City of New York

Job Description

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM is responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all types and scales of emergencies. We are staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including individuals assigned from other City agencies.

The Watch Command unit monitors Citywide radio frequencies; local, national, and international media; and weather forecasts 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They function as the central notification point for NYC, transmitting notifications to agencies and Notify NYC messages. Watch Command also dispatches Citywide Interagency Coordinators, deploys the Interagency Communications Vehicle and in support of incident command, dispatches assets, subject matter experts and request additional agency support when necessary.

The City of New York is susceptible to a broad range of weather hazards including, but not limited to, flash flooding, heat waves, coastal storms, winter weather, and severe convective events. In order to enhance the City’s emergency readiness efforts, NYCEM is seeking a highly trained, skilled, and experienced meteorologist to support on-going situational awareness and analysis of near-term weather threats, provide decision support to agency and City leadership during weather emergencies, provide real-time information during responses to non-natural emergencies, provide expert support on weather hazards for emergency planning, and conduct research and analysis into weather and climactic hazards.

Job responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Working closely with Watch Command staff to produce written and graphical reports, presentations, and briefing documents for NYCEM leadership, City leadership, and partner agencies to provide situational awareness and support operational decision-making.
• Designing and developing strategies and initiatives to promote and improve access to decision-grade weather and climate tools and dashboards.
• Driving capacity building by developing and implementing weather-related trainings for agency staff who are responsible for creating and disseminating situational awareness reports and coordinating NYCEM’s weather response.
• Serving in an on-call role to support the Emergency Operations Center and Watch Command, leading up to and during impactful weather and City-sponsored/supported events.
• Serving as the agency liaison with federal, state, and private sector weather agencies, including the National Weather Service, the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center, and contracted weather vendors.
• Working with contracted weather vendor as needed. May also supervise additional staff, including detailed staff from NWS, interns or fellows.
• Maintaining a deep understanding of all National Weather Service products, services, data sources, hazard definitions, and tools with a particular focus on those that are relevant to New York City including, coastal flooding, areal flooding, flash flooding, wind, NEXRAD/Doppler Radar, tropical products, hysplit and other dispersion models, winter precipitation, heat index, and convection.
• Coordinating within NYCEM and with partner agencies on the development and implementation of natural hazard tools, emergency plans and protocols to optimize operational planning and decision-making.
• Other duties as assigned, which may include establishing and assisting in managing programs and special projects to enhance existing and future weather and climate-related adaptation, mitigation, and readiness efforts.

PREFERRED SKILLS

• Strong interpersonal and supervisory skills.
• Strong analytical skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications ( Word, Excel, Access, and PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with GIS (geographic information systems) helpful.
• Strong project management skills.
• Strong writing and communications skills.
• Experience with public safety communications systems.
• Strong understanding of National Weather Service (NWS) products and hazard definitions.
• Ability to work in dynamic, high-stress environments.

In addition, the selected candidate will be able to demonstrate a proven ability in the following areas, from the agency’s performance management model:

Competencies:

o Knowledge – possesses appropriate subject matter expertise.

o Work Ethic and Productivity – produces consistently high quality, accurate, and on-time deliverables; takes responsibility, is dependable, and accountable, and follows through; is responsive to requests from leadership.

o Strategic Problem Solving and Innovation – is thoughtful and deliberate in approach to solving problems; demonstrates innovation and creative thinking.

o Effective Communication – communication is clear, precise, and timely; understands their audience and display confidence in delivering their message.

o Teamwork – encourage collaboration and motivate others; is able to both lead and follow when necessary; is an active listener and consider a broad range of perspectives.

• Studies have shown that women, people of color, and other under-represented groups are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they are able to perform every task in the job description. We are interested in finding the best candidate for the job and will consider any equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education and experience to meet qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role.**
• PLEASE NOTE THE FOLLOWING:
• The selected candidate will be expected to work non-business hours during some emergencies. These non-business hours include nights, weekends, holidays, and extended week hours outside of a 9AM-5PM schedule. The selected candidate will also participate in trainings to build skills and competencies in emergency response; will participate in drills and exercises associated with the on-call EOC team; and may volunteer to assist with Ready NY emergency preparedness presentations to external groups. EOC teams are on call for three weeks at a time, with six weeks off in between.
• Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without employer support to be eligible for selection.
• IN ORDER TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS JOB, PLEASE SUBMIT A SEPARATE COVER LETTER IN THE ATTACHMENTS SECTION OF THE APPLICATION PORTAL.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SPECIAL - 94612

Qualifications

1. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state's department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and six years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: emergency management, fire, police, or military service, public safety, public health, public administration, urban planning, engineering, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made; or

2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full time professional experience in the areas listed in "1" above; or

3. A master's degree from an accredited college in emergency management, public administration, urban planning, engineering, economics, political science, the physical sciences ,or related field and one year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas listed “1" above, at least two years of which must have been in one of those areas, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made.

4. Education and/or experience equivalent to "1", "2", or "3" above. However, all candidates must have a four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent.

Special Note:

To be eligible for placement in Assignment Level II, individuals must have, after meeting the minimum requirements, one additional year of professional experience as described in ""1"" above.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.