Operations Section Chief

THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITION

Salary Range:

$67,687.00 - $116,360.00 Annually

Starting Pay:

$67,687.00 – $92,023.50 Annually

Get to Know Us

Welcome to the City of Baltimore! Experience the reward of a fulfilling career and enjoy the added element of excitement in a vibrant, diverse atmosphere. The City of Baltimore offers limitless opportunities to help drive social impact, both on the job and in the community, while serving its citizens. Join us in making Baltimore a great place to live and work. In the City of Baltimore, we hire great people and provide them with the skills and opportunities to grow toward their career aspirations. If you are looking for a career change or interested in learning more, explore our opportunities and benefits programs. We are excited to have you as a part of the City of Baltimore Team! The city offers medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, optional life, AD&D, and FSA plans. This office also supplies wellness programs, support groups, and workshops. You can learn about our benefits here: https://humanresources.baltimorecity.gov/hr-divisions/benefits  

NOTE: GRANT POSITIONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITS 

Job Summary:  

The Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management is seeking an Operations Section Chief to join its team. This is a non-benefit, contractual position. Qualified candidates will have at least a bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, political science, public health, emergency management, homeland security, planning or a related field and will have a minimum of 3 years of experience in the above listed fields. They will also possess excellent project management, analytical, communication (written and oral), organizational, and problem-solving skills. An advanced degree, 4+ years of professional experience in emergency response, including direct experience working with community outreach programs, experience with project management, and staff supervision are desired.

Essential Functions:

• Work rotating shifts, including weekends, evenings, and holidays in an office and at scenes of accidents, disasters, or other hazardous situations, as needs dictate.
• Supervise the Duty Officer Program at OEM for the purpose of dealing with natural and man-made disasters such as blizzards, hurricanes, wild fires, car/truck/tanker accidents, explosions, building collapses, industrial accidents, shipwrecks, and terrorist attacks that involve chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials; ensure full staffing of the Duty Officer Program’s on-call shifts; ensure smooth transition between shifts; ensure that staff maintains professional demeanor and discipline.
• Train OEM and other staff in hazardous materials identification, handling, abatement, and disposal procedures; use of equipment and supplies; disaster protocols and emergency management response techniques and procedures.
• Receive notification of impending emergency weather warnings and take appropriate preparatory actions.
• Respond to major man-made or natural incidents involving mass disasters or hazardous materials; assist fire emergency medical staff with the triage of patients and victims to area hospitals, transfer of patients, and effective communication between personnel at scene of incident and hospital staff receiving patients; assist other agencies with population evacuation and shelter plans and operations.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with fire suppression, emergency medical, and other public and private City and neighboring local jurisdiction responders at accident and disaster sites.
• Ensure decontamination of vehicles, equipment, and personnel to eliminate communicable diseases, pest infestation, and hazardous biological or chemical materials.
• Review and edit emergency management reports for accuracy, omissions, errors, or problems.
• Investigate citizen complaints, commendations, and accidents involving OEM personnel and on-the-job injuries or deaths of agency personnel due to hazardous situations and materials; determine guilt or innocence of accused personnel; document findings.
• Oversee and maintain OEM’s radio communications technology, training, and equipment.
• Advise Deputy Directors and Director on unit/program operations areas of concern.
• Provide information to the media on scene of an emergency or disaster, in accordance with City public information and privacy guidelines.
• May notify families of injured personnel, may arrange transport of family to hospital or transportation of personnel from hospital.
• Work with the Preparedness Section Chief on community outreach projects and programs.
• Maintain awareness of new technology and development of CBRNE materials and other hazardous materials, especially in consideration of the potential for accidents, disasters or use in terrorist attacks, as well as governmental efforts to respond to major public emergency situations including City, state, and federal emergency and disaster management technologies, strategies, techniques, laws, and policies.
• Manage Auxiliary Communications Services (RACES).
• Liaison for Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CIKR), including priority list management.
• Provide Incident Command System (ICS) training for other City agencies, such as Baltimore Police Department (BPD).
• Work with the Training and Exercise Section Chief to develop a multi-year training and exercise schedule.
• Attend meetings for subcommittees of the Urban Area Working Group (UAWG), including the Special Operations, Hazmat, and Training & Exercise subcommittees.
• Liaison between OEM, BPD, DHS, MCAC, MJOC, and others.
• Develop and maintain operations section standard operating procedures, with assistance from the Planning Section Chief.
• Work with the emergency alert system.
• Serve as an Emergency Management Assistant Compact (EMAC) point of contact.
• Ensure the applicable EOC location opens when needed.
• EOC management, maintenance, and operations.
• Other work as required.
• Fulfill OEM operational duties as requested / needed, including:
  • 24x7 on-call Duty officer program, as needed
  • Field response
  • Staffing of the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), staging area, or other operational commands outside of normal business hours (during emergencies or special events.

Minimum Qualifications:     

The successful candidate must possess a bachelor’s degree in public administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Public Health, Emergency Management, Planning, or a related field; have at least internship-level experience in either public policy and administration, public safety, emergency management, or other relevant experience; possess excellent analytical, communication (written and oral), organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications: Received, or be in process of obtaining, an advanced degree or certification in Public Administration, Political Science, Emergency Management, Public Health Preparedness or similar field described above; 1+ years of professional experience, including direct experience working with Federal grant programs; a background in the development of catastrophic planning initiatives; and experience with project management, especially regarding large emergency management planning projects.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certificates: Have a valid Maryland Class C Noncommercial driver's license or an equivalent driver's license and eligible to obtain a Baltimore City driver’s permit. PROVISIONAL DRIVER’S LICENSE OR LEARNER PERMITS ARE NOT ACCEPTABLE. 

NOTE: YOU MUST UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR VALID DRIVER’S LICENSE WITH APPLICATION AT TIME OF APPLYING. 

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: 

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration and management, including the process of planning, organizing, staffing, directing and controlling.
• Knowledge of methods and procedures for the collection or organization, interpretation and presentation of information.
• Knowledge of the basic principles of accounting, budgeting, fiscal controls and statistics.
• Knowledge of management practices and methods.
• Knowledge of applicable state, federal and departmental laws, rules, regulations, policies, procedures and processes pertaining to agency and program area.
• Knowledge of the methods and techniques of conducting needs assessment.
• Knowledge of the principles and techniques of effective communication.
• Knowledge of program evaluation techniques and monitoring devices.
• Knowledge of the methods, principles and techniques used to improve individual and group performance.
• Knowledge of the theoretical disciplines pertaining to specific area(s).
• Knowledge of budget, grant or contract administration.
• Knowledge of strategic policy formulation and evaluation.
• Ability to adapt and apply the concepts and techniques of administrative analysis to the needs of specific projects.
• Ability to identify problem areas and recommend appropriate solutions based on logical consideration of alternatives.
• Ability to interpret and apply a variety of laws, rules, regulations, standards and procedures.
• Ability to prepare and present reports or recommendations clearly and concisely.
• Ability to compile financial and operational data and to analyze charts and reports and statistical and budgetary statements.
• Ability to coordinate the activities of various organizational units.
• Ability to plan, organize and direct the work of others.
• Ability to research and write complex narrative and statistical reports
• Ability to speak and testify effectively before governmental and legal bodies and commissions, the media and community and business groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city officials, community and business groups.
• Skill in the collection, analysis, evaluation and presentation of data from a variety of sources.
• Skill in communicating effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of people.
• Ability to identify and analyze problems/needs/issues, assess the impacts and make recommendations.
• Skill in conducting needs assessments. 
• Skill in the principles and practices of management and administration.
• Skill in budget, grant or contract administration.

Additional Information 

Background Check                                        

Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint must be successfully completed. 

Probation 

All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a mandatory six-month probation. 

Baltimore City Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to a workplace that values diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City of Baltimore prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, ancestry, creed, national origin, disability status, genetics, marital status, military service, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants requiring accommodations during the hiring process should contact the Department of Human Resources directly. Do not attach your request for accommodation to the application. 

BALTIMORE CITY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER