Emergency Services Senior Planner / Exercise Coordinator

The Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) is seeking a qualified individual to serve as an Emergency Services Senior Planner Exercise Coordinator.

ABOUT US
MARC, the association of local governments and metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region, promotes and supports cooperation on regional issues, including transportation, the environment, our workforce and economy, aging services, community development, quality early learning, public safety communications and emergency services. MARC has a collaborative work environment with a culture based on integrity, innovation, respect, belonging, impact and leadership.

ABOUT THIS POSITION
The Emergency Services Senior Planner Exercise Coordinator supports MARC’s emergency services, homeland security and emergency preparedness planning and exercise work, serving four counties in Kansas and five counties in Missouri. This senior planner position supports several regional emergency services committees that work cooperatively to prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover from a range of threats and hazards. The region maintains approximately ten regional plans and hosts approximately five to seven exercises a year.
 
This position works with emergency services committees and other stakeholders to conduct and coordinate hazard vulnerability and other assessments to evaluate capabilities and maintain/ develop inclusive plans, protocols, and agreements to focus on information and resource sharing to advance regional emergency services goals. This position works with stakeholders to identify needed plans and exercises and required capabilities to develop and execute work plans. The position designs, conducts, and evaluates exercises for the bi-state Kansas City metropolitan area and oversees the selection of consultants and directs their work to support some of the exercise and planning work. 
 
What you’ll do
Plan Management and Exercise Management

• Facilitates planning processes to review and update several regional emergency services plans on a scheduled revolving basis. This includes updates and revisions to the annual Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP).
• Convenes stakeholders to conduct assessments and helps develop strategies to address readiness gaps and documents results including the annual Stakeholder Preparedness Report and Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.
• Serves as regional coordinator of HSIN (secure information database) and the Regional Plans Dashboard as the repository of regional plans.
• Leads in the design, execution, and evaluation of a range of exercises to meet regional needs.  
• Prepares exercise and planning applications for grants and reports for committee and agency approval. 
• Coordinates exercise activities with the Training Coordinator on the regional Training and Exercise calendar and provides on-site support as needed.
• Works closely with other members of the program and MARC to advance the region’s prevention, protection, response, mitigation, and recovery goals.
• Represents MARC emergency services at various events, committees, and conferences.

Committee Support

• Supports regional committees and subcommittees by working with committee chairs to research and prepare materials, supports facilitation of meetings, prepares meeting reports to help local officials reach decisions, and advances coordinated and bi-state planning.

Stakeholder Management

• Conducts outreach to stakeholders. Fosters and sustains the necessary relationships to further emergency services work within the region and states.
• Responds to inquiries from stakeholders in a timely manner on a wide variety of emergency services and Homeland Security preparedness topics.
• Works routinely with a range of Kansas and Missouri state agency partners including police, fire, emergency management, health and medical, industry, venues/ special event organizations, community, public and private entities.

Emergency Management

• Supports situational assessment, information sharing and resource coordination during a regional incident. Serves as part of a team of Regional Healthcare Coalition Duty Officers on a rotating basis which may require work after regular business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays. 

Other duties as assigned. 

ABOUT YOU
Skills you’ll need

• Ability to read and comprehend complex city, state, and federal and other agency regulations.
• Ability to read and interpret grant guidance and purchasing requirements.
• Ability to identify needs, research funding opportunities and draft fundable proposals for grant submission.  
• Ability to draft and implement requirements to ensure subcontractors are in compliance with grant requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing, in a culturally sensitive manner with both individuals and groups from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers from diverse backgrounds and work effectively in a team environment.
• Willingness to assist co-workers with projects and work outside normal responsibilities for the good of the organization.
• Provide excellent service to internal and external customers, demonstrating a positive approach and providing timely and thorough responses.
• Ability to facilitate and lead group discussions and make presentations.
• Ability to serve as a spokesperson and relationship builder.
• Ability to receive feedback to improve performance.
• Ability to take initiative to plan and complete assigned work with a high level of accuracy.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks and meet deadlines.
• Ability to accurately prepare and maintain documents, correspondence, files, and reports. 
• Knowledge of records administration and maintenance techniques and procedures.
• Ability to conduct research, accurately prepare reports, analyze and present information.
• Ability to analyze complex issues and identify and implement actionable steps to address needs.
• Ability to establish and effectively communicate goals and objectives.
• Proactively seeks new and innovative ways to accomplish work. Identifies internal practices and external systems that are less than effective and recommends viable solutions.
• Ability to direct and oversee project activities, set milestones, and ensure deliverables are met.
• Ability to make sound decisions by applying policies and procedures and using available resources.
• Ability to create, manage and work within the constraints of a budget.
• Proficiency of Word, Excel, Teams, Office 365, and ability to learn and use various software platforms.
• Understands the mission of MARC and exemplifies MARC's core values.
• Ability to follow safety protocols and procedures.

Basic requirements

• Bachelor's degree in emergency management, public safety, public administration, public health, health care or emergency medical, or a related field. 
• Minimum five years of successful and progressively responsible related work experience.
• Prior experience with federal grant applications, reports and deliverables preferred.
• Prior experience and strong working knowledge of designing and conducting a range of exercises.
• Prior experience working for a non-profit or public agency preferred.
• Completion of HSEEP training is preferred.
• Foundational FEMA EMI courses IS100, IS200, IS700, IS800 preferred.
• Certifications: None
• Licenses: None
• Any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience may be considered to meet minimum qualifications. 

Physical Demands and Work Environment:*
Level I
Work involves exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.  This position involves sitting most of the time but may involve standing or walking for brief periods of time.  This position requires manual dexterity sufficient to operate phones, computer, keyboard, and other office equipment.  This position requires the ability to bend and reach at both ground level and overhead.  Other physical requirements include: Holding and gripping objects, ability to communicate clearly to accurately convey information, visual ability to distinguish color, acuity, and depth perception.
 
Work performed is in an office environment with good working conditions and an almost complete absence of extreme noises and unpleasant or hazardous elements. This position works a minimum of three days on-site in the office.

SALARY AND BENEFITS
Starting salary for this position is from $63,300 - $83,855 per year, depending upon qualifications. MARC offers an attractive team-oriented work environment along with a competitive fringe benefit package. MARC offers employees flexibility to work remotely for up to two days per work week.

HOW TO APPLY
To apply, complete our online application form and attach your cover letter and resume. For more information, visit marc.org/jobs. 
MARC provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they can perform every job description task. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. MARC may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.