Emergency Services and Public Protection Manager of Planning(Div. of Emergency Management & Homeland Security)

Introduction

Are you an emergency preparedness professional with large-scale public sector planning and grant work experience? 

The State of Connecticut, Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP) is recruiting for a Manager of Planning for the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS). 

We're looking for a self-sufficient senior-leader who can dedicate their time equally to day-to-day projects and managing staff leadership while balancing any disaster/emergency management issues that arises, including EOC activation. If you have eight or more years of professional experience in emergency operations, preparedness & planning, grant administration, and staff supervision, this could be a fantastic opportunity for you!

WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU

• The opportunity to work for a Forbes top company: 'Forbes' State of Connecticut Ranked One of the Best Employers of 2023 - State of CT Receives National Recognition for Offering Job Growth, Competitive Benefits, and Flexible Schedule
• Professional growth and development opportunities
• A healthy work/life balance to all employees
• NEW: visit our new State Employee Benefits Overview page to learn more!

Our state has a lot to offer - from fun activities for all ages, to great food and shopping, to beautiful state parks and forests, to our diverse cultures and rich history. Connecticut is a great place to live! Learn more about Connecticut here.

POSITION HIGHLIGHTS

LOCATION: DESPP Headquarters in Middletown, CT with Hybrid flexibility

SCHEDULE: This is a full time position, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday

TRAINING: Within the first year of employment, there will be a formal orientation and training provided that will be designed based on the hired candidates experience and education. Training offerings may include: internal agency trainings, state-mandated programs, FEMA courses and others, as prescribed. On-going career training is encouraged and recommended throughout your career with DEMHS.

YOUR ROLE

Working closely with local, state, federal, tribal, and private sector partners, the Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) provides a coordinated, integrated program for statewide emergency management and homeland security. 

In this role, you will be responsible for leading, managing, and coordinating the DEMHS Planning and Preparedness unit, working alongside a multifaceted team and other counterparts involved with DESPP and across other state agencies. This is one of three management positions in DEMHS that make up the senior leadership team. 

Highlights of this position include:

• Responsible for managing statewide all hazards emergency management and homeland security planning projects;
• Responsible for managing the statewide continuity of operations (COOP) and continuity of government (COG) planning programs;
• Responsible for developing and maintaining the DEMHS multi-year strategic plan;
• Responsible for maintaining DEMHS program accreditation through the Emergency Management Assessment Program (EMAP);
• Responsible for managing state and federal preparedness grants programs which support our citizens and first responders to ensure we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from and mitigate terrorism and other high-consequence disasters and emergencies;
• Responsible for managing the development and execution of the DEMHS multi-year Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) and Homeland Security Strategy;
• Responsible for managing statewide emergency management and homeland security exercise design and development for key partners and stakeholders;
• Responsible for overseeing National Incident Management System (NIMS) training program to ensure NIMS compliance;
• Serve as the Emergency Management State Training Officer;
• Responsible for staffing a management or leadership position in the State Emergency Operations Center during activations.

More details can be found in the class specification.

ABOUT OUR AGENCY

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is committed to protecting and improving the quality of life for all by providing a broad range of public safety services, training, regulatory guidance and scientific services utilizing enforcement, prevention, education and state of the art science and technology.

The Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is comprised of six divisions:

• Commission on Fire Prevention and Control
• Connecticut State Police
• Emergency Management and Homeland Security*
• Police Officers Standards and Training Council
• Scientific Services
• Statewide Emergency Telecommunications

*Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

DEMHS is charged with developing, administering, and coordinating a comprehensive and integrated statewide emergency management and homeland security program that encompasses all human-made and natural hazards, and includes prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery components to ensure the safety and well-being of the citizens of Connecticut.

You may learn more about our divisions and access their individual websites here. 

Selection Plan

This is a competitive recruitment, open to the public.

For current state employees, salary calculations are not necessarily comparable from one of the three branches of state government (i.e. Executive, Legislative, Judicial) to the other.

TO APPLY:

• In order to be considered for this job opening, you must meet the Minimum Qualifications as listed on this job opening. You must specify your qualifications on your application.
• The minimum experience and training requirements must be met by the close date on the job opening, unless otherwise specified.
• Ensure that your application is complete and detailed before submitting it. In order to comply with Public Act 21-69, the State of Connecticut is no longer asking for resumes during the initial application process. You will not be able to make revisions once your application is submitted into the JobAps system.
• Please select all location(s) and shift(s) you are willing to work on your application. Failure to do so may result in not being considered for vacancies in that specific location or shift.
• In order to receive educational credits toward qualification for this job posting, the institution must be accredited. If the institution of higher learning is located outside of the U.S., you are responsible for providing documentation from a recognized USA accrediting service which specializes in determining foreign education equivalencies to the recruiter listed on this job posting.
• All application materials must be received by the recruiting agency by the time specified on the job opening for the position for which you are applying. Late applications may not be submitted and will not be considered. Exceptions are rare and limited to documented events that incapacitate a candidate during the entire duration of the job posting time period. It is the candidate’s obligation and responsibility to request an exception and provide a legally recognized justification to accommodate such exception. Requests should be made to DAS.SHRM@ct.gov.

FOR ASSISTANCE IN APPLYING:

• Please read or watch our Applicant Tips on How to Apply!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION AFTER YOU APPLY:

• This posting may require completion of additional referral questions (RQs). You can access these RQs via an email that will be sent to you after the posting's closing date or by visiting your JobAps Personal Status Board (Certification Questionnaires section). Your responses to these RQs must be submitted by the questionnaire's expiration date. Please regularly check your email and JobAps Personal Status Board for notifications. Please check your SPAM and/or Junk folders on a daily basis in the event an email provider places auto-notification emails in a user's spam.
• Although applicants will receive correspondence via email, as a backup they are also encouraged to sign on to their Personal Status Board on a daily basis to monitor their status, view all emailed notices and complete tasks required in the recruitment process.
• Note: At any point during the recruitment process, applicants may be required to submit additional documentation which support their qualification(s) for this position. These documents may include: a cover letter, resume, performance reviews, attendance records, supervisory references, licensure, etc., at the discretion of the hiring agency.
• Interviews will be limited to candidates whose experience and training most closely meet the requirements of the position.
• The immediate vacancy is listed above, however, applications to this recruitment may be used for future vacancies in this job class.
• Read through this helpful link to prepare for your interview.

IMPORTANT NOTES FROM DESPP:

Candidate selected for an interview must provide the following at the time of interview:

State Employees:

• Two (2) most recent performance evaluations and a completed CT-HR-13 form.

Non-State Employees:

• Two (2) professional references contact information (Name, Email and Phone Number) and a completed CT-HR-13 form.

Candidates who have been selected for employment with the Department of Emergency Services & Public Protection are subject to a detailed background investigation, including a fingerprint supported state and federal criminal history record check along with reference checks. Selection for employment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of the background investigation. Click here to complete the Criminal Convictions addendum.

Also considered in this selection process: Any pending or disciplinary history within the past 2 years and review of attendance records. Failure to provide the required documents listed above or submit your application accurately and on time, will eliminate you from the recruitment process.

CONNECT WITH US:

• Due to the large volume of applications received, we are unable to provide confirmation of receipt or status during the recruitment process. Updates will be available through your JobAps portal account. Should you have any questions pertaining to this recruitment, please contact Samantha.Rivera@CT.Gov
• Follow the State of Connecticut on LinkedIn.

PURPOSE OF JOB CLASS (NATURE OF WORK)

In the Department Emergency Services and Public Protection, Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security this class is accountable for operational, strategic and radiological planning in the preparation of, response to and recovery from, emergency situations.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES

• Directs staff and operations of unit;
• Coordinates and monitors all emergency management planning services;
• Develops or assists in development of related policy;
• Interprets and administers pertinent laws;
• Evaluates staff;
• Prepares or assists in preparation of division budget;
• Maintains contacts with individuals within and outside of unit who might impact program activities;
• Coordinates emergency management activities with other state or federal agencies as required;
• Alerts and assigns staff in emergencies;
• Works with other units or staff to develop training or other preparedness materials;
• Participates in the planning for and implementation of periodic tests and exercises, including after action reviews;
• Prepares reports;
• Makes presentations before various groups regarding emergency management;
• Leads the recruitment and hiring of staff, including outreach, interview and selection;
• Performs related duties as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILL AND ABILITY

• Considerable knowledge of
  • and ability to apply management principles and practices;
  • and ability to interpret and apply relevant state and federal laws, statutes and regulations;
  • and ability to develop, implement and evaluate disaster, terrorist and nuclear policies and procedures;
• Knowledge of
  • emergency management methods and practices;
  • effects of contacts with chemical, biological or nuclear substances;
• Considerable
  • interpersonal skills
  • oral and written communication skills.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - GENERAL EXPERIENCE

Eight (8) years professional experience in emergency operations, planning and grants.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SPECIAL EXPERIENCE

Two (2) years of the General Experience must have been in a supervisory capacity.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS - SUBSTITUTIONS ALLOWED

• College training may be substituted for the General Experience on the basis of fifteen (15) semester hours equalling one-half (1/2) year of experience to a maximum of four (4) years for a Bachelor's degree.
• A Master's degree in emergency preparedness and/or homeland security, planning, public administration, business administration or a closely related field may be substituted for one (1) additional year of the General Experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience managing personnel in both administrative and operational settings.
• Experience representing or making presentations on behalf of an agency or department including high level and/or high profile meetings;
• Experience managing projects to develop emergency management plans or procedures
• Experience administering or participating in state, local, or federal emergency management or homeland security grant programs
• Experience with emergency management and homeland security training and exercise programs including design, development, execution and evaluation.
• Experience overseeing or running work groups, task forces or committees;
• Experience filling an emergency management position in an emergency operations center during real-world incidents or exercises

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Incumbents in this class must possess and retain a valid Motor Vehicle Operator's license.
• On-Call status is required.
• Incumbents must obtain a Department of Homeland Security Secret Security clearance.
• Incumbents in this class may be required to travel.
• Emergency management drills and actual emergencies may require work outside of normal hours.

CHARACTER REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the checking of references and facts stated in the application, a thorough background investigation of each candidate will be made by the United States Department of Homeland Security and/or the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection before candidate is certified for appointment.

Conclusion

AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and strongly encourages the applications of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

As defined by Sec. 5-196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. As such, a job class is not meant to be all-inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.