Emergency Manager

Montrose County•Montrose, CO

About The Position

Perform administrative, technical, and professional work in the development, implementation, coordination, and maintenance of the County’s Emergency Management Program, encompassing all five phases of emergency management: prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Provide highly responsible support to the Sheriff’s Office, County Administration, Public Health, Human Services, and elected officials. Serve as the County’s primary coordinator and liaison for emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience efforts, including regular communication and coordination with state, federal, regional, and local partners. Serve as a key advisor and information resource to elected officials and County leadership by providing timely, accurate, and actionable information before, during, and after emergencies. Oversee emergency training exercises, public education, and community preparedness initiatives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Political Science, Public Administration or a closely related field; or a combination of education and experience that demonstrates the required knowledge and abilities.
Three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, or emergency planning/programming administration, preferable with a local governmental or public safety agency.
Principles and practices of administering a comprehensive emergency management program.
Emergency Management frameworks, including NIMS, ICS, and EOC operations.
Principles and practices of public sector budgeting and grant administration.
Ability to lead and coordinate multi-agency response and recovery operations under stressful conditions.
Ability to clearly communicate complex and technical emergency management information to elected officials, partner agencies, employees, and the public, including during high-stress or rapidly evolving situations.
Ability to exercise sound professional judgment and make timely decisions during emergencies.
Ability to analyze complex situations, evaluate risks, and develop practical solutions.
Ability to work collaboratively across departments and jurisdictions.
Ability to interpret, apply, explain, and enforce applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures.
Must have the ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing and the skill to organize materials and present information clearly and concisely in verbal and written form.
Must be able to read, understand, and interpret complex documents.
Must understand and follow verbal and written instructions.
Must have proficient knowledge of the English language, proper grammar, punctuation and spelling in other oral and written communication and have understanding of current technical report and business correspondence writing techniques and methods.
Must be able to read, comprehend and apply laws, rules, regulations, policies and standard operating procedures required for this position, as well as, technical reports, procedure documents and manuals.
Must be able to make effective and persuasive presentation on complex topics to a wide variety of audiences.
Must possess the ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with fellow employees, officials, governmental agencies, emergency response agencies and members of the community.
Must have strong customer service orientation and work collaboratively within a team environment.
Interact professionally and diplomatically with County employees, other agencies and organizations and members of the community and manage difficult or emotional customer situations.
Must have the skill to organize workflow and accomplish established objectives.
Possess the ability to recognize when confidentiality is required and maintain strict confidentiality.
Must maintain appropriate professional boundaries in relationships with customer/clients and the public.
Must have the ability to work with moderate to complex mathematical concepts such as addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in all units of measure, using whole numbers, fractions, percentages, decimals, proportions rates and ratios.
Must be able to analyze technical data and apply it to practical situations.
Must have knowledge of basic financial transactions such as calculating interest, debit and credits.
Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, recommend best options and implement approved solution in support of goals and strategic plan.
Modern office technology and equipment, including computers and related software applications.
Working knowledge of database manipulation, spread sheets, and word-processing.
Learn specific software associated with the position and/or organization.
Maintain physical condition appropriate to the performance of assigned duties and responsibilities which may include walking, standing and sitting for extended periods of time; exposure to hazardous materials and environments.
Must be able to operate four-wheel drive vehicles (example: pickup and SUV, etc.) in adverse weather.
Must have the physical strength and dexterity and ability to perform manual tasks requiring the full range of body movements and work in inclement weather as may be required to perform job functions.
Must be able to work in gravel, mud, deep snow and cover substantial distances over all types of terrain on foot.
Must possess and maintain a valid Colorado Driver’s License with a satisfactory driving record.
The employee is frequently required to travel throughout the County; may be required to travel within and out of state.
Subject to pre-employment drug test and criminal background check.
Will be required to respond to an emergency 24 hours per day, including nights, weekends and holidays.
Must have completed the following NIMS training: IS 800, IS 247, IS 251, IS 700/100, IS 200, ICS 300, ICS 400, IS 701/401.a, IS 702/702.a, IS 703/703.a, IS 704, IS 705, IS 706, IS 707.

Nice To Haves

Certification such as Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), Associate Emergency Manager (AEM), or Colorado Emergency Manager (COEM) is preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, direct, and administer the County's Emergency Management Program, including the Emergency Operations Plan, hazard mitigation plans, continuity of operations (COOP) plans, recovery frameworks, and related annexes and procedures.
Coordinate and collaborate with the City of Montrose Emergency Manager to support integrated emergency management services serving both the City and the County.
Ensure emergency management plans comply with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including, FEMA, Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), and National Incident Management System (NIMS) standards.
Review, revise, and develop emergency management plans to ensure operational readiness, interagency compatibility, and alignment with regional and state plans, including Hazard Mitigation, Watershed, and Community Wildfire Protection Plans, in accordance with applicable state requirements.
Manage and coordinate operation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) before, during, and after emergencies, disasters, and planned events, in coordination with County departments, municipalities, special districts, and partner agencies.
Facilitate timely information sharing and situational awareness among responding agencies, County leadership, and elected officials during emergency activations.
Serve in a leadership or command staff role within the Incident Command System (ICS), as appropriate.
Serve as the County's liaison on emergency management matters with FEMA, DHSEM, municipalities, special districts, neighboring counties, and other partner agencies.
Coordinate and support consistent, accurate emergency-related communication across agencies and jurisdictions.
Develop, implement, and update emergency management goals, policies, procedures, and standards in accordance with applicable laws and regulation.
Monitor changes in emergency management laws, regulations, and best practices and ensure County compliance.
Develop budget recommendations; administer approved budgets, and identify, apply for, manage, and report on federal and state emergency management and hazard mitigation grants.
Prepare and present reports, situation updates, after-action reports, and other required documentation.
Plan, conduct, and evaluate emergency management training and exercises for County staff, partner agencies, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
Develop and deliver public education, preparedness messaging, and outreach programs to improve community readiness, resilience, and hazard awareness, in coordination with County Communications staff when appropriate, and coordinate the sharing of training opportunities with the City of Montrose and other regional partner agencies.
Identify hazards, assess risks, and analyze vulnerabilities affecting the County.
Continuously evaluate the County’s emergency management and recommend strategies to improve preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.
Coordinate disaster recovery efforts, including damage assessments, public assistance coordination, recovery planning and documentation.
Advise elected officials, County leadership, and department heads on emergency management roles, responsibilities, and decision-making before, during and after emergencies.
Evaluate the County's capabilities across all phases of emergency management and recommend strategies to improve preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery.
Support development and implementation of hazard mitigation strategies to reduce long-term risk to life and property.
Support disaster response and crisis management activities in accordance with local, state, and federal authorities.
Identify, apply for, manage, and report on grants funding to support fire, flood, and other disaster preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery initiatives.
May perform other duties as assigned.
Regular and predictable attendance is required.