Emergency Management Specialist

What if your dedicated work could strengthen how communities prepare for emergencies? As an Emergency Management Specialist with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA), you will become a key player in helping to support the 23 counties in the central area of the Commonwealth to develop plans to prepare for, respond to, and recover from hazardous materials incidents. This role supports statewide efforts that protect lives, property, and public safety. Do not miss this powerful opportunity to support statewide safety and response efforts, apply today!

This position supports statewide emergency management programs by coordinating with counties, state agencies, and local partners on planning, preparedness, and hazard-focused initiatives. Through your work, you will help with guiding emergency missions related to protection, prevention, mitigation, response, and recovery. As an Emergency Management Specialist, you will perform the following duties:

• Hazard Support: Assist counties and state partners with hazardous materials preparedness, emergency planning, and radiological response activities
• County Coordination: Serve as a liaison to assigned counties and support emergency response, public outreach, and special event operations
• Training Assistance: Help develop, deliver, and evaluate training sessions, exercises, seminars, and certification activities
• Plan Review: Review and monitor off-site emergency response plans, program updates, grant applications, and compliance requirements
• Public Education: Contribute to educational materials and outreach efforts for county EMAs, Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), and community partners
• Disaster Support: Assist with field damage assessments, recovery operations, and emergency assignments during disasters

Interested in learning more? Additional details regarding this position can be found in the position description.

Work Schedule and Additional Information:

• Full-time employment
• Work hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday - Friday, with a 30-minute lunch.
• In the event of an emergency/disaster situation or training exercise, this position may be required to travel, work up to 12-hour shifts, and work outside of the normal work hours, including weekends and overnights.
• Telework: You may have the opportunity to work from home (telework) part-time, upon successful completion of the training period. In order to telework, you must have a securely configured high-speed internet connection and work from an approved location inside Pennsylvania. If you are unable to telework, you will have the option to report to the headquarters office in Harrisburg. The ability to telework is subject to change at any time. Additional details may be provided during the interview.
• Salary: In some cases, the starting salary may be non-negotiable.
• Free and secure on-site parking.
• You will receive further communication regarding this position via email. Check your email, including spam/junk folders, for these notices.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Experience and Training Requirements:

• Successful completion of the Emergency Management Trainee program (Commonwealth job title or equivalent Federal Government job title, as determined by the Office of Administration); or
• Two years of professional experience in the development, coordination, or promotion of emergency management programs such as disaster relief, public safety, flood mitigation and resiliency, and emergency management in government, industry, education, or the military; and a bachelor's degree; or
• An equivalent combination of experience and training that includes one year of professional experience in the development, coordination, or promotion of emergency management programs such as disaster relief, public safety, flood mitigation and resiliency, and emergency management in government, industry, education, or the military.

Special Requirements:

• This position requires possession of an active motor vehicle license.
• All positions require certification in the following courses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Emergency Management Institute, within six months of hire:
  • IS-100.C: Introduction to the Incident Command System
  • IS-700.B: An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
  • IS-800.D: National Response Framework, An Introduction
  • IS-2200: Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions

Other Requirements:

• PA residency requirement is currently waived for this title.
• You must be able to perform essential job functions.

How to Apply:

• Resumes, cover letters, and similar documents will not be reviewed, and the information contained therein will not be considered for the purposes of determining your eligibility for the position. Information to support your eligibility for the position must be provided on the application (i.e., relevant, detailed experience/education).
• If you are claiming education in your answers to the supplemental application questions, you must attach a copy of your college transcripts for your claim to be accepted toward meeting the minimum requirements. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable.
• Your application must be submitted by the posting closing date. Late applications and other required materials will not be accepted.
• Failure to comply with the above application requirements may eliminate you from consideration for this position.
• All application materials and interview responses must reflect the applicant's own experience, qualifications, and work. Applicants may use generative AI tools for preparation purposes only. Use of AI to misrepresent or falsify information, or to assist during interviews, is not permitted. Review the Guidance for Generative AI Tools & Job Seekers for additional information.

Veterans:

• Pennsylvania law (51 Pa. C.S. *7103) provides employment preference for qualified veterans for appointment to many state and local government jobs. To learn more about employment preferences for veterans, go to www.pa.gov/agencies/employment/how-to-apply.html and click on Veterans.

Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS):

• 711 (hearing and speech disabilities or other individuals).

If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodations due to a disability, please discuss your request for accommodations with the interviewer in advance of your interview date.

The Commonwealth is an equal employment opportunity employer and is committed to a diverse workforce. The Commonwealth values inclusion as we seek to recruit, develop, and retain the most qualified people to serve the citizens of Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious creed, ancestry, union membership, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, AIDS or HIV status, disability, or any other categories protected by applicable federal or state law. All diverse candidates are encouraged to apply.

• Completing the application, including all supplemental questions, serves as your exam for this position. No additional exam is required at a test center (also referred to as a written exam).
• Your score is based on the detailed information you provide on your application and in response to the supplemental questions.
• Your score is valid for this specific posting only.
• You must provide complete and accurate information or:
  • your score may be lower than deserved.
  • you may be disqualified.
• You may only apply/test once for this posting.
• Your results will be provided via email.