The City of Fort Myers strives to be an employer of choice and most of our employees turn jobs into long term careers. The salary shown in the job description is the full range for this position from entry to later career.
NEW EMPLOYEES ARE HIRED AT, OR NEAR THE ENTRY POINT SHOWN, DEPENDING ON QUALIFICATIONS AND RELEVANT EXPERIENCE.
FLSA Status: Exempt Safety Sensitive: YES Level II Screening: NO
Manages all phases of emergency management, including mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience. Oversees the Emergency Management Division and citywide emergency management strategy, policies, and objectives in alignment with federal, state, and regional standards.
Participates in the development and administration of the division budget, oversees emergency management programs, and coordinates with City leadership, external agencies, and regional partners. Serves as a liaison to County, State, and Federal emergency management entities and advises executive leadership on disaster preparedness, operational readiness, and emergency response coordination.
Exercises a high degree of independent judgment, discretion, and decision-making authority in managing citywide emergency management programs and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities.
Responsibilities and Reporting During an Emergency Situation:
Essential Employees may be required to work during a declared emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.
Non-Essential Employees will not be required to work during a declared emergency. The employee’s Department Head will determine when the employee will be required to work.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the City’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.
Perks and Benefits
- Free city-paid employee health coverage, additional for spouse or family
- 3 weeks Paid Time Off (sick & vacation)
- 13 paid holidays
- Pension plan & optional Deferred Compensation
- City-paid life insurance
- Optional Vision, Dental, and Disability Insurance
- Tuition reimbursement
- On-site Gym facility
- And much more!
- Develops, implements, and monitors the Emergency Management Division’s Master Plan and Strategic Plan in alignment with City and departmental goals.
- Manages and coordinates all local emergency management and homeland security activities, ensuring integration with County, State, and Federal programs.
- Supervises and manages Emergency Management staff, including assigning work, evaluating performance, and supporting professional development.
- Administers and manages the Emergency Management Division budget in alignment with operational and strategic priorities.
- Manages policies, procedures, and operational guidelines for emergency management functions and ensures compliance with applicable regulations and standards.
- Leads the development, implementation, and maintenance of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP), Recovery Annex, and Disaster Debris Management Plan.
- Leads citywide hazard assessments and coordinates emergency planning efforts across all City departments.
- Facilitates emergency management grant programs in collaboration with the City Manager’s Office and Grants division from application through implementation, ensuring compliance with federal, state, and local requirements.
- Leads coordination of interagency response efforts before, during, and after emergencies and disasters.
- Ensures readiness and operational capability of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), including training, procedures, and equipment.
- Provides leadership in maintaining National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance across the organization.
- Develops and oversees training and exercise programs in accordance with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines.
- Builds and maintains relationships with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as community partners, to support emergency preparedness and response.
- Oversees community preparedness initiatives, including the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program.
- Prepares and presents reports, briefings, and recommendations to executive leadership, City officials, and external stakeholders.
- Analyzes data and trends to identify program improvements and enhance emergency management capabilities.
- Responds to emergency incidents and may serve in a leadership role within the Emergency Operations Center.
- Participates in professional development activities to remain current on emergency management practices and standards.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
- Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and programs related to emergency management and homeland security, including the Stafford Act, NIMS, and HSEEP.
- Knowledge of emergency management principles, including mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation planning.
- Knowledge of municipal government operations, budgeting practices, and emergency planning processes.
- Skill in analyzing data, identifying trends, and developing actionable recommendations to support decision-making.
- Skill in developing and coordinating emergency management programs, plans, and interagency initiatives.
- Skill in preparing reports, presentations, and technical documentation for leadership and stakeholders.
- Ability to interpret and apply laws, regulations, and policies in both routine and emergency situations.
- Ability to exercise independent judgment and make decisions under pressure.
- Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Business Administration, Fire Science, Emergency Medical Services, or Public Safety or a related field, or training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job, may be substituted for the degree.
- Eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, disaster preparedness, or a related field, preferably within a local government environment.
- Minimum of three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience.
- Completion of ICS 100, 200, 300, and 400 courses; IS 700 and 800 courses.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
- Experience designing and conducting a comprehensive exercise program.
- Possess certificate of completion in HSEEP.
- Completion of the FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Professional Development Series, including the following online Emergency Management Institute Independent Study courses: IS-120: An Introduction to Exercises; IS-230: Fundamentals of Emergency Management; IS-235: Emergency Planning; IS-240: Leadership and Influence; IS-241: Decision Making and Problem Solving; IS-242: Effective Communication; IS-244: Developing and Managing Volunteers.
- Completion of the FEMA Master Exercise Practitioner program.
- Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) and/or CEM (Certified Emergency Manager through (IAEM)-International Association of Emergency Managers) preferred.
- Credentials and experience in conducting relevant training.
CERTIFICATION, LICENSE AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS
- Mandatory Drug/Alcohol Testing required.
This work typically requires the following physical activities to be performed.
Balancing – maintain equilibrium to prevent falling while walking, standing, or crouching.
Climbing – ascending, descending ladders, stairs, ramps, requires body agility.
Reaching – extending hands or arms in any direction.
Repetitive Motion – substantial movements of wrists, hands, fingers.
Crouching – bending body forward by bending leg, spine.
Feeling – perceiving attributes of objects by touch with skin, fingertips.
Fingering – picking, pinching, typing, working with fingers rather than hand.
Grasping – applying pressure to object with fingers, palm.
Handling – picking, holding, or working with whole hand.
Hearing 1 – perceiving sounds at normal speaking levels, receive information.
Speaking – expressing ideas with spoken word, convey detailed, important instructions accurately, concisely.
Standing – for sustained periods of time.
Stooping – bending body downward, forward at waist, with full motion of lower extremities and back.
Talking 1- expressing ideas by spoken word
Visual Acuity 1 - prepare, analyze data, transcribing, computer terminal, extensive reading.
Kneeling – bending legs at knee to come to rest at knees.
Visual Acuity 3 - determine accuracy, neatness, observe facilities/structures.
Lifting – raising objects from lower to higher position, moving objects side to side, using upper extremities, back.
Mental Acuity – ability to make rational decisions through sound logic, deductive reasoning.
Walking - on foot to accomplish tasks, long distances, or site to site.
Work performed is primarily:
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is performed primarily in an office environment with periodic exposure to emergency operations settings. The position requires interaction with City personnel, external agencies, and the public. Extended work hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays, may be required during emergencies.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the essential job functions satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the primary job functions described herein. Since every duty associated with this position may not be described herein, employees may be required to perform duties not specifically spelled out in the job description, but which may be reasonably considered to be incidental in the performing of their duties just as though they were actually written out in this job description.
