Emergency Management Specialist

Emergency Management Specialist

CEMA is seeking a motivated, hands-on emergency management professional who enjoys solving problems, working with equipment, coordinating training, managing projects, and helping ensure an organization is ready when disaster strikes.

The Emergency Management Specialist in Logistics, Training and Exercises supports CEMA's operational readiness by helping ensure personnel, facilities, equipment, plans, and resources are prepared for emergencies and disasters. The position plays a hands-on role in maintaining emergency response assets while supporting the Agency's training and exercise program.

This position conducts logistics planning, inventory and asset management, maintains emergency contracts and agreements, ensures equipment readiness, sustains warehouse inventories, supports continuity efforts and deploys field resources. The Specialist also coordinates training activities, develops and maintains training materials and records, supports and conducts exercises, and helps ensure CEMA personnel and partners are prepared to perform their emergency responsibilities.

The Emergency Management Specialist serves as a Duty Officer and is expected to support Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, field operations, planned events, training, exercises, and disaster response and recovery activities.

The position requires strong organizational skills, initiative, attention to detail, project management ability, and a willingness to work both behind the scenes and in the field to keep the agency ready for the next emergency.

Essential Functions

Logistics and Resource Management

• Coordinate and maintain CEMA logistics plans, procedures, guidelines, checklists, and forms.
• Maintain CEMA's inventory management system and maintain accurate records of equipment and capital assets.
• Support the deployment, tracking, recovery, and accountability of emergency response equipment and resources.
• Maintain the agency warehouse, stored equipment, supplies, and deployable resources.
• Ensure resource lists are available for use during emergencies and disasters.
• Coordinate disaster contracts, mutual aid agreements, and other agreements.
• Assist with the procurement of equipment and supplies, including preparation of purchase documentation and tracking items from purchase through delivery and installation.

Equipment, Fleet, and Facility Readiness

• Support the readiness of CEMA's Emergency Operations Centers, ensuring facilities, equipment, and resources remain functional and prepared for activation.
• Maintain operational readiness of deployable equipment, supplies and resource packages, including vehicles, generators, trailers, emergency response push packages and other assets.
• Conduct or coordinate routine inspections, operational testing, preventative maintenance, and repairs.
• Troubleshoot equipment, technology, and audio/visual systems.
• Ensure inspections of Emergency Operations Centers, field assets, and assigned equipment are completed and documented.
• Identify equipment deficiencies and assist with corrective actions.

Training and Exercise Program

• Support the planning, development, coordination, delivery, and evaluation of CEMA's training and exercise program.
• Assist with development and maintenance of the Integrated Preparedness Plan, annual training schedule, exercise schedule, and training calendars.
• Coordinate training events by arranging facilities, equipment, supplies, instructional materials, and other logistical requirements.
• Participate in and lead training sessions, drills, workshops, and exercises.
• Refine training materials, job aids, instructional plans, standard operating guides, checklists, and assessment tools.
• Maintain training records, certifications, qualifications, curriculum databases, and other program documentation.
• Complete and archive forms, records, and documentation necessary to support training and exercise activities.
• Support after-action reviews, improvement planning, and corrective action tracking following exercises and real-world incidents.
• Research training opportunities and emerging practices that strengthen agency preparedness.

Planning and Project Management

• Carry out assigned projects and initiatives from development through completion.
• Follow project timelines based on priorities, available resources, operational requirements, and budget considerations.
• Maintain accurate project documentation and records in WebEOC and other designated systems.
• Evaluate proposed approaches, identify challenges, determine feasibility, and recommend adjustments when necessary.
• Refine plans, standard operating guides, job aids, reports, procedures, and operational documents.
• Communicate project status, challenges, recommendations, and potential solutions to supervisors and other stakeholders.
• Effectively communicate through email, telephone, text messaging, meetings, and other coordination methods.
• Utilize Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WebEOC, and other systems to support assigned programs and projects.

Emergency Operations

• Serve as a member of CEMA's Duty Officer Program and respond to incidents on a rotating on-call basis.
• Serve as the Agency's primary watch officer and initial point of contact for incidents occurring or potentially occurring within Chatham County while assigned as Duty Officer.
• Obtain, analyze, and maintain situational awareness during potential and real-world incidents.
• Respond to incident scenes and support Unified Command and field operations as assigned.
• Serve in assigned Emergency Operations Center positions during activations.
• Deploy and operate the Mobile Emergency Operations Center and other field assets during emergencies, disasters, exercises, training activities, and planned events.
• Participate in disaster response, recovery, and other emergency management operations.
• Perform other emergency management duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Logistics, Public Administration, Homeland Security, Public Safety, Information Technology, or a closely related field; and
• At least one (1) year of experience in emergency management, public safety, logistics, information technology, training, exercises, or a related field; or
• Any equivalent combination of training and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must possess or be able to obtain a Georgia Class F driver's license within six months of employment.
• Must be able to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended or irregular hours during emergencies, exercises, and planned events.
• Must be able to effectively communicate verbally and in writing and remain organized and composed during high-pressure situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in emergency management, public safety, logistics or local government.
• Experience managing inventory, equipment, fleets, warehouses, or operational assets.
• Experience coordinating or delivering training programs and exercises.
• Experience with project management.

Supplemental Information

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office environment, in the field, at a warehouse, in the Emergency Operations Center, or at incident sites.
• Regular work may involve warehouses, vehicles, trailers, generators, emergency equipment, and deployable field assets.
• Required participation in CEMA's Duty Officer Program.
• Required participation in training exercises, planned events, EOC activations, and emergency operations.
• May be required to report for extended or irregular hours during emergencies and disasters.
• Work may be performed outdoors and in adverse weather or challenging environmental conditions.
• Must be capable of sitting, standing, stooping, crawling, reaching, climbing ladders, working in confined or uncomfortable areas, and maintaining physical positions necessary to inspect or operate equipment.
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, or pull equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Must maintain the physical ability to safely operate emergency response vehicles and equipment, including the Mobile Emergency Operations Center.
• Must be capable of working effectively in physically and emotionally demanding emergency environments.

The Hiring Manager requests that all applicants submit the following:

• Completed employment application.
• Current résumé.
• Cover letter

During emergencies and disasters affecting Chatham County, you may be required to report to work as part of a disaster operations team.

In accordance with the Department of Transportation, Commercial Driver's License (CDL) holders and those employed in safety-sensitive positions are subject to random drug testing.

Candidates with direct and relevant experience may receive an offer of up to 10% above the minimum salary that is posted, reflecting their exceptional qualifications.

Chatham County provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, or military/veteran status in accordance