Emergency Management Specialist

Emergency Management Specialist

Are you looking for a challenging role with organization that provides flexible hours, rewarding compensation, and an excellent benefit package? Do you have expertise and skill in emergency management or the emergency services? If so, Lake County Government needs your skills and drive in our Emergency Management Agency to help build and execute the county's Emergency Management Program. Lake County employs more than 2,700 team members to provide the highest level of service possible. We expect our employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, look for innovative ways to improve service, and demonstrate respect for their coworkers and the customers we protect and serve.

Essential Functions

• Assist the Lake County Emergency Management Agency (LCEMA) program in maintaining their Emergency Operation Center (LCEOC), which may include updating contact lists and other relative documents, testing equipment, developing procedures or "how to" guides, or other identified needs.
• Provide logistics support which may include tracking available assets and resources, researching best practices, developing "how to" guides, auditing, creating "go kits", database management, moving of physical items, potential personal protective equipment and supply distribution, warehouse operations, and other responsibilities as needed.
• Provide education and outreach to the public and partners of LCEMA activities and general emergency management topics. This may include general presentations, outreach at community events, or educational documents. Most of these activities are held in person at various locations throughout the County and surrounding counties.
• Assist in development and testing of forms and workflows in LCEMA's common operating picture tool, Veoci.
• Assist in the implementation and coordination of multi-disciplinary emergency preparedness trainings, exercises, and activities for the Emergency Operations Center, other County departments, and external partners including integration of National Qualification System (NQS) and completion of Position Task Books (PTBs) by hosting workshops, informational sessions, trainings, and exercise.
• Assist with updates and maintenance of the Lake County Emergency Operations Plan (LCEOP) in accordance with the standards promulgated by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. Duties include reviewing municipal EOPs or assisting with other operational plans to ensure they meet administrative compliance. Most of the training and planning activities require in person meetings at various locations throughout the County and surrounding counties.
• Respond to emergency incidents as needed or requested. Duties may include answering calls, a Command Position within the LCEOC, hosting briefings, assisting with standup and oversight of Veoci, damage assessment, field work, or other identified needs.
• General administrative duties such as digitizing files, updating and printing documents, general correspondence, and other administrative duties as needed or requested. May be responsible in assisting in preparation of ordinances, proclamations, procedures, and regulations as necessary.
• Participate in the Lake County Business Continuity Planning efforts; interact with business, labor, industry, agriculture, civic and volunteer organizations, and community leaders.
• Participate in local, State, and Federal Emergency Management organizations, and meets the minimum requirement to remain an active member. Examples of these groups are the Metro County Coordinators, Emergency Management Coordinating Council of Lake County, the Homeland Security Advisory Council, Regional Training Coordiantors, the Lake County Fire Chiefs Association, and others as applicable. These meetings may require in-person attendance.
• Act as a countywide liaison for emergency preparedness by answering questions from the public on emergency management and disaster preparation.
• Ensure compliance with grant and administering functions, including but not limited to the Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG). Responsible for oversight and execution of all needed strategies and documents to maintain Accreditation and to be in compliance with the EMPG.
• All other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities and Education Required

DATA RESPONSIBILITY: Coordinates or determines time, place, or sequence of operations or activities based on analysis of data and possibly executes determinations or reports on events.

PEOPLE RESPONSIBILITY: Gives information, guidance, or assistance to people or may give instructions or assignments to helpers or assistants.

ASSETS RESPONSIBILITY: Has responsibility and opportunity for achieving considerable economies and/or preventing considerable losses through the management of a large division or minor department; and/or handling of very large amounts of money.

MATHEMATICAL REQUIREMENTS: Uses addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division; may compute ratios, rates, and percents.

COMMUNICATIONS REQUIREMENTS: Reads journals, manuals, and charts to solve practical problems such as assembly instructions for tools, routine office equipment operating instructions, and methods and procedures for investigations, and in drawing and layout work; composes routine reports and specialized reports, forms, and business letters, with proper format; speaks compound sentences using normal grammar and word forms.

COMPLEXITY OF WORK: Performs work involving the application of principles of logical thinking, scientific, medical, or legal practice to diagnose or define problems, collect data and solve abstract problems with widespread unit or organization impact; requires sustained, intense concentration for accurate results and continuous exposure to unusual pressure.

IMPACT OF DECISIONS: Makes decisions with moderately serious impact - affects work unit and may affect other units or citizens.

EQUIPMENT USAGE: Handles machines, tools, equipment, requiring moderate instruction and experience such as a motor vehicle, small hand tools, and general office equipment.

SAFETY OF OTHERS: Requires considerable responsibility for the first-line supervision of the provision of continuous enforcement of the laws and standards of public health and safety.

EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Requires Bachelor's degree or education and training equivalent to four years of college education.

LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS, AND REGISTRATIONS REQUIRED:

• Valid Driver's License required supplemented by a satisfactory driving record.
• Highly encouraged to become an Illinois Emergency Management Professional (IPEM) within 3 years of hire.
• Required to complete ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 within the first year of hire.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• Minimum two years of experience in emergency management or emergency services, including operational planning, exercise design, and implementation of training programs is preferred.

Supplemental Information

Lake County offers a competitive salary and benefit package with performance-based incentive plans. We also offer flexible working hours and comprehensive wellness and training programs. Applications accepted until position filled. Any offer of employment is conditioned on the successful completion of a background screening, drug testing, and may include a pre-employment medical exam. Lake County is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE).

OFFICE LOCATIONS: Libertyville (656 W. Winchester Rd or Libertyville Government Campus), Waukegan (18 N. County St.), various locations throughout the county or in surrounding counties as part of regular job duties or any trainings, exercises, or events.

SCHEDULE: Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm. Position may require occasional weekend hours and/or after-hours support during community events or emergencies when the Lake County Emergency Operation Center is activated. Some activities require staff to be physically present on site.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: Position requires travel to meetings, community engagements, partner events, training courses, mutual aid to partners when requested, and conferences as part of regular job duties. The candidate must maintain a valid Illinois driver's license, insurance and have access and use of a personal vehicle to travel to multiple locations.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Requires light work involving standing or walking some of the time, exerting up to 30 pounds of force on a regular basis, and moderate dexterity in operating machinery, tools, supplies, or office equipment.

UNAVOIDABLE HAZARDS: The position is exposed to bright/dim light, dusts, pollen, extreme heat and/or cold, wet or humid conditions, extreme noise levels, animals/wildlife, vibration, fumes and/or noxious odors, traffic, moving machinery, electrical shock, heights, radiation, disease/pathogens, toxic/caustic chemicals, explosives, and violence.

SENSORY (ADA) REQUIREMENTS: The position requires normal visual acuity and field of vision, hearing, and speaking abilities; color perception, sense of taste and smell; depth and texture perception.