Emergency Management Specialist

Full Job Description

El Paso County is seeking an experienced emergency management professional to support whole-community preparedness and operational response across one of Colorado’s most complex regions.

This is not an entry-level role, it’s a hands-on position for someone who has written all-hazards plans, led exercises, coordinated across agencies, and can step into leadership roles during Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) activations.

You’ll work closely with municipalities, nonprofits, public health partners, and military installations to strengthen regional readiness and resilience.

This role requires regular in-person presence and participation in a rotating on-call duty officer schedule, with the ability to respond within one hour during emergent events.

We’re looking for professionals who understand the realities of emergency management and are motivated by public service, sound judgment under pressure, and meaningful community impact.

This position has an anticipated work schedule of Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM. Schedule is subject to change.

This position is responsible for developing and updating emergency plans to incorporate government, business, nonprofit, and community/citizen involvement. Provides coordination, support, and staffing for emergency planning, exercises, training, recovery operations, special events, and Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) operations. Supports program priorities, goals, and the mission and vision of the organization. Position may require on-call rotation for response activities as they occur and may require work outside of normal business hours. Employment is subject to the terms, conditions, and policies detailed in the Personnel Policies Manual (PPM). This position requires regular in-person presence as an essential job function. This position may be subject to grant funding.

Requirements

• Responsible for ensuring information and emergency notifications, support resources, and coordination are provided during an emergent event, adhering to operational priorities of saving lives, protecting property, protecting the environment, and stabilizing the community.

Develops and maintains professional relationships between the organization and various agencies, municipalities, and military installations within El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs to ensure whole community emergency management planning and integration.

These key organizations include, but are not limited to, the Fire Districts and Fire Departments, Colorado State Emergency Management, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Colorado Springs Care and Share, and the emergency management offices of colleges, school districts, municipalities, and five military installations within the County.

• Incorporates stakeholder input and participation from local agencies, municipalities, nonprofits and other agencies as required for disaster prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery activities, ensuring that plans, processes, and procedures are inclusive and unified.
• Establishes, writes, updates, coordinates, and maintains all-hazards emergency plans, including directing the planning team, setting the planning schedule, soliciting and incorporating feedback and inputs into the plan, finalizing the draft plan, and managing the approval process for the plan.
• Plans, conducts, and participates in exercises, including independently identifying an exercise need, developing and supervising an exercise team, identifying goals and objectives, completing logistics, and scheduling and conducting the exercise as the exercise director.
• Coordinates with internal staff/stakeholders, regional partners such as, El Paso County and the City of Colorado Springs, key officials and departments, external agencies, citizen groups, and individual citizens for community disaster and emergency preparedness; coordinates with local nonprofit organizations and local businesses that provide support during emergencies.
• Presents emergency management training and education programs. Provides presentations on emergency management topics at civic group meetings, businesses, schools, and facility forums.
• Leads disaster/emergency events and activations as directed, including, but not limited to, serving as the ECC Director, establishing and maintaining liaison between the Incident Commander and the ECC, supervising the ECC and/or its sections (and those persons who staff those areas), and maintaining liaison with other Emergency Operations Centers.
• Serves as a liaison and representative to the El Paso County and City of Colorado Springs Communications departments/offices, to the Joint Information Center during activations, for emergency messaging and notifications, and for proactive media opportunities in the community.
• Responds directly to citizen and partner requests, complaints, and feedback. Responds to emergency situations with poise and calmness, providing pertinent communications to necessary parties.
• Trains, supervises, and evaluates volunteers during normal operations, training, exercises, incidents, and emergencies.
• Assists in maintaining an operational ECC. This includes training on and operating computer system, software programs, A/V systems, and having the ability to train and instruct partners and other staff members as well.
• Responsible for operational maintenance and inventory control of assigned supplies and equipment. Manages and ensures p-card purchases are in compliance with County policy and procedures.
• Coordinates and manages short-term and long-term recovery activities.
• Plans and organizes meetings, creates and maintains written documents, and is responsible for the coordination of communication. Represents PPROEM during meetings, conferences, and working groups.
• Operates as the PPROEM on-call duty officer for 24/7 contact, as scheduled.
• Ensures compliance with county, state, and federal laws and regulations for assigned grants, plans, and procedures.
• Maintains personal capability (knowledge, skills and abilities) by attending training events and programs and attaining applicable certifications.
• As assigned, may provide supervision or direction to others during emergencies.
• May present emergency management issues and recommendations to boards, commissions, and other jurisdictional and community organizations.
• May be assigned to administer applicable websites/platforms and provide content for the site.
• May be responsible for identifying, researching, and applying for grant opportunities; may monitor and report grant funding activities and opportunities.
• Performs other duties as required.

Supervision Exercised: This classification does not have supervisory authority; however, may be required to provide expertise or limited guidance or direction to employees, such as overseeing work quality, training, and guidance. Typically serves as a subject matter expert on the scope of functional area. 

Supervision Received: Receives general supervision. This classification typically performs job duties by following established standard operating procedures and/or policies. Regular direction, guidance, and coaching from supervisor may be expected. There is a choice of the appropriate procedure or policy to apply to duties. Performance reviewed periodically.

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of American Disability Act (ADA) programs and related Federal and State law preferred.
• Must be honest, truthful, and trustworthy, possessing a high degree of personal integrity.
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to provide excellent customer service. 
• Demonstrated ability during normal and emergency operations to apply critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and write professional and practical emergency plans, processes, policies, and procedures.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and present emergency services training and education programs.
• Ability to respond in a flexible manner and reprioritize work as situations change; skill in prioritizing multiple tasks and the ability to complete projects in a timely manner.
• Ability to communicate, motivate, and organize projects among a broad spectrum of personnel and community partners region-wide, frequently under deadline pressure.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office, including Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel.
• Ability to use standard office equipment, including computers, fax machine, telephone, copier, calculators, scanners, plotters, and radios.
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance. 

Required Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, public administration, organizational leadership, emergency management, homeland security, natural resources, natural sciences, or a related field from a regionally accredited college.
  • Four years of related professional experience may substitute for the required degree. 
• Three years experience in emergency management or similar field including, but not limited to, first responder experience.

Licenses/Certificates

• Must possess and maintain a valid driver's license.
• Must have completed ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800 and the FEMA EMI Professional Development Series.
• Must have or be able to complete HSEEP within one year of hire, based on classroom availability.

Pre-Employment Requirements

• Must pass conditional post offer background investigation, motor vehicle record check, and drug screen.

Additional Information

Duties are primarily performed in office, remote work environment, and field environments dependent upon Department discretion and business needs; work may be assigned to various locations. Some travel may be required throughout the County and other counties throughout the South-Central Region. Work environment may be noisy and include potential exposure to infections, blood, and contagious diseases. Potential exposure to adverse weather, pets, second-hand smoke, and other environmental hazards. This position requires the flexibility of being available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week dependent of business need. Work is subject to duty without advance notice during emergencies or disasters and must be able to report within one hour to respond to an emergent event. Must have access to reliable transportation to allow flexible and rapid relocation to support emergency response. Must be able to safely lift and carry up to 25 pounds and bend at waist or knees to get down to child's level. 

If assigned to Public Health, employees are responsible for providing proof of vaccinations and/or tuberculosis testing as applicable to the specific position and must provide proof of completion of required vaccinations/testing or proof of initiation within sixty days of hire date. 

The classification specification above is intended to represent only the key areas of responsibilities and minimum qualifications; specific job assignments, duties, education, experience, licenses/certifications, and environmental conditions will vary depending on the needs of the department/office and the particular assignment. Changes to this document may only be made by a member of the Human Resources Department.