Emergency Management Specialist (Recovery) (Operations Section Chief Type 2)

Federal Emergency Management Agency•Bothell, WA

About The Position

This position is an Emergency Management Specialist (Recovery) on a Type 2 Regional Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT), serving as an Operations Section Chief Type 2. It is a two-year temporary appointment in the excepted service under FEMA’s IMAT Cadre of On-Call Response/Recovery Employee (CORE) program. The starting salary is $57.33 per hour, with a maximum possible salary of $88.06 per hour; the listed salary includes locality pay and will be adjusted for the selected duty location. When deployed, the specialist leads operations supporting state and local governments, with responsibility for section personnel safety and welfare. The role involves establishing and supervising Operations Section organizational elements in accordance with the Incident Action Plan, directing execution, maintaining Incident Command System-compliant structure and staffing, and adjusting resources and staffing to incident complexity. The specialist also ensures personnel are qualified, briefed, trained, coached, and evaluated, and addresses safety considerations and hazardous situations. When not deployed, the specialist reports to the IMAT Leader and provides leadership oversight to operational planning. The role also contributes to the development, execution, and documentation of functions and plans affecting FEMA’s mission, operational responses, and programs, and participates in required training, professional development, workshops, and FEMA Qualification System certification activities. IMAT CORE employees are full-time employees who directly support disaster response and recovery. IMATs are among the first FEMA personnel deployed to an incident and manage the field-level federal response and early recovery, focusing especially on critical infrastructure stabilization and life-saving and life-sustaining efforts. The position is subject to emergency recall at any time, potentially involving irregular hours, work away from the official duty station, extensive travel with little notice, and work at physically austere and operationally challenging emergency sites. A three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, is required within six months of onboarding; FEMA covers travel expenses. Appointments may be renewed depending on workload, funding, and supervisory approval.

Requirements

One year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IT-3 level in the Federal government, demonstrating experience managing teams of emergency response personnel through all phases of all-hazards disaster operations; supervising large groups of personnel in technical functional areas; and commanding and coordinating emergency operations at the Operations and/or Incident Command level under the Incident Command System.
U.S. citizenship.
Successfully pass and maintain a Moderate Risk background investigation.
Register for Selective Service, if applicable.
Obtain and maintain a Government travel card.
Ability to travel; deployment travel may be extensive and may involve short notice and physically austere, operationally challenging conditions.
May be required to work a 24-hour on-call schedule during emergency response periods and be recalled around the clock for emergency management operations.
Attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding.
Meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by the announcement closing date.

Responsibilities

Manage operations supporting state and local governments and ensure the safety and welfare of Operations Section personnel during deployments.
Develop, activate, and supervise Operations Section organizational elements in accordance with the Incident Action Plan, and direct its execution.
Ensure organizational structure and staffing comply with the Incident Command System.
Confirm subordinates are qualified for their assigned positions.
Adjust the organization based on incident complexity and request additional personnel, supplies, services, and equipment as needed.
Brief subordinates on assignment-relevant information and special safety considerations or hazardous situations.
Provide subordinates with necessary training and coaching.
Complete performance evaluations of subordinates.
Report to the IMAT Leader and provide leadership oversight to operational planning efforts when not deployed.
Participate in developing, executing, and documenting functions and plans affecting FEMA’s mission, operational responses, and programs.
Participate in position-required training, training with states, territories, and other federal agencies, professional development, FEMA Qualification System certification activities, and emergency management training and workshops.