TDEM County Liaison Officer, Montgomery

Texas Division of Emergency Management•Conroe, TX

7d•Onsite

About The Position

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) County Liaison Officer provides consultative services and technical assistance to support local and county emergency management programs. The role helps plan, develop, implement, and evaluate emergency management programs, and supports local Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) and Disaster District Emergency Operations Centers (DDEOCs) during planned and unplanned events. The position works under limited supervision with moderate latitude for initiative and independent judgment. This is an emergency-response role in which working hours and duties may change as needed. Extended hours may occur, and after-hours and weekend availability is required. During activations, the officer must be able to work outside regular hours in the field, a DDEOC, or the State Operations Center, and to deploy from the assigned duty station for extended periods after disasters, potentially with minimal rest or relief. Travel is approximately 40%, and a fleet vehicle is assigned. Within 90 days of hire, the selected candidate must reside within the assigned county. The salary rate is fixed for internal and external applicants.

Requirements

Associate’s degree from an accredited college or an equivalent combination of education and experience, or two years of work experience; 30 semester hours equal one year of education.
Must reside within the assigned county within 90 days of hire.
Working knowledge of, or ability to rapidly assimilate, local/county, TDEM, state, and federal regulations, legislation, guidelines, policies, and procedures.
Knowledge of emergency management, hazard mitigation, disaster recovery, disaster preparedness, or emergency response principles and practices.
Ability to establish and maintain effective professional relationships, demonstrating poise, tact, and diplomacy.
Ability to operate office and specialized equipment, including a laptop and software, plotter, projectors, camera, GPS device, binoculars, palm device, two-way radio, satellite radio or phone, and other EOC audiovisual equipment.
Ability to work outside normal hours during emergencies and travel for extended periods as needed.
Ability to communicate and present to diverse small and large groups, and explain technical information in terms understandable to people with varied educational and work backgrounds.
Ability to analyze problems, identify causes, and apply actions to resolve problems and prevent recurrence.
Analytical, detail-oriented, organized, flexible, and able to multitask and prioritize in a demanding environment without sacrificing accuracy or timeliness.
Knowledge of methods for prioritizing, planning, organizing, and carrying out multiple concurrent technical projects.
Ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information and situations.
Must possess a valid Texas driver’s license or be able to obtain one at hire.
Within the first 12 months of employment, must complete FEMA courses IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800, obtain certification, and complete any other training that may be determined.
Must be able to travel (40%) and drive.
Face-to-face and person-to-person interactions are required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.

Responsibilities

Coordinate emergency management programs with local governments, emergency response and regional organizations, TDEM, other state agencies, volunteer groups, and private industry.
Perform incident management within the assigned county.
Advise local governments and provide technical assistance regarding emergency management programs.
Maintain communications with county, district, and administrative staff to support a comprehensive understanding of the county emergency management program.
Support local officials with disaster recovery programs and other financial disaster assistance.
Evaluate the progress and compliance of local and county emergency management programs, and recommend revisions or modifications based on evaluation results.
Support the planning, development, and evaluation of emergency management, public safety, and homeland security programs.
Provide liaison and support among local officials, volunteer groups, TDEM, state and federal agencies, and other potential disaster responders.
Conduct initial disaster damage surveys and needs assessments, and prepare reports ranging from free-text reports to detailed Disaster Summary Outlines.
Assist with preparing and supporting the DDEOC during planned and unplanned events.
Potentially brief divisional officers or other appropriate officials during emergencies or threats to public safety or property.
Potentially serve as a state staff support member at a Joint Field Office or deploy to other incident facilities.
Maintain regular attendance and work extended hours as needed, including after-hours and weekends.
Travel as needed, including for extended timeframes, and drive as required.