Operational Coordination Group Lead

Company Description

A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description 

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works to mitigate, plan, and prepare for emergencies; educate the public about preparedness; coordinate emergency response and recovery efforts; and develop tools and identify resources to support the overall preparedness of the City of Philadelphia. 

Job Description

Position Summary 

The OEM mission is a 24/7/365 commitment. Mitigating, Preparing, Responding, and Recovering for planned and unplanned events requires around-the-clock dedication. The Operational Coordination Group Lead’s role is to provide general direction and leadership to the RIC Coordinators & EMLOs of the Operational Coordination Program and provide specific subject matter guidance to staff on the following subjects: program operations, training and exercising, administrative matters to include scheduling, and technology systems in use. 

Candidates should possess a strong desire to work in a team-oriented, fast paced, flexible, professional public safety environment, and a willingness to serve the public in the sixth largest city in the nation. The ideal candidate has exceptionally strong leadership and negotiation skills, is self-motivated, inquisitive, adept at working with diverse groups in stressful situations, and has a proven track record of effectively operating under emergency circumstances. Additionally, the candidate should be detail oriented, have excellent technical writing skills, and have the ability to effectively mentor other staff members.  Work will require a rotating schedule to include nights, weekends, and holidays and will, at times, be conducted in the field as the sole OEM representative or in a group setting.   

 

Essential Functions 

Under the administrative direction of the Operational Coordination Program Manager, the Operational Coordination Group Lead is responsible for a range of activities including the following: 

 

• Manages a blended team of 6 to 7 direct reports of RIC and EMLOs 

• Perform the duties of Regional Integration Center (RIC) Coordinator and Emergency Management Liaison Officer (EMLO) as needed.  

• Manage training and development plans for the Operational Coordination Program and provide solutions for training gaps.  

• Address needs and expectations of daily operations of the Operational Coordination Program.  

• Maintain standards of RIC & EMLO work products through quality control checks and follow up as needed. 

• Develop, implement, and maintain operational procedures. 

• Provide technical support to RIC Coordinators & EMLOs for all incident management systems and equipment. 

• Maintain scheduling activities. 

• Provide support to Operational Coordination Program special projects. 

• Provide oversight during the absence of the Operational Coordinator Program Manager. 

• Serve on-call for planned and unplanned RIC and EMLO schedule vacancies. 

• Augmenting staffing for the Regional Integration Center and/or EMLO operations during high-tempo operations 

• Perform other work as required 

 

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 

­ Strong interpersonal skills 

­ Effective oral and written communication skills 

­ Strong leadership and negotiation skills 

­ Confidence in front of groups 

­ Proven ability to operate and lead during emergencies 

­ Sound judgement and ethical decision making  

­ Professional conduct and accountability 

­ Proven time-management skills 

­ Reliable, responsible and team player 

­ Demonstrate professional conduct and accountability  

­ Embrace personal challenge and demonstrate leadership regarding organizational change 

Qualifications

Education and Experience 

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required, a master’s degree is preferred  

• Three (3) or more years’ experience working within an emergency management or other public safety organization is preferred 

• Three (3) or more years’ experience supervising personnel is preferred, especially in completion of objectives under difficult circumstances or potentially hazardous situations 

• One (1) or more years’ experience in a leadership capacity, with or without a formal title, is preferred. 

• Familiarity with the City of Philadelphia is preferred 

• Experience working in outdoor environments, specifically on the scene of emergency incidents, for prolonged periods is preferred 

• Experiencing training or teaching audiences of different ages 

• Experience providing feedback and guidance on work products to others 

• An equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field will be considered with approval by MDO-OEM and the Office of Human Resources. 

 

Licenses, Registrations, and Certification 

• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six months of hire; commercial driver’s license to be pursued after employment 

• Successful completion of FEMA Independent Study courses (IS 100.a, 200.a, 700.a, and 800.b) within first month of appointment. 

• Candidate will have access to secure public safety information.  All selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of placement in this position. 

  

Other requirements 

• OEM personnel are essential, working during states of emergency or other city closures. 

• All OEM personnel are “emergency managers first.” During times of disaster, work assignments and schedules may be altered to meet the incident objectives. 

• Full-time residency within the City of Philadelphia geographic boundaries required within six months of hire.  There are no exceptions to this policy.  

• Ability to physically perform the duties during and outside of normal business hours, to include driving and working outside. 

• Nature of work inherently has risks, certain functions will require the use of various personal protective equipment (PPE) in hazardous situations.  

 

 

 

Additional Information

TO APPLY: Please submit a cover letter, resume, and writing sample.

Salary Range: $68,000 - $71,577

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents.
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

Successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire. 

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670 or send an email to faqpchr@phila.gov.

For more information, go to: Human Relations Website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx