City of Tampa

This is highly responsible work involving planning and coordinating city resources in preparation for “all hazards” disasters and major events.

The employee in this class, under the general direction of the Fire Chief, bears the principal responsibility for planning, coordinating, and directing city emergency activities within the context of the State and/or National Response Plan. Key responsibilities include threat assessment, personnel and resource identification and evaluation, city liaison, organizing and coordinating city staff, coordinating city-wide training, developing plans of action for a wide range of contingencies, including relocation of essential city government offices and equipment, and the ability to exercise effective command and control under emergency conditions. Work is of considerable difficulty and requires the application of considerable initiative and independent judgment and the ability to constantly evaluate ongoing methodologies. Work is evaluated while in progress through continuous observation and assessment of results achieved.

Coordinates the development of emergency operations plans for city departments and communicates operations plans to concerned parties, providing necessary training to insure effective implementation.

Identifies potential disaster threats and hazards, identifies associated issues and details to be considered and determines appropriate action plans for response, mitigation, and recovery.

Represents city interests as liaison to a variety of emergency preparedness planning organizations and committees, such as the County’s Emergency Management Section of Public Safety, the State Division of Emergency Management, FEMA, national and state conferences, American Red Cross, etc.

Develops emergency communication and command and control systems; develops and promulgates information regarding emergency plans to the public; plans and conducts emergency action exercises for the city in conjunction with the county and/or state organizations.

Coordinates emergency operations when such situations arise; maintains communications with key personnel and organizations throughout an emergency condition; provides information to the public under emergency conditions.

Performs related work as required.

Knowledge of: emergency management principles and practices; municipal government operations and departmental relationships; interagency multidiscipline interaction and cooperation.

Ability to: conduct extensive research into associated emergency management activities and standards; communicate effectively, verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships, serving as a calming and stabilizing influence; develop and deliver emergency training exercises and simulations; function effectively under the stress of emergency conditions; coordinate and direct the activities of others under emergency conditions; access changing conditions and modify activities according to the need; work independently as required; secure voluntary participation from other organizations.

Graduation from an accredited four (4) year college with a degree in planning, business or public administration, engineering, science, or a closely related field and five (5) years progressively responsible experience in a public safety related capacity. Preference will be giving to those who have been with an organization of reasonable size and scope and have participated in plan development and been involved with and coordinated multiple jurisdictional agencies and organizationally separate operational units.

Certifications including federal and/or state emergency management courses (e.g. FEMA, FEPA) are desirable.

Evaluation of education and experience. Drug testing is included in all pre-employment processing.

During periods when the Mayor issues an emergency declaration for the City of Tampa, all employees may be required to work in preparation, response or recovery activities related to the stated emergency.