Unit Chief, Strategic Preparedness and Plans

Agency

Department

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is an emergency response entity, and this status can affect working hours, travel, and changes in duties as needed. The Unit Chief, Strategic Preparedness and Plans under the Preparedness and Continuity Section of the Preparedness Division performs complex managerial work providing comprehensive oversight to the Strategic Preparedness and Plans Unit. Under general direction, the Unit Chief, Strategic Preparedness and Plans supervises, plans, and coordinates highly complex (senior-level) administrative and supervisory program work. Work involves establishing program goals and objectives for Strategic Preparedness and Plans; developing program guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving program goals; evaluating program activities; developing and evaluating budget requests; and coordinating program activities as pertaining to the technical writing of state plans.  

This position reports to the Section Chief, Preparedness and Continuity.

This position is considered at-will status and serves at the discretion of the head of the agency.

*Salary is a fixed rate.

*This position is located on-site and not subject to telecommuting.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Oversees and manages work assignment and deliverables of the Strategic Preparedness and Plans Unit within the Division.

• Provides leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities for technical writers, fostering a collaborative and productive team environment.

• Develops and implements a technical writing content strategy that aligns with divisional goals, ensuring documentation meets user needs and is consistent in quality and style.

• Reviews and approves technical writing content to ensure accuracy, clarity, and adherence to established standards, guidelines, and best practices.

• Coordinates workloads, prioritizes projects, and manages timelines to ensure the timely delivery of high-quality technical documentation.

• Manages automated systems aligned to efficient and timely production and endorsement of emergency plans and related products to include the preparation of management and productivity of state emergency planning documents and programs, legislative reports, and studies.

• Oversees administration of program databases, and files of special projects such as state plans, regional plans support artifacts, and similar data management activities.

• Manages strategic preparedness and emergency planning and goal-setting activities, supports leadership at regional/national levels.

• Reviews and evaluates information on service delivery system methods, outputs, and activities of emergency and strategic planning including Homeland security planning, emergency and plans training, and strategic Homeland security programs to identify gaps in resources and recommend improvements.

• Provides technical assistance and guidance to ensure that program area requirements and deliverables are accomplished. 

• Interprets, analyzes, reviews, and advises on state and federal regulations, codes, legislation, and rules affecting emergency management, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and TDEM Plans, assigns, supervises trains, and conducts performance evaluation within the assigned program area.

• Works with leadership and teams to identify funding, supports planning of budgets.

• Assists with work related to marketing, communications, events, and skills development.

• Compiles and analyzes program statistics and reports.

• Provides technical assistance to stakeholders and monitors compliance with program policies, statutes, and rules.

• Plans, schedules, conducts, and participates in program area meetings, seminars, workshops, staff meetings, planning sessions, briefings, strategy sessions, training sessions, exercise sessions, and other assigned program activities.

• Provides guidance to program employees in creating and managing emergency management documents.

• Represents unit at meetings, seminars, drills, workshops, briefings, planning, training, or exercises, facilitating, as necessary.

• Prepares and evaluates program area budget requests and estimates.

• Coordinates with the TDEM Media and Communications Division and TAMUS functional areas to market state planning, training, and other programs to community and professional groups to encourage interest in emergency preparedness.

• Identifies trends and prepares reports of findings and recommendations for procedural or policy changes.

• May design, develop, and deliver in-house training in a classroom to TDEM personnel.

• Provides technical support for the TDEM Texas Homeland Security Preparedness website.

• Ability to travel up to (25%).

• Face-to-face and person-to-person interactions are required.

• Maintains a regular course of attendance during authorized work schedule and work extended hours when needed.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.   

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience – Minimum of seven (7) years' experience performing progressively responsible work in emergency management, program administration, or project management. Two (2) years of experience in a supervisory or team lead capacity, which may be concurrent with the seven (7) years of experience.

Education – Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with a bachelor’s degree in applicable field or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications –

• FEMA Professional Development Series or equivalent certification(s).

• Supervising or conducting change management; project management; strategic planning or process management functions.

*Additional work experience of the type described may be substituted in lieu of the education requirement on a year-for-year basis.  Note: thirty (30) semester hours is to be considered equivalent to one (1) year of education. A completed advanced degree may also be substituted in lieu of work experience. The hiring supervisor retains this discretion.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of management and supervisory methods and principles, performance and productivity standards, and fiscal/budget management.

• Advanced knowledge of technological tools and systems related to strategic Homeland security programming, plan generation and quality assurance programing, emergency planning, and general emergency response.

• Advanced knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly assimilate information related to TDEM, state and federal regulations, legislations, guidelines, and local policies and procedures.

• Advanced knowledge of program management, auditing methods and systems of generally accepted program management standards and local procurement.

• Advanced ability to develop plans, policies, and procedures for efficient workflow and overall effectiveness. 

• Proficient knowledge of technical writing. 

• Proficiency in fiscal/budget and grant management.

• Strong organizational skills.

• Strong business/professional writing skills.

• Must exhibit integrity; provide clear direction to subordinates; promote teamwork and be able to motivate others to accomplish goals.

• Ability to examine data/information, discern variations/similarities, and be able identify trends, relationships, and causal factors, as well as grasp issues, draw accurate conclusions, and solve problems.

• Ability to anticipate and identify issues and problem solve.

• Ability to communicate with poise, tact, and diplomacy.

• Possess appropriate levels of proficiency with utilized software and systems and be able to learn new software/systems.

• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

• Ability to work extended or non-traditional hours such as evenings, weekends, special events, etc.

REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE:

Complete and obtain certification in IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 FEMA courses, Professional Development Series or the Emergency Management Professionals Program (EMPP) Basic Academy within twelve (12) months of employment and any other training as determined.

*Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed at: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions.

*Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.