Preparedness Coordinator

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 15th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 897,000 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.

Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

Applies emergency management knowledge and experience to promote and provide organizational preparedness, incident response and recovery activities that protect people and assets, support essential water services delivery and maintain regulatory compliance.

CLTWater seeks a skilled emergency management professional to serve as its Preparedness Coordinator. This senior position primarily administers the utility’s Emergency Operations Plan and various associated documents. The Preparedness Coordinator reports to the Security & Preparedness Manager as part of a 4-person team that leads, guides and supports CLTWater security & preparedness functions across a large, diverse and widely dispersed One Water utility. This exciting, demanding and challenging job offers opportunities to learn and contribute at a high level. The position is essential to support clean water operations/services that are necessary to maintain life safety, and is therefore subject to after-hours and weekend/holiday callback in case of real or potential emergencies. The Preparedness Coordinator is CLTWater’s day-to-day primary resource in specific areas described in the Major Duties & Responsibilities section below. As with other Security & Preparedness positions, this job has distinct individual roles and assignments, yet its duties frequently overlap into the areas of safety, security, risk management, etc. In addition to their own primary duties, the Preparedness Coordinator occasionally backs up the essential Security Systems Coordinator and Security Operations Coordinator positions.

• Responsible for CLTWater Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Continuity of Operations Plan maintenance and development. Additionally initiates and/or supports utility readiness through pursuit of enhanced procedures, practices and other resources. Leads, coordinates and/or supports review, development and maintenance of about two-dozen complementary utility, site-, operations- or topic-specific emergency plans that satisfy various regulatory requirements/best management practices.

• Collaborates, consults, project-manages and ensures CLTWater’s compliance with America’s Water Infrastructure Act, a federal regulation requiring periodic certified completion of risk & resilience assessments and reviews/updates of the utility’s primary EOP.

• Works with various divisions to prepare, verify & submit CLTWater’s annual Tier Two report as federally required.

• Primary and/or alternate CLTWater liaison to the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office/Incident Management Team, CharMeck All Hazards Advisory Committee, NC WaterWARN mutual aid partnership. Represents CLTWater and the City among various committees and teams.

• Administers-supports and serves on the CLTWater Incident Management Team (IMT); coordinates Department Operations Center (DOC) standup operations as necessary. Equips, manages & maintains DOC materials including Incident Action Plan templates, A/V and radio supplies for the IMT and Security. Facilitates ‘hot wash’ exercises; writes or coordinates production of after-action reports.

• Leads & coordinates preparedness-related training materials development and delivery to CLTW personnel and non-utility partners. Includes site Emergency Action Plans, basic FEMA NIMS/ICS training for employees and advanced FEMA training for CLTW management, supervisors and teams. Organizes, coordinates, supports, documents and evaluates utility and inter-agency emergency training drills & exercises.

• Coordinates development & and maintenance of CLTWater databases and other emergency preparedness records (local, state, federal, and private sector contacts, key facility and personnel info, equipment & resource inventory, etc.). Communicates relevant preparedness alerts & updates to all levels of the organization. Helps maintain the team’s intranet site, keeping guidance/resource information current and accessible to utility users.

• Conducts research, collaborates with diverse employee groups and prepares analytical reports, procedures, job aids and other guidance documents. Cross-trains as an occasional backup to the Security Systems Coordinator and Security Operations Coordinator. Fulfills additional duties as assigned by Security & Preparedness Manager.

Qualified candidates are program managers, project managers and relationship-builders. The job requires a lively, seasoned natural leader who understands and relishes both the strategic planning and urgent response aspects of their role. They push themselves, whether quietly planning/coordinating and executing preparedness strategies on ‘blue sky days’ or operating in sudden, high-stress situations involving an Incident Command and/or Department Operations Center. It takes practice, poise, quiet confidence and perseverance to navigate smoothly among a large, diverse agency spectrum of rank-and-file employees, supervisors, managers, division leaders and executives. The Preparedness Coordinator maintains a visible profile in the organization. The job demands focus, attention to detail, a strong work ethic and professional commitment. Integrity, curiosity, good judgment, initiative and patience are essential. The Preparedness Coordinator works effectively alone, and especially with others. Excellent computer skills/aptitude are important; effective oral and written communication skills are a must. Job requires experience developing written procedures and delivering training. Follows instructions to the letter as needed, yet can exercise outstanding independent initiative, judgment, discretion and problem-solving. Strives for consistency, yet remains flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances as necessary.

• Bachelor’s degree in emergency management from an accredited university and a minimum of six years’ experience in emergency planning/incident management, preferably in the public sector.

• Ideal candidates have a strong educational background plus years of practical experience in emergency management, particularly in a leadership function.

• Possess core FEMA NIMS/ICS certificates (100-200, 700-800, 300-400)

• Advanced emergency management training (beyond core FEMA NIMS/ICS certificates listed in the minimum qualifications section below) and professional certifications (AEM/CEM) are highly preferred, as are advanced academic degrees, complementary certifications (i.e., PMP), and additional work, volunteer and other experience.

• Prior utility background, particularly in the water/wastewater industries, is also a plus.

• Familiarity with security camera/access control/information-incident management systems & software, GIS and Unmanned Aircraft Systems operations are helpful.

• Candidates with specific experience using Genetec, Sharepoint, Everbridge, OnBase, Munis, E-Builder are a particular plus.

• High school graduate or equivalent and seven (7) years emergency management/preparedness coordinator and leadership experience.

Or

• Associate degree and five (5) years emergency management/preparedness coordinator and leadership experience.

Licenses

Valid Driver’s license

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

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You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby where we have workstations available. Our office is located at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

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The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.

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The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.

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