Emergency Management Specialist (CEMA) - Planning - (2600005A)

Description

Salary: $52,286 - $78,416

Position Grade: 210G

Department: City Emergency Management Agency

Job Type: Full-Time (Permanent)

Examination Number: EX1595

Location: Downtown - St. Louis, MO

This position is responsible for coordinating extensively with City departments, regional partners, Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), and FEMA Region VII on emergency planning matters. The EM Specialist – Planning Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for all Emergency Operations Plan development, hazard annexes, and planning compliance during steady-state operations, and functions as Planning Section Chief during EOC activations, coordinating situation reporting, documentation, and Incident Action Plan development. Emergency Availability: 24/7/365 - Must respond within 60 minutes of notification during emergencies.

Essential Functions And Responsibilities

Emergency Operations Plan Development and Maintenance

Serves as CEMA's lead planning specialist with primary responsibility for developing, maintaining, and coordinating the City of St. Louis Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) in accordance with FEMA Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101 and EMAP Standards 4.3-4.4. Leads a comprehensive review and update of the Basic Plan, ensuring alignment with current federal doctrine, state requirements, and local operational realities. Establishes and maintains a systematic plan review cycle that ensures all EOP components remain current, relevant, and actionable.
Develops and maintains hazard-specific annexes addressing the full range of threats and hazards facing the City of St. Louis, including severe weather (tornado, flooding, winter storms), earthquake, hazardous materials incidents, terrorism, public health emergencies, and other identified risks. Ensures each annex includes concept of operations, organizational roles and responsibilities, direction and control protocols, and references to supporting plans and procedures. Coordinates with subject matter experts from City departments and partner agencies to ensure technical accuracy and operational validity of annex content.
Creates and maintains functional annexes and Emergency Support Function (ESF) appendices that define roles and responsibilities for City departments during emergency operations. Coordinates with department emergency coordinators to develop department-specific standard operating procedures (SOPs) that align with the citywide EOP. Ensures planning documents incorporate Whole Community principles, address access and functional needs populations, and comply with civil rights requirements. Maintains version control and document management systems that ensure responders access current plan versions during emergencies.

Risk Assessment and Hazard Analysis

Leads the Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process required for federal compliance and grant eligibility, coordinating input from City departments, regional partners, and subject matter experts to identify capability targets and resource requirements. Conducts comprehensive hazard analysis using established methodologies to evaluate probability, magnitude, and potential consequences of identified threats. Produces risk assessment products that inform planning priorities, resource allocation, and capability development strategies.
Maintains current knowledge of the City's risk profile through ongoing environmental scanning, intelligence coordination, and analysis of emerging threats. Coordinates with Missouri SEMA, FEMA Region VII, and regional partners on multi-jurisdictional risk assessments and planning initiatives. Develops and maintains hazard profiles, vulnerability assessments, and consequence analyses that support planning decisions and public communication. Ensures THIRA products align with Stakeholder Preparedness Review (SPR) requirements and grant performance reporting.
Conducts research on hazard characteristics, historical incidents, and lessons learned from disasters affecting peer jurisdictions to enhance planning products. Analyzes demographic data, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and community characteristics to identify populations and assets requiring special planning consideration. Produces planning guidance documents, fact sheets, and briefing materials that translate risk assessment findings into actionable information for emergency managers, elected officials, and the public.

Departmental Planning Coordination

Coordinates emergency planning activities across City departments, serving as the primary liaison between CEMA and departmental emergency coordinators on planning matters. Facilitates planning working groups and committees that bring together stakeholders to address cross-cutting planning issues and ensure consistency across departmental plans. Provides technical assistance and planning support to departments developing or updating their emergency procedures, continuity plans, and standard operating guidelines.
Reviews departmental emergency plans and procedures for alignment with the citywide EOP, NIMS compliance, and operational compatibility. Identifies gaps, conflicts, and opportunities for improvement in departmental planning products. Develops planning templates, checklists, and guidance documents that enable departments to produce consistent, high-quality emergency plans. Coordinates annual reviews of departmental plans to ensure currency and relevance.
Supports development of Continuity of Operations (COOP) and Continuity of Government (COG) plans for City departments and elected offices. Provides planning expertise for special events, planned incidents, and other situations requiring pre-incident coordination. Coordinates with regional partners on multi-jurisdictional planning initiatives and ensures City plans integrate with county, state, and federal planning frameworks.

Planning Section Chief

Serves as Planning Section Chief during Emergency Operations Center activations, responsible for collecting, evaluating, and disseminating incident information and maintaining situational awareness for the EOC. Establishes and manages Planning Section organization appropriate to incident complexity, activating unit leaders for Situation, Resources, Documentation, and Demobilization as needed. Ensures development of Incident Action Plans (IAPs) for each operational period in accordance with NIMS doctrine.
Directs situation assessment activities including collection and analysis of field reports, damage assessments, weather briefings, and intelligence updates. Produces situation reports, briefing materials, and common operating picture products that inform decision-making by the EOC Director and Command Staff. Facilitates planning meetings that bring together section chiefs to develop operational period objectives, resource requirements, and tactical assignments. Ensures IAP components including ICS-202 (Incident Objectives), ICS-203 (Organization Assignment List), ICS-204 (Assignment Lists), and supporting documents are completed accurately and distributed timely.
Manages the Documentation Unit function, ensuring all EOC activities, decisions, and resource commitments are properly recorded for operational continuity and potential federal reimbursement. Coordinates technical specialists assigned to the Planning Section including GIS analysts, subject matter experts, and agency representatives. Leads demobilization planning as incidents transition toward recovery, ensuring orderly release of resources and transition to steady-state operations. Produces incident-specific after-action contributions documenting planning function performance and improvement recommendations.

Federal Compliance and Accreditation Support

Ensures CEMA planning activities comply with federal requirements including NIMS implementation, FEMA grant conditions, and preparedness standards. Monitors evolving federal doctrine, guidance, and best practices affecting emergency planning, incorporating updates into agency planning products and procedures. Tracks EMAP accreditation standards related to planning (Standards 4.3-4.4) and coordinates agency efforts to achieve and maintain compliance.
Supports grant applications by providing planning-related data, capability assessments, and project justifications. Ensures planning deliverables required by grant agreements are completed on schedule and meet quality standards. Coordinates with the Grants Manager to document planning accomplishments for performance reporting. Maintains planning-related records and documentation required for federal audits and compliance reviews.
Participates in state and regional planning initiatives, representing CEMA on planning working groups and committees. Coordinates with Missouri SEMA on state planning requirements, plan reviews, and technical assistance opportunities. Engages with FEMA Region VII on planning doctrine, guidance interpretation, and emerging best practices. Contributes to professional knowledge sharing through participation in IAEM, NEMA, and other professional association planning committees and workgroups.

Exercise Support and Continuous Improvement

Provides planning expertise to support agency exercise program, contributing scenario development, planning assumptions, and technical content for exercises designed to test and validate emergency plans. Reviews exercise objectives to ensure alignment with planning priorities and capability gaps identified through risk assessment. Participates in exercises as a player, controller, or evaluator as assigned, with primary focus on validating planning products and procedures.
Incorporates lessons learned from exercises, real-world incidents, and after-action reviews into plan updates and procedure revisions. Tracks planning-related corrective actions from improvement plans to completion, ensuring identified gaps are addressed through plan revisions, procedure updates, or training enhancements. Coordinates with Training and Exercise Coordinator to ensure exercise program addresses planning capability validation needs.
Attends training, conferences, and professional development opportunities to maintain current knowledge of emergency planning best practices and professional standards. Pursues professional certifications as directed by agency leadership. Performs other duties as assigned by the Deputy Director or Commissioner to support agency mission accomplishment.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Equipment to be operated: Computer workstation and standard office productivity software including Microsoft Office Suite; emergency management information systems including WebEOC or similar incident management platforms; geographic information systems (GIS) software for hazard mapping and risk visualization; planning and collaboration software; multi-line telephone systems and mobile communication devices; radio communications equipment including VHF/UHF portable and mobile radios; emergency operations center audio-visual systems including video conferencing platforms; document management and version control systems; City vehicle for planning coordination meetings and field assessments; and specialized emergency management equipment as required for incident response and planning support.
Physical requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, performed in office and EOC environments with occasional field visits for planning coordination and damage assessment support. Must be able to lift and carry up to 25 pounds, including planning materials, reference documents, and equipment. During EOC activations, extended periods at workstations and sustained mental concentration are required. Must be able to operate standard office equipment, presentation technology, and emergency communications systems.
Environmental conditions: Work is normally performed in office and EOC environments under generally safe and comfortable conditions. Planning coordination meetings may require travel to partner facilities, department locations, or regional venues. During EOC activations, exposure to high-stress situations, extended operations, and rapidly changing conditions is expected. Field visits for damage assessment or planning validation may involve exposure to outdoor weather conditions or damaged structures requiring appropriate personal protective equipment.
Schedule demands: This position requires 24/7/365 availability for emergency response. During EOC activations, extended work hours (12+ hour shifts), weekend and holiday duty, and multi-day sustained operations should be expected. The incumbent must be able to report to the EOC within 60 minutes of notification during emergencies. Regular work schedule is Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., with in-office presence required five days per week. Planning coordination meetings and stakeholder engagement may occasionally require schedule flexibility outside of emergency activations.

Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Urban Planning, Homeland Security, Public Policy, or a closely related field; plus two years of experience in emergency management, emergency planning, homeland security, or a closely related field. OR an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Experience must include demonstrated responsibility for plan development, policy writing, risk assessment, or emergency preparedness program coordination.

Required Training And Certifications

FEMA Independent Study courses: IS-100, IS-200, IS-230, IS-235, IS-700, IS-800 (or ability to complete within 6 months of hire)
ICS-300: Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents (or ability to complete within 12 months of hire)
ICS-400: Advanced ICS Command and General Staff (or ability to complete within 18 months of hire)
G-191: ICS/EOC Interface or equivalent EOC operations course (or ability to complete within 12 months of hire)

License: Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license while employed by the City of St. Louis. Must possess a valid driver's license at the time of filing application and be able to present it upon request. Please note type of license, number, class and expiration date on the Employment Application. Only qualified applicants who provide proof of a valid driver’s license will be considered for this position.

Preferences: Experience in Emergency Operations Plan development, hazard mitigation planning, or continuity of operations planning in accordance with FEMA CPG 101 or equivalent federal planning guidance.

Preferred Certifications And Credentials

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) - International Association of Emergency Managers
Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) - International Association of Emergency Managers
Completion of FEMA Planning Section Chief course (E/L-962) or equivalent resident training
Completion of FEMA Emergency Planning Course (E/L-103) or Integrated Emergency Management Course
FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS) completion
Missouri Professional Emergency Manager Certification
American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) certification
Military operations planning experience with equivalent certifications

Scoring Components and Their Weights

Experience and Training: 100%

Subject To

Background Investigation: Pass/Fail

Medical Examination: Pass/Fail

As part of the background investigation, applicants must pass the minimum screening requirements as determined by CALEA in order to work in the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department Headquarters.

Documentation of Academic Credentials must be Submitted Upon Request

When completing the Employment History and the Educational/Training History sections of the Employment Application, please be as thorough as possible when describing your education, training and experience relating to this position. Applicants will only receive credit for their experience, training and education as shown on the application. Resumes will not be accepted as a substitute to a fully completed application. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Veterans Preference Points

To be eligible for veteran's preference points, the applicant must submit a copy of their DD 214 Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty with the Employment Application or upon request. The Director of Personnel may, in their discretion, accept alternate documentation.

City Residence Preference Points

City residents who pass an examination for a position in the classified service and do not receive any other preference will receive a five (5) point preference on a scale of 100 points on the exam. An additional one (1) point shall be added to the passing score of City residents who receive any other preference on a scale of 100 points. City residents must have resided in the City for at least one (1) year at the time of filing their application to be eligible for the preference points.

Accommodations

If assistance with the job application is necessary based on a physical impairment, mental impairment, or otherwise, they should reach out to the Office on the Disabled with contact information. This office will not disclose any information that an applicant or employee has a disability or has discussed possible accommodations without the applicant's or employee's prior consent.

Job Posting

: Jul 21, 2026, 1:13:01 PM

City of St. Louis

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Emergency Management Specialist (CEMA) - Planning