Application Deadline: Friday, January 3rd, 2025 at 11:59 PM.

The Maryland-National Capital Region Emergency Response System (MDERS) is seeking a highly qualified Emergency Response Specialist to support both internal and external planning, training, and exercise initiatives related to emergency response capabilities and operational procedures for planned and unplanned events within Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. The Emergency Response Specialist will be responsible for creating Capability Development Plans that inform the planning, organization, equipment, training, exercising, and evaluation of response capabilities within the region. The incumbent will serve as the conduit between leadership, stakeholders, MDERS staff, and vendors to create and implement an effective training and exercise program for MDERS stakeholders.

Position Duties

 

• • Lead the creation of Capability Development Plans that guide the management of individual projects and programs from inception to full operationalization.

 

• • Support external planning activities, including, but not limited to, leading, and managing planning working groups and providing planning-related technical assistance to stakeholder agencies.

 

• • Participate in strategic planning activities that involve coordinating with MDERS stakeholders to assess current and future capability needs and requirements.

 

• • Support the development of the multiyear MDERS Strategic Plan in collaboration with stakeholders and the MDERS Steering Committee to identify target capabilities.

 

• • Assist in the development of the MDERS Annual Report to summarize progress over the previous fiscal year and planned next steps.

 

• • Establish relationships with stakeholders in the National Capital Region and coordinate for regional interoperability that supports MDERS capability development.

 

• • Support or facilitate a variety of internal and external MDERS meetings with stakeholders and others, including the creation of agendas, meeting documentation, and coordination or execution of identified action items.

 

• • Assist with the maintenance of the MDERS website by developing and publishing public-facing content, as well as uploading all plans, policies, and pertinent documentation for secured stakeholder access.

 

• • Create printed and electronic materials, tools, and graphics to assist in planning and operationalization of emergency response activities.

 

• • Support other MDERS planning activities, including the creation of reports, presentations, or other materials as required.

 

• • Coordinate with MDERS stakeholders to assess needs and requirements for training initiatives and discussion- and operations-based exercises.

 

• • Work with MDERS staff and stakeholders to plan, organize, develop, conduct, facilitate, and evaluate a strategic multi-year exercise program for stakeholders.

 

• • Coordinate with vendors to plan, conduct, and evaluate a variety of training and exercises.

 

• • Take the lead role in planning, conducting, and evaluating training and exercises.

 

• • Ensure coordination of logistics and administrative support for exercise initiatives.

 

• • Deliver training to target audiences.

 

• • Establish relationships with exercise counterparts in the National Capital Region and coordinate regional exercise initiatives that support MDERS capability development.

 

• • Work with stakeholders to organize, schedule, and secure travel arrangements for training initiatives.

 

• • Based upon after-action findings from real-world incidents and exercises, develop, document, track, and evaluate improvement plans and implement necessary measures to achieve MDERS targeted capabilities.

 

• • Develop, analyze, and document metrics for measurement of the outcomes of the exercise initiatives.

 

• • Maintain a robust and organized system to track all training and exercise initiatives and outcomes.

 

• • Develop and deliver routine reports and presentations to various stakeholder groups on the progress of the exercise program.

 

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university in such fields as emergency management, public safety, public administration, law and policy, or a related field

Experience: Two years of applicable professional experience in emergency management and/or public safety plans and practices; disaster recovery; hazard mitigation; exercise planning and coordination.

Equivalency: An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted.

Desired Qualifications

• • Advanced experience in developing and implementing plans including, but not limited to local Emergency Operations Plans, Mitigation Plans, and Continuity of Operations Plans.

 

• • Advanced experience developing training courses, exercises and after-action reports utilizing the DHS Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP)

 

• • Advanced experience developing and managing projects funded through state, regional, and/or Federal agency grants.

 

• • Certified as a trainer or instructional designer

 

• • Master Exercise Practitioner Program (MEPP)

 

• • Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)

 

Salary

$76,445.00 – $90,059.00 (Annually)

Benefits

Contractual employees who work for an agency covered under the State Employee and Retiree Health and Welfare Benefits Program, have a current employment contract, and work 30 or more hours a week (or on average 130 hours per month) may be eligible for subsidized health benefits coverage for themselves and their dependents. As a contractual employee, you will be responsible for paying 25% of the premiums for your medical and prescription coverage, including any eligible dependents you have enrolled. The State of Maryland will subsidize the remaining 75% of the cost for these benefits. You can also enroll in dental coverage, accidental death, and dismemberment insurance, and life insurance but will be responsible for paying the full premium for these benefits.

Leave may be granted to a contractual employee who has worked 120 days in a 12-month period. This leave accrues at a rate of one hour for every 30 hours worked, not to exceed 40 hours per calendar year.

Location

The MDERS office is currently located at 5111 Berwyn Road, College Park, MD.

During the normal execution of the roles and responsibilities of this position, the Emergency Response Specialist may be required to conduct business at stakeholder locations throughout Prince George’s County, Montgomery County, and the District of Columbia.

To apply for this position please complete and submit the form below.