This position is Unclassified and serves at the will of the Appointing Authority.
The City of Richmond Department of Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response (DECPR) is seeking an experienced and detailed-oriented professional to fill the position Training Exercise and Preparedness Manager. This position assists the deputy director in the management and leadership of the Office of Emergency Management. The Emergency Management Training, Exercise and Preparedness Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and evaluating the City’s comprehensive Emergency Management training and exercise program to ensure operational readiness for all hazards. This position leads multi-agency training initiatives, develops and executes exercises aligned with local, state, and federal requirements, and ensures that City personnel and partners maintain the competencies needed to prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters in accordance with the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong instructional design skills, deep knowledge of emergency management doctrine, and experience coordinating multi-agency operations in a dynamic urban environment.
Incumbent directly supervises professional, paraprofessional, and support staff including conducting performance evaluations, coordinating training, and implementing hiring, discipline, and termination procedures.
- Develop, implement, and continuously update a comprehensive emergency management training program for City staff, elected officials, and partner agencies, ensuring all training aligns with NIMS, ICS, HSEEP, FEMA/EMI doctrine, and applicable state and federal regulations.
- Conduct yearly training needs assessments; identify required competencies for EOC staff, department representatives, and field personnel.
- Design, deliver, and evaluate training using a variety of modalities (in-person, virtual, tabletop, simulations, blended learning). Coordinate the delivery of training from resident and external subject matter experts.
- Maintain detailed training records, compliance tracking, and credentialing for EOC personnel.
- Lead the design, development, execution, and evaluation of HSEEP-consistent exercises, including seminars, workshops, tabletops, drills, functional, and full-scale exercises.
- Manage exercise planning teams, coordinate with interdepartmental and external partners, and ensure exercise objectives reflect current risk, capability gaps, and strategic priorities.
- Develop After-Action Reports/Improvement Plans (AAR/IPs) and track corrective actions to resolution for each exercise as well as real-time events.
- Coordinate participation in regional, state, and federal exercises, including radiological, public health, and all-hazards events.
- Contribute to the development, review, and maintenance of emergency plans, annexes, standard operating procedures, and EOC documents.
- Support preparedness initiatives such as community outreach, continuity planning (COOP), and critical infrastructure engagement. Proactively attend community events that allow for emergency management exposure to the widest cross-section of City residents.
- Advise departments on readiness standards and provide technical assistance on emergency protocols.
- Assist in EOC activations by fulfilling a leadership or section role during real-world incidents and special events.
- Establish performance metrics, program evaluations, and readiness reports for leadership and elected officials.
- Manage program budgets, grant deliverables, and procurement related to training, exercise and preparedness needs.
- Serve as the primary liaison to local, regional, state, and federal partners regarding training and exercise coordination.
- Represent the Office of Emergency Management in committees, workgroups, and interagency initiatives as required.
- Other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications: - Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, or field related to assignment
- Six years of journey-level professional experience in area related to assignment
- Two years of supervisory experience
- A Master's degree in business, public administration, or field directly related to assignment may be preferred
- An equivalent combination of training and experience (as approved by the department) may be used to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification
Licensing, Certifications and Other Special Requirements:
- Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers or Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) certification by Virginia Emergency Management Association (or other state) is preferred.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
TYPICAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES: These are a representative sample; position assignments may vary.
Knowledge (some combination of the following):
- Comprehensive expertise in emergency management operations, including planning, logistics, and interagency coordination.
- Demonstrated knowledge of:
- National Incident Management System (NIMS)
- National Planning Frameworks for Protection, Prevention, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery
- National Infrastructure Protection Plan
- Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
- National Preparedness System (NPS)
- National Preparedness Goal (NPD), including Core Capabilities across the five mission areas.
- Computer programs such as Microsoft Office Suite
- Data analysis
- Federal and state regulations pertaining to Emergency Management
- Processes and procedures related to Emergency Management
- Project management
Skills (some combination of the following):
- Communicating and coordinating with various internal and external departments
- Creating and implementing policies and procedures
- Gathering and interpreting data routinely
- Interpreting and applying federal regulations for programs
- Managing contracts, projects, data, reports, etc.
- Overseeing daily operations and directing workflow
- Setting timetables, achieving milestones, tracking progress, and taking corrective actions
- Supervising, including conducting performance evaluations, mentoring, etc.
- Understanding a program's intent and application
- Writing standard operating procedures
- Coaching
- Conducting, attending, and participating in various meetings; providing input as needed
- Reviewing, preparing, and submitting reports
- Customer service
- Oral and written communication
Abilities (some combination of the following):
- Adaptability
- Think critically
- Grasp overall objectives and determine steps to achieve the objectives
- Multi-task
- Organize
- Problem solving
- Manage time effectively
- Evaluate and analyze data
LICENSING, CERTIFICATIONS, AND/OR OTHER SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: