Assistant Director For Resilience

The Assistant Director for Resilience reports to the Emergency Management Director and is responsible for managing the Resilience Unit of the Emergency Management Division (EMD). This position oversees the state's Disaster Resilience, Mitigation, and Geological Hazards and Outreach programs and is responsible for the development and implementation of a multi-year disaster resilience strategy focused on improving the overall disaster resilience for the State of Washington.
The Disaster Resilience Strategy includes:

• Reducing the human, financial, and environmental impacts of disasters in Washington State.
• Recommending investments to improve resilience of communities and infrastructure.
• Coordinating funding to maximize federal, state, local and private investments for Resilience and mitigation projects.
• Identifying new and maximizing current funding sources to improve disaster resilience in the state.
• Addressing the disproportional impacts of disasters on vulnerable populations across the state and taking actions to mitigate those impacts.
• Engaging and coordinating with state, federal, local, tribal, and public sector partners to ensure the broadest reach of resilience strategies.
• Identifying the most critical areas where improvements are needed to increase disaster resilience and prioritizing goals and actions to address those areas.
• Regularly assessing the effectiveness of the strategy and making adjustments as necessary to ensure progress in meeting goals.

This position provides leadership to staff who manage and administer programs for statewide resilience and hazard mitigation, which includes:

• Coordinating state and local efforts to build resilience to risks identified in the Washington State Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• Developing a state disaster resilience strategy and assisting local agencies in their efforts to prepare and implement strategies.
• Coordinating across state and county agencies to prepare and implement resilience strategies.
• Identifying, securing, and assisting in accessing federal, state, and private funding streams and providing technical assistance that can be used to support resilience efforts.
• Partnering with business leaders from industries to identify best practices for preparing for, mitigating, and responding to risks.
• Ensuring that investments prioritize underserved communities and high-risk communities and support environmental justice.
• Conveying policy and concepts to technical and non-technical managers, project partners, and other germane parties with demonstrated clarity, logic, conciseness, and persuasiveness.
• Performing qualitative analysis methods and advanced program analysis techniques, concepts, and practices.
• Ensuring Resilience Unit activities comply with EMD's strategic plan.
• Providing supervision at the first and second levels for the Resilience, Mitigation, and Geological Hazards and Outreach programs within the Emergency Management Division.

This is a civilian position and does not require military service affiliation.
Emergency Management Division Overview
The Washington Emergency Management Division leads and coordinates mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in Washington State to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the people, property, environment, and economy.
About the Washington Military Department
Protecting people is our passion. At the Washington Military Department, we combine our unique talents to create safer communities and ensure our neighbors and loved ones can recover from whatever emergency might arise. Our agency unites civilian employees with members of the Washington National Guard, creating a team that is deeply committed to public service. We go home at night knowing that our day-to-day work supports activities that truly make a difference. Whether that's partnering with our communities to prepare for a disaster, leading an emergency response, hiring top-notch talent or supporting at-risk kids at our Washington Youth Academy - the Washington Military Department seeks to safeguard our way of life and those that call Washington home.
To learn more about the Washington Military Department, please visit: www.mil.wa.gov
In addition to job fulfillment, the Washington Military Department offers an excellent benefits package which includes exceptional health care coverage, a retirement savings plan and job training opportunities, and flexible work schedules.
General Management Duties and Responsibilities:

• Plan, lead, organize, and control the work performed by the Resilience Unit.
• Provide oversight of the Resilience, Mitigation, Geological Hazards, and Outreach programs.
• Directly supervise one managerial and one supervisory position and two program staff. Through subordinates, supervise an additional 21 employees.
• Serve on EMD's Executive Management Team for all activities to include budget, personnel management, policy development, and strategic planning.

Disaster Resilience, Mitigation, Geological Hazards, and Outreach:

• In partnership with key stakeholders from all levels of government, non-government organizations, critical infrastructure providers, and the private sector, develop a long-range disaster resilience strategy which identifies key pathways to building resilience and prioritizes investments.
• Ensure ongoing coordination of state and local disaster resilience and response activities.
• Conduct policy research and recommendations related to enhancing disaster resilience.
• Recommend investments to mitigate disaster risks from all threats and hazards.
• Integrate the State Disaster Resilience and Mitigation Programs with local, state, and federal partners to ensure maximum efficiency and economy of scale while providing critical disaster services to the people of Washington State.
• Oversee the state's Disaster Resilience Program, Hazard Mitigation Program, Geological Hazards and Outreach Program, and the Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano Program to establish the process and procedures by which the state will assist state agencies and local jurisdictions.
• Ensure the state maintains a FEMA-approved Enhance Hazard Mitigation Plan.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
A Bachelor's degree AND ten years of professional level experience in emergency management, financial management (grants, contracting, claims management, budgeting), public safety (law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services), training/education, public information/affairs, program/project management, risk management, public works/engineering, managing critical infrastructure sector emergency functions (transportation systems, telecommunications, energy, water, and wastewater systems, government facilities, nuclear facilities and materials, food and agriculture), environmental analysis/planning, civil/structural engineering, legislative affairs, and/or urban planning.
Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the education requirement. A Master's Degree or Ph.D. degree will substitute for one year of the experience requirement.
AND (This experience may be gained concurrently with the experience listed above)

1. Seven years of supervisory, and/or management experience, and
2. One year of mitigation/resilience experience at the county, state or federal level.

Preference may be given for knowledge and understanding of:

• Principles of emergency management operations.
• Roles and responsibilities of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and other federal agencies that support the National Mitigation Framework.
• Principles of Hazard Mitigation.
• Principles of disaster resilience.
• Roles and responsibilities of state, local, volunteer, and private agencies that support the state's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.
• Budgeting processes.
• National, state, and local disaster and emergency management programs, policies, and legislation.
• Federal and state legislative processes.
• Automation and communication systems available for emergency operations and their application.

In addition, the ideal candidate will demonstrate skills in the following competencies:

• Communicate complex information effectively both orally and in writing across a broad spectrum of professional and managerial levels and within the emergency management community.
• Make decisions under conditions of stress, volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity.
• Recommend actions to be taken by various state agencies during emergencies and disasters.
• Effectively manage programs/projects, resources and lead (supervise, coach, and train) professional staff.
• Build teams among diverse local, state, federal, volunteer, and private entities.
• Monitor, analyze, and manage program budgets.
• Apply advanced management principles and skills.

Compensation: This position is in the Washington Management Service (WMS, Band 3). The successful candidate's salary will range from $120,000 - $138,360 annually, depending on qualifications.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Investigation: Must successfully complete the appropriate background checks required for employment to include a Department of Homeland Security or FBI Secret Security Clearance. Must be willing to sign releases of information and shall not have access to any investigative materials and files. The processing of background checks can take up to six months post-employment. Failure to successfully pass a background check may be cause for termination.

Driver's License:

1. Valid to drive in the State of Washington.
2. Must meet requirements of the REAL ID Act. This is required for base access and will be required upon hire.

Military Facility: Willingness to work on a Military Controlled Access Installation.
Work Hours: A choice between a Tuesday through Friday (4/10 schedule) - Monday through Thursday (4/10 schedule) - or Monday through Friday (5/8 schedule). Actual hours will start no earlier than 6:00 am and end no later than 6:00 pm, and will include core business hours of 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Telework: This position may be eligible for some telework. The incumbent will work with their supervisor to identify an appropriate work schedule and balance between remote and in person work based on operational need and employee preference. Reporting to the workstation for work activities or participating in-person meetings is required.
Emergency Assignment: Upon activation of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) or Joint Field Office (JFO), incumbent may be required to work in an alternate location with rotating shifts, including weekends and evenings, in a highly stressful and fast-paced environment.
Travel: Travel may be either state-wide or national in an official capacity as needed to attend meetings/workshops and conduct Division business. Travel may require overnight stays.
Application Process
Individuals interested in applying for this position should select the "Apply" button and submit the following:

1. A current state application profile,
2. A letter of interest (not to exceed two pages), specifically outlining how your education, skills and experience meet the qualifications listed in this announcement.
3. A chronological resume listing education, names of employers with dates of employment, and a concise description of experience for each position held, and
4. A list of at least four professional references. Please include at least two past/current supervisors, one peer and subordinate if applicable. For each reference include the following:

• Name
• Professional Title
• Working Relationship
• Daytime Phone Number
• Email Address

** A resume will not substitute for completing the "work experience" section of the application.
Failure to follow application instructions will disqualify you for consideration of employment from this recruitment.

If you have questions about the application process or this recruitment, please email Mistina Venesky at mistina.venesky@mil.wa.gov

The Washington Military Department is an equal opportunity employer. We value the importance of creating an environment in which all employees can feel respected, included, and empowered to bring unique ideas to the agency. Our diversity and inclusion efforts include embracing different cultures, backgrounds and viewpoints while fostering growth and advancement in the workplace. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, persons of disability, persons over 40 years of age, disabled and Vietnam era veterans, as well as people of all sexual orientations and gender identities are encouraged to apply. Persons with disabilities needing assistance in the application process, or those needing this job announcement in an alternative format may contact the Recruitment Section of State Human Resources at: Email: mistina.venesky@mil.wa.gov, Call: (253) 512-7389, or Telecommunications Device for the hearing impaired at (253) 512-7298.

Employment Type: Full Time - Permanent