The City of Charleston is looking for an Emergency Manager to join its Fire Department! The Emergency Manager provides daily supervision and direction to members of the Emergency Management Division. This position administers and evaluates the emergency management program for our city of over 150,000 residents and millions of visitors in our regional annually. Under limited supervision, this position develops policy, planning, coordination, and implementation of the emergency management program. In a collaborative environment, this position works to coordinate emergency events that require the activation of multiple city resources while guiding strategies to communicate with and protect our citizens and reduce the City’s vulnerability to hazards. The team member will be involved in all phases of emergency management, including prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery.

• Formulates and updates emergency management plans and operating procedures to be used in response to and in recovery from natural, technological, and human-induced disasters/emergencies, recurring extreme weather and hazards including flooding, extreme rainfall, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, hazardous materials incidents, mass fatality incidents, etc.
• Meets with community groups and elected bodies on issues concerning preparedness, public safety, and homeland security.
• Serves as a liaison or representative for relevant emergency management and public safety associations. 
• Serves on assigned special task forces involving hurricanes, earthquakes, and terrorism.
• Coordinates multi-agency participation in and for large scale public events. 

• May be appointed to serve as Incident Command Staff Liaison to multiple agencies for significant events, activities, or emergencies. 

• Develops relationships and liaises with other municipalities and departments in Charleston and Berkeley Counties, and state agencies.
• Facilitates mutual plan development, response coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment. 
• Supports, coordinates, develops internal procedures and staffing plans to effectively manage emergency response of city departments. 
• Collaborates with department heads, City employees and County officials to accomplish effective preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation activities.
• Ensures that all City emergency operating plans are consistent, updated, and in compliance with applicable laws and regulations. 

• Develops and arranges exercises to practice the City’s emergency operations plan.

• Bachelor's degree (BA/BS) in emergency management, or related field, and 8 years of related experience or a master’s degree (MA/MS) in emergency management, or related field, and 6 years of related experience.
• Progressive experience in a leadership role in emergency management or related public safety functions.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and evaluating full-scale exercises. 
• Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of emergency management, emergency planning, public safety, and coordinated response to emergencies required.
• Thorough knowledge of state, federal and local laws, ordinances, and regulations dealing with public safety, emergency management, and homeland security desired.
• Proven ability to successfully lead and manage complicated emergency response operations, effectively and respectfully communicate and collaborate with City Department Heads, County and nearby municipality officials, City staff and citizens during emergencies and non-emergency situations.
• Valid state issued driver's license

• Thorough working knowledge of Microsoft Windows, Outlook, Excel and Word or similar software.

• Required certifications: 
  • FEMA ICS-100: Introduction to Incident Command System.
  • FEMA ICS-200: Incident Command System (ICS) for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents.
  • FEMA IS-271 Anticipating Hazardous Weather & Community Risk.
  • FEMA ICS-300: Intermediate Incident Command System (ICS) for Expanding Incidents. 
  • FEMA IS-324A: Community Hurricane Preparedness.
  • FEMA ICS-400: Advanced Incident Command System (ICS), Command & General Staff/Complex Incidents. 
  • FEMA IS-700: National Incident Management System (NIMS) – An Introduction. 
  • FEMA IS-800: National Response Framework - An Introduction.
  • FEMA IS-704: NIMS Communications and Information Management.
  • FEMA IS-775: EOC Management and Operations.
  • Associate Emergency Manager Designation through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

• Served in a similar jurisdiction as the Emergency Manager or Deputy Emergency Manager. 
• Working understanding of Geographic Information Systems preferred.

• Preferred qualification or with the ability to obtain within 18 months of employment:

  • FEMA National Emergency Management Basic Academy (NEMBA).

• Preferred qualification or required by year 3 of employment: 
  • Certified Emergency Manager Designation through the International Association of Emergency Managers (ICEM).
  • South Carolina Certified Emergency Manager (SCCEM).
  • Preferred qualification or required by year 5 of employment:
    • FEMA National Emergency Management Advanced Academy (NEMAA). 
• Preferred qualification or required by year 8 of employment: 
  • FEMA National Emergency Management Executive Academy (NEMEA).