by Eric Holdeman: Emergency management in the blogosphere
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Most people don't realize how small the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) really is. They were only about 2,500 people only a few years ago. They may have doubled (or more) in size, but still small by Federal Government standards.
Since Hurricane Sandy cut such a wide swath of destruction there are a number of Joint Field Office (JFO) locations that need to be staffed. I know an old boss of mine ended up being a contract staff for one of these. She brings years of experience as a former FEMA person/manager with expertise in disaster response and recovery.
If you are in the hunt for a job and experience in emergency management this is one way to get your foot in the door. You just need to located where they need someone or be willing to travel. See list of positions and links below:
Please find below information about planning positions that are available at the Joint Field Offices involved in Hurricane Sandy recovery.
Local Hire Community Planner positions for Hurricane Sandy Recovery:
New York:
- Community Planner - FDRC
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10450642
o Posting closes: 1/7/2013
- FDRC - Community Recovery Technical Assistance Specialist
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10450643
o Posting closes: 1/7/2013
- FDRC Liaison
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10447932
o Posting closes: 1/2/2013
- FDRC Coordination Specialist
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10447974
o Posting closes: 1/2/2013
- Business and Workforce Development Specialist
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10450001
o Posting closes: 1/6/2013
- Transportation Planner
o http://newyork.us.jobs/viewjob.asp?jobid=10450644
o Posting closes: 1/7/2013
New Jersey:
- Community Planner
o https://webos.dol.state.nj.us/Career/PostingDisplay.aspx?jid=5559699
- Transportation Planner
o https://webos.dol.state.nj.us/Career/PostingDisplay.aspx?jid=5559705
- Community Capacity Building
o https://webos.dol.state.nj.us/Career/PostingDisplay.aspx?jid=5416082
Rhode Island:
- Community Planner
o To be listed on https://www.employri.org/ , search for “FEMA”
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The Washington State Department of Transportation (WASHDOT) has a new position that just opened up. Emergency Management Planner
Looks like a great opportunity for someone. The basics are:
Position Profile: Every disaster whether natural or man-made has the potential to adversely affect the roads, rail, marine and air travel throughout Washington State. For that reason transportation is possibly the most critical infrastructure in Washington. WSDOT is highly reliant on emergency management plans and operations. Additionally, many other state agencies lean heavily on WSDOT during emergency situations. One of the primary plans that guide WSDOT through these emergencies is called the Continuity of Operations Plan and with other agencies relying heavily on WSDOT, this plan also serves to guide those agencies as well. The WSDOT Office of Emergency Management is seeking an expert planner with a mastery of emergency management concepts and planning skills to decipher, rewrite, create, condense, make useable and create “buy-in” for the WSDOT Continuity of Operations Plan and other related emergency management plans for the agency. The incumbent to this position would be responsible for crafting an efficient and useable plan that could potentially save time, lives and resources in emergencies. The candidate selected for this position must be able to quickly establish and maintain interpersonal relationships with a diverse group of stakeholders and develop credibility in the area of emergency management throughout the state. The incumbent must be a planner, with the skills and ability to construct an excellent Continuity of Operations Plan that WSDOT Regions and other agencies will readily accept as the guiding document through disasters and emergency situations. The top candidate selected for this position will ultimately be responsible for a comprehensive program that will ensure the continuity of operations during all emergencies and disasters affecting Washington State. The incumbent will also provide leadership, strategic direction and support in the development of an agency-wide approach to continuity of operations integrated with emergency operations.
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I still want to change the world and make it a better place. In my own small way I try to do that every day. Sometimes by what I write and mostly by what I do. Each one of us can have a big impact on the people and places where we work, I keep trying to do that.
With the above in mind, FEMA Region IX has an opening for a Mitigation Planning Specialist It is mitigation that can change the impacts of future disasters. If you have the passion for that mission and don't want to continually respond, respond, respond--this is a job for you. There is a short turn-around, so get crackin!
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There just might be something here for you or someone you know:
Jobs, Jobs, Jobs
Hazardous Materials Program Specialist
City of Huntington Beach Fire Department
Huntington Beach, California
Salary: $69,768 to $86,424
Closing Date: December 17, 2012
This position is responsible for inspecting the storage, use, and disposal of hazardous materials, as well as managing city-owned oil wells. Duties included working with business owners who handle hazardous materials, ensuring hazardous materials inventories and emergency response plans are filed with the city, administering the permitting process, and conducting inspections. Two years of hazardous materials experience, knowledge of basic chemistry, and familiarity with federal, state, and local hazmat codes are required.
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Research Associate in Statistics for Volcanic Ash Hazards
University of Reading
Reading, United Kingdom
Salary: $36,108 to $38,295
Closing Date: January 5, 2013
This position will develop new quantitative methods for forecasting volcanic ash hazards as part of the Robust Assessment and Communication of Environmental Risk (RACER) project. A PhD in statistics or meteorology, research and publishing experience, and understanding of complex atmospheric models are required.
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Business Continuity Program Manager
Yale University
New Haven, Connecticut
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position coordinates continuity of operations and business continuity planning for the university. Duties include developing all-hazards risk assessments, planning mitigation strategies, assisting with departmental continuity planning, and conducting continuity and preparedness outreach. A bachelor’s degree in a related field, four years of experience, and skills in project management and disaster planning are required.
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Assistant Professor of Sociology
University of Louisiana
Lafayette, Louisiana
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This tenure track position will teach in one or more area of expertise, including environmental sociology, environmental justice, climate change impacts, and energy studies. A strong record of securing grants and outside funding and an emphasis in interdisciplinary collaboration are preferred. A PhD in sociology is required.
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Senior Health Coordinator, Emergency Response Team
International Rescue Committee
Multiple Locations
Salary: Not posted
Closing Date: Open until filled
This position is responsible for managing effective and timely emergency health response deployments and coordinating emergency health response components, including primary health, reproductive health, and nutrition. Responsibilities include identifying emergency program health staffing needs, ensuring rapid recruitment and training of new staff, delivering timely health assessments of humanitarian needs in large-scale emergencies, identifying strategies and response plans for areas of geographic intervention, and developing technical proposals and budgets. A medical degree, three years of experience working in emergency or conflict areas, and health emergency mobilization knowledge are required. A master’s in public health is preferred.
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It isn't easy finding a job when people are delaying retirement (a future blog post on that is coming) and there are other reductions in government positions. The employment figures for the last four years can be depressing. There have been 4.4M jobs lost in state government and 12 million local government workers are no longer employed (these are through 2011). 660K combined state and local jobs were lost in 2008 alone.
What is a person to do? One idea I've tossed out before was to have a skill that the existing workforce doesn't have and that organizations value. Previously I've touted GIS Mapping as an example. In emergency management you have to have maps and the more interactive they are the better. This means going digital with multiple layers of data available at your fingertips.
Another skill that "should" be in high demand is social media and all things having to do with the Internet. Governing Technology Magazine pointed out there is a growing need, see Social Media Directors are Finding a Place in Government
If I had a local program and was looking to fill a "traditional" pubic information officer (PIO) position I'd be looking for someone with tremendously good social media skills and a creative mind. I was thinking about this earlier and I think (?) at this point I'd tell the new hire to spend their time in the following proportions:
- 10% traditional public information officer duties. Fact sheets, news releases, news conferences, stories, etc.
- 20% on the Internet site and with the major emphasis there is making sure it fits today's slim downed mobile user who is on a smart phone or a tablet
- 60% on social media of all types. Getting content out there and then creating the dialog and roping other staff members into the process.
- 10% planning for how we will use social media for disaster response and recovery and then having the tools available.
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