Chief of Emergency
Preparedness
Req ID 2024-26258
Dept
Emergency Management
Position Regular Full-Time
Location May Mayors Office
Union
CDH
Openings 1
Posting End Date 7/5/2024
Contact
Email jordan.smith@boston.gov
Overview:
The Chief of
Emergency Preparedness is the Mayor’s point person for emergency planning and
preparedness as well as communication and coordination during an emergency
response.
This
Cabinet-level position is essential for the safety and security of Boston’s
residents and its infrastructure. Boston will face an increasing number
of emergencies -- both recurring and new. This has been underscored not
only by the global public health emergency and the increasing cyber-security
threats, but also by the projected increase in sea level rise and the
accelerating extremes in Boston’s weather.
Thoughtful,
comprehensive planning in advance of an emergency and clear coordination and
communication during an emergency are at the heart of what will help Boston
and its people manage any emergency or large scale event.
The Chief of
Emergency Preparedness leads this work, supported by the Office of Emergency
Preparedness and its staff of 25 and annual operating and regional budget of
approximately $12 million.
Responsibilities:
Emergency
Planning, Preparedness & Recovery
Central to
this role is ensuring that the City -- led by the Office of Emergency
Preparedness -- has developed thoughtful emergency plans, manages the
response to those emergencies, and aids the City, its constituents, and the
region in its recovery from emergencies.
- City Departments: The Chief works across all City departments to
develop comprehensive plans for potential emergencies that Boston may
face. Among other elements, this includes ensuring the development
of actionable continuity of operations plans by Departments, leading
trainings and table-top exercises to test the plans that have been
developed, and coaching leaders on how to manage during emergencies.
- City Constituents: The Chief works with City Departments to ensure that
residents, businesses and community partners have the tools they need to
weather emergencies that may impact the city. Among other efforts,
this includes managing the City’s emergency notification system,
coordinating standards for deployment of flood barriers on private
property, and training residents on what to do in emergencies.
This also includes developing programs and policies, in coordination
with other Departments, that help our constituents and businesses
recovery after an emergency. This work requires understanding
community context and prioritizing an equity-oriented approach.
- Boston Region: The Chief plays a leadership role in coordinating
the Metro Boston Homeland Security Region, a consortium of municipal and
state agencies in Greater Boston focused on homeland security and
disaster preparedness. This role includes managing the consortium,
from overseeing grant administration to chairing the region’s monthly
meetings and providing administrative support for this regional
collaboration.
Extreme
Weather Events
- Of note, this role has an increasing emphasis on
planning for and coordinating the response and recovery to extreme
weather events, from high heat to severe rain to major coastal
flooding. The Chief is expected to ensure that the Office of
Emergency Preparedness brings subject matter expertise to this
work. The Director will be responsible for developing plans,
ensuring their implementation and leading coordination during extreme
weather events.
Communication
& Coordination
- Inter-Departmental Coordination: Whether it is a short-term event such as a
snow storm or a long-term such as public health pandemic, the Chief
plays a central role in ensuring that there is good coordination across
City Departments and supporting lead agencies in the execution of
critical tasks. This includes establishing and running an
emergency operations center to facilitate the timely exchange of
information, to ensure clarity about roles, responsibilities, and to
identify and troubleshoot areas of need.
- On-Site Coordination: For some particular disasters, such as large fires
or snow storms, the Chief will also provide on-site coordination.
This is done in support of the work being done by lead agencies (e.g.
the Fire Department or the Public Works Department), to bring in
resources from other agencies as needed.
Management
- To execute on this work, the Chief of Emergency Preparedness
oversees the Office of Emergency Preparedness. There are 25
current staff in that office, who have backgrounds in everything from
grant administration to disaster preparedness to communications to
emergency operations.
Minimum
Entrance Qualifications:
The qualities
of an ideal candidate for this job include:
- Leader: The Chief of Emergency Preparedness must be able to move planning
forward on the sunny days -- when attention can be elsewhere -- and help
implement and adjust that plan on the stormy days -- when the intensity
is at its highest. This takes someone who can be a strong
communicator about the importance of emergency planning and a clear-eyed
advisor and decision maker under stressful conditions.
- Collaborator: While the Chief of Emergency Preparedness ensures
the effective citywide response to an emergency, the on-the-ground
expertise and operational leadership is often within one or multiple
other City Departments, including public safety. Consequently, to
be effective, the Chief needs the humility and skill necessary to know
when to support the leadership of other organizations or to build
bridges between organizations so that the City’s response can be most
effective.
- Public Servant: Without appropriate attention, understanding and
action, emergencies can disproportionately impact some communities more
than others. The Chief must be able to work with Departments as
they develop and implement plans to ensure that we are proactively
addressing and preventing disparities that may otherwise arise across
language, income, race, age and neighborhood in our city.
- Present: To add: this role is a principal advisor to
the Mayor. As such, there is an expectation that this person will show
up when needed at major city emergencies. [which also adds credibility
with other stakeholders]
Minimum Qualifications:
- At least eight (8) years of full time, relevant
professional experience, four (4) years of which must have been in a
supervisory capacity;
- Proven track record of coordination and leadership
across similarly complex organizations, including during stressful
circumstances;
- Command of disaster planning, emergency management
principles, emergency planning, and/or climate and resiliency from an
operational perspective;
- Familiarity with state and local government
operations and processes; experience managing complex government
programs or grants in a political environment a plus;
- Experience developing strategic plans and delivering
on short and long-term goals for an organization;
- Demonstrated
knowledge in one of the public safety disciplines (Police, Fire,
Emergency Services) and / or the specific threats that Boston may face,
such as cyber security, climate or public health.
- Boston residency required.
Salary:
$150,000 - $165,000 commensurate with experience
Apply for this job
The City of Boston is proud to be an Equal
Opportunity Employer. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive
environment. Therefore, qualified applicants will be considered regardless of
their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or
mental disability, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation,
gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other
protected category.
The City of Boston has played a role in causing and perpetuating the
inequities in our society. To break down these barriers, we are embedding
equity and inclusion into everything we do.
We define equity as ensuring every community has the
resources it needs to thrive in Boston. This requires the active
process of meeting individuals where they are. Inclusion is engaging
every resident to build a more welcoming and supportive city. We are
building a city for everyone, where diversity makes us a more
empowered collective.
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