Planning Section Chief

Location:

Hamilton County is one of Indiana’s fastest growing, highest educated and wealthiest counties in the state and the Midwest. Two-thirds of the workforce lives and works in the county - a percent that has remained constant since 2010. Hamilton County is continually recognized in rankings ranging from “Best Cities to Relocate To” and “Best City to Raise a Family” to “Healthiest County in Indiana” and “Happiest Suburbs in the Nation”. Come be a part of all Hamilton County has to offer as we work together to serve the citizens of Hamilton County.

Job Description:

POSITION DESCRIPTION

COUNTY OF HAMILTON, INDIANA

POSITION: Planning Section Chief

DEPARTMENT: Emergency Management

WORK SCHEDULE: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., M-F

STATUS: Full-time

FLSA STATUS: Non-exempt

HOURLY RATE: $35.1336 per hour

To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function of the position satisfactorily. The requirements listed in this document are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Hamilton County provides reasonable accommodations to qualified employees and applicants with known disabilities who require accommodation to complete the application process or perform essential functions of the job unless the accommodation would present an undue hardship.

Incumbent serves as Planning Section Chief for Hamilton County Emergency Management, responsible for assisting in emergency management operations for Hamilton County, including mitigation, prevention, protection, response, and recovery of all hazards.

DUTIES:

Serves as the on-call duty officer and public safety first responder by responding to emergencies disasters, special events, critical incidents, including, but not limited to, severe weather incidents such as tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, ice storms, hazardous materials incidents, acts of violence such as shootings, explosions, law enforcement incidents, fatal vehicle accidents, large fires, structural collapses, industrial accidents, and disasters. Coordinates information, including providing resource support, and consequence management to incident commanders and fellow first responders.

Develops, maintains, and executes functions of planning section of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), ensuring constant state of readiness, researching, and developing planning programs based on best practices, and conducting operations drills. Ensures planning personnel and others follow National Incident Management System (NIMS)/Incident Command System (ICS) procedures for information sharing and management, developing incident action plans and situation reports, and elements of operational schedule as assigned. Works to develop planning team to meet needs of fully expanded planning section following NIMS. Works with the other Section Chiefs in the EOC to ensure operational needs are met. Serves command and general staff positions, including EOC Manager as assigned.

Serves as member of County planning team related to Emergency Management, involving working with community stakeholders to draft, review, approve, and maintain plans, including but not limited to Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and Annexes, Response Plan, Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, Hamilton County Continuity of Government, Hamilton County Continuity of Operations Plan, Debris Management Plan, Access and Functional Needs Transport Plan, Flood Fight Plan, and others.

Coordinates with representatives from Hamilton County GIS, ensuring relevant emergency management layers are maintained and available.

Serves as Planning and Compliance Sub-committee Chair for the Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC), ensuring LEPC plan is updated annually and complies with all requirements by Indiana Emergency Response Commission (IERC). Ensures local businesses comply with mandatory reporting requirements for hazardous substances, including tracking local businesses with extremely hazardous substances, ensuring a map layer of business are maintained and shared with local municipalities, and used for geospatial analysis to identify hazards in relation to locations of critical infrastructure and sensitive areas such as schools, health care facilities, daycares, and large gathering areas.

Serves as liaison to school corporations and homeland security district groups and represents agency on Emergency Management Advisory Council and Local Emergency Planning Committee.

Performs other duties as assigned.

I. JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in planning, geospatial management, project management, business or organizational leadership, and equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Possession of and/or ability to successfully complete training/certification requirements, such as FEMA's Professional Development Series, Incident Command System training (100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800), planning section chief training, hazardous materials, amateur radio, storm spotter, FEMA and IDHS training.

Thorough knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).

Practical knowledge and ability to apply local, state, and federal emergency management regulations, policies, and procedures during varied situations.

Working knowledge of Geographic Information System (GIS) and geospatial analysis to support emergency management planning and operations, and ability to apply County geography and streets, roads, weather patterns, disaster planning, hazardous materials, natural disasters, fire, police, and emergency medical services.

Working knowledge of National Weather Service, Storm Prediction Center, Weather Prediction Center, and Climate Prediction Center operations and products, with ability to comprehend and interpret weather maps, including high and low-pressure systems, pressure gradients, and fronts and to differentiate between the colors used by the National Weather Service for all advisories, watches, and warnings.

Working knowledge of standard office policies and procedures with computer skills, including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, email, internet, and Department-specific software systems, including Microsoft Office, and ability to apply such knowledge to a variety of interrelated processes, tasks, and operations.

Working knowledge of standard English grammar, spelling, and punctuation, and ability to type with speed and accuracy and to prepare correspondence and detailed reports.

Ability to properly operate and maintain department vehicles and equipment, including, but not limited to, motor vehicles in emergency status, public safety radios, UAVs, amateur radio license, trailer operations, generators, light towers, power distribution systems, fuel trailers, command trailer, and command vehicles.

Ability to properly operate standard office equipment, including, computer, telephone, printer, and radios.

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing and during routine and emergencies with co-workers, other County departments, volunteers, public safety personnel, school corporations, related local, state, federal agencies, other emergency management agencies, LEPC, IERC, homeland security district groups, and the public, including being sensitive to professional ethics, gender, cultural diversities, and disabilities.

Ability to work alone and with others in a team environment with minimum supervision and maintain appropriate, respectful relationships with co-workers, work on several tasks simultaneously and complete assignments effectively amidst frequent distractions and interruptions.

Ability to understand, memorize, retain, carry out oral and written instructions, and respond appropriately to constructive criticism.

Ability to provide public access to or maintain Department information/records confidentiality according to state requirements.

Shall comply with all employer and Department personnel policies and work rules, including, but not limited to, attendance, safety, drug-free workplace, and personal conduct.

Ability to competently serve the public with diplomacy and respect, including occasional encounters with angry or hostile persons.

Ability to serve on-call 24 hours and respond swiftly, rationally, and decisively to emergencies from off-duty status.

Ability to regularly work extended, evening, and/or weekend hours, and occasionally travel out of town for training and or response, sometimes overnight.

Possession of a valid driver's license and demonstrated safe driving record.

As a result of the duties associated with this job, there is the potential of becoming exposed to bloodborne pathogens and other potentially infectious diseases. To safeguard employees and eliminate the liability placed on Hamilton County, employees working in this position shall begin the three-shot Hepatitis B vaccination and subsequent training within ten days of their initial job assignment per OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1030(f)(2)(i).

The initial and two subsequent vaccinations shall be administered by the Hamilton County Health Department and free of charge to the employee. If the employee has previously received the three-shot Hepatitis B vaccination, official documentation must be provided to the supervisor identifying the dates in which each shot was appropriately administered. A Temporary Medical Declination may be made for a period of up to six months. A Declination form must be completed, outlining the medical reasons for the temporary declination, and forwarded to the Safety and Risk Manager. Employees temporarily declining the vaccine are prohibited from performing any duties in which they may be exposed to a bloodborne pathogen or other potentially infectious diseases until they can begin/continue the series of vaccinations. Failure to comply will result in termination of employment.

II. DIFFICULTY OF WORK:

Incumbent duties are a broad range of duties involving complex considerations and problems. The incumbent performs according to Department policies and procedures, state guidelines and regulations, and recognized professional and ethical practice standards. Incumbent exercises independent judgment, including the technical analysis of data.

III. RESPONSIBILITY:

The incumbent performs duties according to Department policies and procedures and state guidelines. The incumbent receives general supervision, with priorities primarily determined by the service needs of the public and departmental goals and objectives. Errors in the incumbent's work are usually prevented through procedural safeguards and are detected through notification from other departments, agencies, or the public. Undetected errors may result in loss of time for correction; errors in emergency duties could endanger the public.

IV. PERSONAL WORK RELATIONSHIPS:

The incumbent maintains frequent contact with co-workers, other County departments, volunteers, public safety personnel, school corporations, related local, state, federal agencies, other emergency management agencies, LEPC, IERC, homeland security district groups, and the public, to exchange and explain information, provide instruction, and assist in coordinating emergency operations.

The incumbent reports to the Deputy Director of Emergency Management.

V. PHYSICAL EFFORT AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The incumbent performs duties in an office environment and responding to emergencies, involving sitting/walking/standing for long periods, sitting/walking at will, handling/grasping objects, bending, reaching, speaking clearly, keyboarding, driving, walking on uneven terrain, hearing sounds/communications, speaking clearly, lifting/carrying objects weighing more than 50 pounds, color/depth perception, bending, twisting, crawling in confined spaces, exposure to inclement weather, toxic chemicals and fumes, and loud environments, for which safety precautions must be followed at all times to avoid injury to self and others.

Incumbent is regularly required to work extended hours, weekend, and/or evening hours, and occasionally travel out of town for training, meetings, or deployments, sometimes overnight and required to serve on-call 24 hours a day for emergencies.

APPLICANT/EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The job description for Planning Section Chief for Hamilton County Emergency Management Department describes the duties and responsibilities for employment in this position. I acknowledge that I have received this job description and understand that it is not an employment contract. I am responsible for reading this job description and complying with all job duties, requirements, and responsibilities contained herein and any subsequent revisions.

Hamilton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We participate in E-Verify.