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Witt O'Brien's

Global crisis and emergency management consultancy

Command Center Operator

Full-Time
No salary listed
Junior
Houston, TX, USA
In PersonRotating shifts, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime as needed.
Security & Protective ServicesSecurity Guarding & Patrol, Loss Prevention & Asset Protection

About the job

Requirements
  • High School Diploma or equivalent.
  • One to two years of prior incident or emergency dispatch experience, preferably in an emergency dispatch or hazardous notification center.
  • Ability to proofread and correct industry-specific terms when necessary.
  • Ability to type at least 30 words per minute.
  • Intermediate-level skill with Microsoft Office products, specifically Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.
  • Ability to remain calm and professional during heightened activity, uncertainty, ambiguity, rapid change, and fixed deadlines.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and succinctly to a wide audience.
  • Ability to triage complex situations and accurately transcribe information.
  • Ability to professionally support international callers whose primary language is not English.
  • Willingness to understand and follow procedures and continuous updates.
  • Ability to multitask.
  • Proven experience exercising good judgment in difficult situations.
Responsibilities
  • Monitor and respond promptly and professionally to multiple incoming calls, messages, emails, and alerts.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for clients as their emergency call center representative.
  • Gather, transcribe, and document information accurately and efficiently.
  • Initiate and set up projects or jobs based on customer call intake and communications.
  • Collect essential incident data from informants or stakeholders using established scripts and protocols.
  • Determine the nearest operational bases to an incident site for response coordination.
  • Activate and mobilize pre-designated operational teams in consultation with the on-duty coordinator.
  • Establish and manage an incident management team via WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams.
  • Maintain the readiness of center tools and resources, including go-kits and client procedures.
  • Provide timely updates to internal teams and stakeholders while maintaining a sequential incident record.
  • Keep incident response teams informed through WhatsApp or Microsoft Teams about operational structures and resource needs.
  • Keep the on-duty Operational Coordinator informed of response activities.
  • Update the virtual Crisis Room with real-time activities and developments from the operational team.
  • Track and monitor resources deployed by the Management team to ensure alignment with operational needs.
  • Follow up on assigned calls and responsibilities as directed by the Shift Leader.
  • Issue regulatory notifications to government agencies and alert Duty Incident Commanders, third-party responders, and client representatives.
  • Complete incident reports, documentation, duty logs, and shift hand-off briefings according to protocols.
  • Maintain organized records, logs, and filing systems according to departmental policies, legal requirements, and procedural directives.
  • Serve as a key communication link during emergency management events, including natural disasters and other critical incidents.
  • Participate in daily operational meetings within the Local Crisis Room and provide updates on assigned calls.
  • Prioritize safety, quality, and efficiency in support of operational excellence.
  • Maintain positive and professional client relationships to support satisfaction and continued service excellence.
Desired Qualifications
  • Previous experience in emergency response, incident management, and/or law enforcement or security.
  • Experience and knowledge of hazardous materials and disposal.
  • Experience with hazardous material field operations.
  • Current 40-hour HAZWOPER certificate or ability to obtain it within the first three months.
  • Knowledge of maritime and energy industry reporting requirements.

About the company

Witt O’Brien’s provides crisis and emergency management services for governments and private sector clients, helping them prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate disruptions across the full disaster lifecycle. Clients engage the firm to assess risks, develop preparedness plans, train staff, conduct exercises, manage grants (such as FEMA Public Assistance), ensure regulatory compliance, and coordinate crisis communications, with specialized maritime support available. The company combines veteran public-sector disaster management expertise with private-sector incident response, augmented by acquisitions in crisis communications and reputation management to offer end-to-end services. Its goal is to boost resilience for operations, people, assets, and reputations in the face of natural and man-made risks.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

null

Founded

2001

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • FEMA reopened BRIC in April 2026, directly expanding demand for Witt O'Brien's services.
  • Witt O'Brien's joined April 2026 conferences on continuity and AI, signaling active client demand.
  • Ambipar still backs a global response platform, preserving international reach after the 2022 acquisition.

What critics are saying

  • Ambipar filed judicial recovery in October 2025, exposing Witt O'Brien's to parent distress.
  • Ambipar creditors challenged delayed statements in August 2026, prolonging restructuring uncertainty.
  • A failed Ambipar plan can trigger liquidation, disrupting Witt O'Brien's funding and contracts.

What makes Witt O'Brien's unique

  • Witt O'Brien's combines FEMA grants expertise with oil-spill and maritime response know-how.
  • Its April 2026 BRIC webinar shows deep positioning in hazard mitigation and grant management.
  • The firm markets practical AI for crisis management, not just strategy decks.

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Benefits

Hybrid Work Options