What are the responsibilities and job description for the PLANNING SPECIALIST position at NYC Department of Social Services?
New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM is responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all types and scales of emergencies. We are staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including individuals assigned from other City agencies.
The Planning and Resiliency (P&R) Bureau’s mission is to prepare the City to respond and adapt to emergencies through collaborative, scalable planning; comprehensive interagency coordination; and advancing recovery and resiliency. To execute this mission, the P&R Bureau includes Interagency Coordination with an assistant commissioner leading three units made up of subject matter experts in Health and Medical, Human Services, and Critical Infrastructure; Resiliency and Recovery with an assistant commissioner leading the Resiliency Implementation and Resiliency and Recovery Planning units; and the Planning unit.
The Planning Unit drives the creation, enhancement, and sustainment of comprehensive citywide emergency planning in NYC. The unit works with NYCEM staff and external partners to increase the City’s capacity for developing and maintaining flexible, effective, and actionable planning documents. Additionally, the Planning Unit also works with stakeholders to enhance the City’s preparedness for natural, human-caused, and technological hazards through planning initiatives, help identify emerging issues and current planning gaps, and assist with developing trainings and exercises based on planning documents.
With latitude for independent initiative and judgement, NYCEM is seeking a candidate responsible for overseeing and supporting activities related to citywide emergency planning, including the planning process and management of planning portfolios. The Planning Specialist is also expected to facilitate intra- and interagency coordination and communication; implement quality assurance mechanisms to produce high-quality, actionable, and user-friendly documents; support development and maintenance of planning resources; and support unit- and bureau-level strategic initiatives.
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
Funding – This position is supported with a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funding through 8/31/2027 with the possibility of an extension.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without employer support to be eligible for selection.
The selected candidate will be required to be in person in the office location three days per week, with exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
For this position, the “Special Note” below in the Minimum Qualification Requirements does not apply.
IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS JOB, PLEASE SUBMIT A SEPARATE COVER LETTER IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION PORTAL.
Preferred Skills
Project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to work independently or collaboratively to prioritize and manage multiple competing projects in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Experience facilitating meetings and discussions with diverse stakeholders, delivering presentations, producing summary materials, clearly communicating key objectives, and building consensus to drive decision-making and projects.
Knowledge of and experience in applying the concepts, theories, and practices of emergency management to citywide emergency planning and real-world situations.
Strong editing skills with consideration of audience, layout, and usability.
Experience Writing Emergency, Technical, And/or Operational Plans Preferred.
Strategic planning skills and experience preferred.
Experience with database management, especially using Airtable, Excel, or other platforms preferred.
Experience In Data Analysis And Visualization Preferred.
Flexibility towards shifting needs and priorities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, Teams, and PowerPoint).
Interest in learning technical meteorological, climatological, and hazard-specific information, with a commitment to staying current on the latest developments in these areas.
In addition, the selected candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven ability in the following areas, from the agency’s performance management model:
Competencies:
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIAL - 94612
Minimum Qualifications
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in ""1"" above.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
The Planning and Resiliency (P&R) Bureau’s mission is to prepare the City to respond and adapt to emergencies through collaborative, scalable planning; comprehensive interagency coordination; and advancing recovery and resiliency. To execute this mission, the P&R Bureau includes Interagency Coordination with an assistant commissioner leading three units made up of subject matter experts in Health and Medical, Human Services, and Critical Infrastructure; Resiliency and Recovery with an assistant commissioner leading the Resiliency Implementation and Resiliency and Recovery Planning units; and the Planning unit.
The Planning Unit drives the creation, enhancement, and sustainment of comprehensive citywide emergency planning in NYC. The unit works with NYCEM staff and external partners to increase the City’s capacity for developing and maintaining flexible, effective, and actionable planning documents. Additionally, the Planning Unit also works with stakeholders to enhance the City’s preparedness for natural, human-caused, and technological hazards through planning initiatives, help identify emerging issues and current planning gaps, and assist with developing trainings and exercises based on planning documents.
With latitude for independent initiative and judgement, NYCEM is seeking a candidate responsible for overseeing and supporting activities related to citywide emergency planning, including the planning process and management of planning portfolios. The Planning Specialist is also expected to facilitate intra- and interagency coordination and communication; implement quality assurance mechanisms to produce high-quality, actionable, and user-friendly documents; support development and maintenance of planning resources; and support unit- and bureau-level strategic initiatives.
Responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- Lead or support development, maintenance, restructuring, and socialization of major planning documents, including planning process from conceptual development to finalization (e.g., coastal storm; flash flood; extreme heat; chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives (CBRNE); cyber; winter weather; etc.).
- Draft and review documents and materials in line with editorial policies and style standards, with an eye toward grammar, formatting, standardization, and accessibility.
- Foster and maintain relationships with internal and external partners and operational subject matter experts to increase collaboration, streamline planning efforts, and enhance citywide planning documents and processes.
- Provide project management oversight and support for assigned projects, ensuring all deliverables are completed on time and in alignment with identified goals and objectives.
- Support staff and leadership on cross-functional planning and preparedness efforts, including analysis and studies to advance approaches to planning and operational capabilities.
- Conduct research on best practices, emerging trends, and benchmarks related to equity in planning, and analyze relevant data and stakeholder feedback to inform the development of effective, inclusive equity strategies.
- Support the strategic initiatives for the Unit and Bureau in line with the agency’s strategic plan.
- Become proficient in relevant NYCEM technological systems (including the intranet, SharePoint, database management, etc.), and leverage them to ensure major planning documents and resources are easily available to NYCEM staff and agency partners.
- Work on special projects and other duties as assigned.
- PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
Funding – This position is supported with a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) grant funding through 8/31/2027 with the possibility of an extension.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without employer support to be eligible for selection.
The selected candidate will be required to be in person in the office location three days per week, with exceptions for extenuating circumstances.
For this position, the “Special Note” below in the Minimum Qualification Requirements does not apply.
IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS JOB, PLEASE SUBMIT A SEPARATE COVER LETTER IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION PORTAL.
Preferred Skills
Project management experience, with a demonstrated ability to work independently or collaboratively to prioritize and manage multiple competing projects in dynamic, high-pressure environments.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Experience facilitating meetings and discussions with diverse stakeholders, delivering presentations, producing summary materials, clearly communicating key objectives, and building consensus to drive decision-making and projects.
Knowledge of and experience in applying the concepts, theories, and practices of emergency management to citywide emergency planning and real-world situations.
Strong editing skills with consideration of audience, layout, and usability.
Experience Writing Emergency, Technical, And/or Operational Plans Preferred.
Strategic planning skills and experience preferred.
Experience with database management, especially using Airtable, Excel, or other platforms preferred.
Experience In Data Analysis And Visualization Preferred.
Flexibility towards shifting needs and priorities.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, Access, Teams, and PowerPoint).
Interest in learning technical meteorological, climatological, and hazard-specific information, with a commitment to staying current on the latest developments in these areas.
In addition, the selected candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven ability in the following areas, from the agency’s performance management model:
Competencies:
- Knowledge – possesses appropriate subject matter expertise.
- Work Ethic and Productivity – produces consistently high quality, accurate, and on-time deliverables; takes responsibility, is dependable, and accountable, and follows through; is responsive to requests from leadership.
- Strategic Problem Solving and Innovation – is thoughtful and deliberate in approach to solving problems; demonstrates innovation and creative thinking.
- Effective Communication – communication is clear, precise, and timely; understands their audience and display confidence in delivering their message.
- Teamwork – encourage collaboration and motivate others; is able to both lead and follow when necessary; is an active listener and consider a broad range of perspectives.
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIAL - 94612
Minimum Qualifications
- A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and six years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: emergency management, fire, police, or military service, public safety, public health, public administration, urban planning, engineering, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made; or
- A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full time professional experience in the areas listed in "1" above; or
- A master's degree from an accredited college in emergency management, public administration, urban planning, engineering, economics, political science, the physical sciences ,or related field and one year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas listed “1" above, at least two years of which must have been in one of those areas, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made.
- Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.
To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in ""1"" above.
Public Service Loan Forgiveness
As a prospective employee of the City of New York, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. For more information, please visit the U.S. Department of Education’s website at https://studentaid.gov/pslf/.
Residency Requirement
New York City residency is generally required within 90 days of appointment. However, City Employees in certain titles who have worked for the City for 2 continuous years may also be eligible to reside in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam, Westchester, Rockland, or Orange County. To determine if the residency requirement applies to you, please discuss with the agency representative at the time of interview.
Additional Information
The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.
