About The Position
Please note: The salary range above represents this position’s earning potential. The anticipated hiring range(s) for this position will be:
If Filled at the Emergency Management Specialist I, Grade 24:
$80,070 - $101,544
If Filled at the Emergency Management Specialist II, Grade 26:
$87,235 - $126,672
Hiring Grade and Salary, will be b ased on the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
Who We Are
The
Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) is responsible for planning, preventing, preparing and protecting those within the County against major threats that may harm, disrupt or destroy our communities, commerce and institutions. Our mission is to effectively manage and coordinate the County’s unified response, mitigation, and recovery from the consequences of such disasters or events should they occur. We also serve to educate the public on emergency preparedness for all hazards and focused outreach to our diverse and special populations to protect, secure and sustain critical infrastructures to ensure the continuity of essential services.
Who We Are Looking For
Montgomery County’s Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (OEMHS) is seeking a dedicated and service-oriented
Emergency Management Specialist to enhance our community’s preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities. This is an exciting opportunity for someone eager to make a meaningful impact through public service, helping to safeguard residents and businesses from emergencies and disasters.
In this role, you will play a key part in developing and implementing emergency plans, response and recovery initiatives, and public preparedness programs. Your work will include critical functions such as emergency notifications and warnings, public outreach and education, and coordinating training and exercises to strengthen our community’s resilience.
During emergencies and significant events, you will provide essential support—whether in the
Emergency Operations Center (EOC), Public Safety Joint Operations Center (PSJOC) – OEMHS Watch Desk, remotely, or on the ground at an incident scene—to ensure a coordinated and effective response.
This position is
considered Essential, meaning you will be required to report for duty even when Montgomery County Government offices are closed or operating on a delay. Additionally, you must be available for
immediate recall 24 hours/day, 7 days/week for off-hours emergencies that require on-scene or Emergency Operations Center support.
We are looking for a motivated professional who is passionate about emergency management, thrives in dynamic situations, and is committed to serving the public during times of crisis. If you are eager to contribute to a safer, more resilient community, we encourage you to apply!
What You'll Be Doing
The Emergency Management Specialist Position plays a critical role in the development of response and recovery capabilities, emergency plans, and preparedness programs. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Providing on-scene coordination and support for County response and recovery efforts during an emergency. Providing EOC coordination and support during emergencies and special events. Providing PSJOC – OEMHS Watch Desk coordination and support during daily operations, emergencies, and special events.
- Coordination of programs, projects, and operations assigned under and aligned with a capability-based portfolio.
- Developing and implementing emergency plans, policies, and procedures.
- Planning, conducting and evaluating training, exercises, and drills related to disaster plans.
- Represent Montgomery County and OEMHS, and act as the primary point of contact as required with local, state, and federal agencies, the private sector, volunteer organizations, and the public for all matters related to preparedness, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery from emergencies and disasters.
- Conduct planning efforts, including the County’s emergency operations plan, mitigation plans, and continuity of operations plan.
- Plan, coordinate and/or conduct preparedness and community outreach efforts.
- Represent the County on regional emergency response committees and before community groups and other outside organizations.
- Prepare and deliver public warnings and notifications utilizing the County’s Alert Montgomery system.
- Manage the Emergency Operations Center and supporting technology.
- Performing other job-related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
If filled at the Emergency Management Specialist I level:
- Experience: At least two (2) years of applicable professional experience in emergency management and/or public safety plans and practices; disaster recovery; hazard mitigation; training and exercise planning and delivery.
If Filled At The Emergency Management Specialist II Level
- Experience: Five (5) years of applicable professional experience in emergency management and/or public safety plans and practices; disaster recovery; hazard mitigation; training and exercise planning and delivery.
All Levels
- Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in such fields as emergency management, public safety, public administration or a related field
- Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.
Preferred Criteria, Interview Preferences
- Experience drafting visually engaging and technically accurate plans, policies, procedures, workbooks, flyers, and other written materials encouraging community preparedness.
- Experience designing and delivering training programs to community stakeholders representing diverse cultural, socioeconomic, and generational backgrounds.
- Experience leveraging risk communication best practices to create public warnings, notifications, social media content, and other public messaging.
- Experience developing and managing complex projects, including leading multi-disciplinary project teams, in accordance with agency priorities and deadlines.
- Experience supporting Emergency Operations Centers (EOC) and utilizing EOC information management systems and protocols during emergencies.
- Experience with providing on-scene coordination and support for County response and recovery efforts during an emergency.
- Possession of current and active certification as an Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers.
- Bilingual candidates in Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) are encouraged to apply.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
The Office of Human Resources (OHR) reviews the minimum qualifications of all applicants, irrespective of whether the candidate has previously been found to have met the minimum requirements for the job or been temporarily promoted to the same position. This evaluation is based solely on the information contained in the application/resume submitted for this specific position.
Montgomery County Government(MCG) is an equal opportunity employer, committed to workforce diversity. Accordingly, as it relates to employment opportunities, the County will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities, in accordance with the law. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation for any part of the application and hiring process should email OHR at Hiring@montgomerycountymd.gov . Individual determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made in accordance with all applicable laws.
MCG also provides hiring preference to certain categories of veterans and veterans/persons with a disability. For more information and to claim employment preference, refer to the Careers webpage on Hiring Preference .
All applicants will respond to a series of questions related to their education, relevant experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities required to minimally perform the job. The applicant's responses in conjunction with their resume and all other information provided in the employment application process will be evaluated to determine the minimum qualifications and preferred criteria or interview preference status. Based on the results, the highest qualified applicants will be placed on an Eligible List and may be considered for an interview. Employees meeting minimum qualifications who are the same grade will be placed on the Eligible List as a "Lateral Transfer" candidate and may be considered for an interview.
This will establish an Eligible List that may be used to fill both current and future vacancies.
If selected for consideration for this position, you may be required to provide evidence that you possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities indicated on your resume.
Montgomery County Ethics Law : Except as provided by law or regulation, the County's "Public Employees" (which does not include employees of the Sheriff's office) are subject to the County's ethics law including the requirements to obtain advanced approval of any outside employment and the prohibitions on certain outside employment. The outside employment requirements of the ethics law can be found at 19A-12 of the County Code . Additional information about outside employment can be obtained from the Ethics Commission website.
