Community Engagement Liaison

Smith County•Tyler, TX

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Community Engagement Liaison is responsible for enhancing Smith County’s emergency preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities through public outreach, volunteer coordination, and community partnership development. This position leads preparedness training initiatives, manages volunteer programs including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), and supports emergency operations during activations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public administration, education, public safety, or related field OR equivalent combination of education and experience preferred.
Valid Texas Drivers License or if from out of state, the ability to obtain one, required.
Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
Experience in training, instruction, or public education.
Ability to develop lesson plans and training materials.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to manage and coordinate volunteers.
Ability to work independently and in a team environment.
Effective public speaking and presentation skills.
Ability to build relationships with diverse community groups.
Conflict resolution and de-escalation skills.
Ability to perform under pressure in emergency situations.

Nice To Haves

CERT Program Manager or Instructor experience preferred.
FEMA ICS/NIMS training (IS-100, 200, 700, 800) preferred.
Experience in emergency management or public safety preferred.
Prior military service preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinate recruitment, training, credentialing, and deployment of volunteers, including CERT.
Teach CERT classes and preparedness programs such as CPR and Stop-the-Bleed.
Develop lesson plans, training materials, and instructional content aligned with FEMA and State of Texas guidance.
Provide outreach to civic groups, schools, faith-based organizations, nonprofits, and businesses.
Assist neighborhoods in preparedness initiatives such as Map Your Neighborhood.
Attend monthly CERT Team meetings to maintain engagement and readiness.
Organize and support quarterly CERT Board Member and group meetings.
Assist the EMC during Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations.
Support sheltering operations and coordination with community partners.
Maintain accurate records of volunteers, training, and outreach activities.
Attend trainings, meetings, and conferences as directed.
Represent Smith County Fire Marshal/OEM in a professional manner at local, regional, and state engagements.
Once eligibility criteria are met, apply to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) Incident Management Team (IMT) as an Incident Support Task Force (ISTF) member and be available for deployments one to three weeks in duration.
Supervise volunteers and may have to supervise coordination of volunteer groups as needed.