shore Liaison Officer supporting projects, initiatives, and activities within Offices of Emergency Management across Maryland’s Eastern Shore region.
• Support the development of regional plans and planning products.
• Support the development of regional training, and exercise projects.
• Support the awareness and programmatic aspects of MDEM initiatives, programs, and activities from the Consequence Management, Disaster Risk Reduction, and Mission Support Directorates.
• Supports the Special Events Specialist with all efforts related to State and regional special events including pre-event planning and exercise, and event execution.
• Support the Special Events Specialist with Special Events Program administration and data collection and dissemination.
• Supporting MDEMs statewide activities, including developing, promoting, and implementing assigned plans, documents, and other materials related to the Maryland Emergency Management System.

The position will support Department programs, projects, and activities related to the overall Department mission, and may be tasked to support other related Department programs, projects, and activities, as assigned by the Local Support Branch Manager, Consequence Management Director, Deputy Executive Director and/or Department Secretary.

In order to fulfill these responsibilities, this position requires strong project management, communication, presentation, organizational, and planning skills.

Emergency and Disaster response and recovery operations as needed and/or assigned by Department Secretary, Deputy Secretary, Directors, or Operations Personnel.

Employee will be expected to staff the SEOC upon activation for consequence management activities. Employee may be called to duty at any time, day or night, and is expected to report to the SEOC or assigned duty location within two (2) hours of notification. Employee will attend training and retain competencies to be appropriately prepared for SEOC staffing needs including understanding and mastery of all five components of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the Maryland Emergency Management System (MEMS). Employee will support SEOC activities, which may involve extended work hours, as well as extraordinary stress levels, given that a disaster event would occur requiring SEOC activation. Employee will be expected to perform command and supervisory functions for incident management needs with competence and reliability under NIMS and MEMS. Employee is expected to support ongoing recovery operations as it relates to their specific Branch roles/responsibilities. Employee may be required to report to an alternate location to perform SEOC duties in support of MEMS stakeholders or in the event of a Continuity of Operations Program (COOP) Plan activation.

Staff Local Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) or respond to a local incident scene, upon activation for real-world events/incidents and exercises.

Maintain situational awareness across the State of Maryland for potential and/or actual threats, incidents, and disasters.

Serve as the Eastern Shore Liaison Officer: This position serves as the liaison of the Eastern Shore, conducting daily operations by coordinating and promoting situational awareness to MDEM and Local Jurisdictions and conducting consequence management activities across the mission areas of prevention, response, and recovery.

Develop and maintain strong working relationships with emergency response organizations in local jurisdictions and Offices of Emergency Management within State government throughout the state.

Support the Agency’s activities in the Eastern Shore This position supports the Eastern Shore including serving as the State’s representative on one or more working groups as a Liaison. Specific duties include representing Agency priorities and interests in regional project development, briefing all activities to Employee’s supervisor, and attending program and project management meetings in the region.

Support Offices of Emergency Management within State: This position supports emergency management, public safety, and homeland security partners in the State including serving as MDEM’s representative on one or more working groups as a Liaison. Specific duties include representing Agency priorities and interests in regional project development, briefing all activities to the employee’s supervisor, and attending program and project management meetings.

Support to the Local Support Branch Manager and Special Events including the implementation and expanding of the State Special Event Program to include:

• Collect and submit the annual DHS National Special Event Data Call.
• Develop Maryland Special Event Assessment Ratings (MSEAR) for each event.
• Conduct consequence management contingency, crisis action and special event planning.
• Coordination, conduct, and develop training and exercises in support of pre-planned and special events.
• Serve as a regional lead for coordination for pre-planned and special events.
• Serves on regional and UASI special events committees and working group; and
• Provide technical assistance for special events preparedness to State departments/agencies and local jurisdictions.
• Support the maintenance of Special Events planning products.

• Development of consequence management plans and planning products. 
• Development and delivery of training and education courses.
• Development, facilitation and/or execution of exercises.
• Development and implementation of emergency management processes.

Seek opportunities and funding sources to participate in or champion initiatives related to all phases of the emergency cycle.

Support goals and objectives for school safety, the active assailant program, and the ongoing opioid crisis.

Support and participate in the Consequence Management Directorate and overall Department initiatives and programs, as assigned by the Local Support Branch Manager, Secretary, Deputy Secretary and other MDEM Directorates.

Support MDEM Strategic Initiatives that span the three MDEM Directorates (Mission Support, Consequence Management, and Disaster Risk Reduction).

Support Maryland’s strategic goals and objectives for homeland security & superior customer service.

Education: Graduation from an accredited high school or possession of a high school equivalency certificate.

Experience: Five years of administrative staff or professional work.

Notes:

1. Candidates may substitute 30 credit hours from an accredited college or university for each year up to four years of the required experience.

2. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and one year of experience in administrative staff or professional work for the required experience.

3. Candidates may substitute the possession of a Master's degree from an accredited college or university for the required experience.

4. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a commissioned officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking commissioned officer on a year-for- year basis for the required experience.

• One year of project management experience.
• Two years of emergency management experience.

STATE OF MARYLAND BENEFITS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, the paper application and supplemental questionnaire may be submitted to: Maryland Department of Emergency Management, 7229 Parkway Dr., Hanover, MD 21076. Paper application materials must be received in our office by the closing date for the recruitment. No postmarks will be accepted.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please call 410-702-3714, or email kiara.jones@maryland.gov. 

Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling: MD TTY Relay Service 1-800-735-2258.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country. People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.