Supervisory Emergency Management Specialist (Planning Unit Leader)

Federal Emergency Management Agency•Kansas City, MO

About The Position

This position is a two-year temporary, excepted-service appointment under FEMA’s Incident Management Assistance Team (IMAT) CORE program. The role serves as a Planning Unit Leader on a Type 1 Regional IMAT, supporting active disasters in Region 7 or across the nation. The stated starting salary is $51.84 per hour, with a maximum possible salary of $67.38 per hour; the listed salary includes locality pay. During deployments, the position leads or supports Planning Section responsibilities, facilitates planning processes and applies project management principles to support field program delivery, advises customers and program staff on planning processes and requirements, and coordinates stakeholders with differing priorities. When not deployed, the position participates in national, regional, and state exercises, training, professional development, and workshops, and contributes to the development, execution, and documentation of functions and plans affecting FEMA’s mission, operational responses, and programs. The role supports FEMA’s disaster response and recovery mission. IMATs are among the first FEMA personnel deployed to incidents and manage field-level federal response and early recovery, with emphasis on stabilizing critical infrastructure and supporting life-saving and life-sustaining efforts. Employees have recurring emergency management responsibilities and may be recalled at any time. Emergency operations may involve irregular hours, travel with little notice for weeks or months, work away from the official duty station, and physically austere or operationally challenging conditions. Appointments may be renewed based on workload, funding, and supervisory approval. Selected candidates must attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding; FEMA covers travel expenses.

Requirements

One full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the IT-2 level in the Federal government.
Experience analyzing emergency management planning program policies, guidelines, or processes to support disaster field operations at the Federal, State, or local level.
Experience collaborating with a variety of stakeholders to deliver emergency management programs and develop planning products.
Must be a U.S. citizen.
Must successfully pass and maintain a Moderate Risk background investigation.
Selective Service registration is required, if applicable.
Must be able to obtain and maintain a Government travel card.
Travel is required; may be required to work on a 24-hour on-call schedule during emergency response periods.
Must attend a three-week in-person training course in Emmitsburg, Maryland, within six months of onboarding.
There is no educational substitution for the stated experience qualifications.

Responsibilities

Lead or execute Planning Section responsibilities for active disasters in Region 7 or across the nation.
Facilitate planning processes and apply project management principles to support agency field program delivery.
Advise customers and program-area staff on planning processes and requirements.
Communicate, collaborate, and coordinate with stakeholders who have differing priorities, using planning processes, principles, and frameworks.
Participate in national, regional, and state exercises and in required training, professional development, and emergency management workshops.
Contribute to the development, execution, and documentation of functions and plans affecting FEMA’s mission, operational responses, and programs.
Support field-level federal response and early recovery, including critical infrastructure stabilization and life-saving and life-sustaining efforts.
Respond to emergency management recalls and travel or work at incident locations as required.