Emergency Management Specialist

Overview

Part-Time Emergency Management Specialist (20 hours a week). The City of Bloomington invites diverse talent to join our team and help advance our mission focusing on economic vitality, attainable housing, public safety, progress partnerships, inclusion, open government, sustainability, transportation, and quality of place. The specialist leads the city’s preparedness by developing and coordinating all-hazard emergency plans, training, and exercises, creating and maintaining building-level emergency plans, advising on necessary building modifications, conducting risk assessments, and working with city departments to enhance resilience and response capabilities.

During emergencies, the specialist provides operational support and assists in coordinating response efforts.

• Works to ensure building-level preparedness for emergencies, including but not limited to City Hall, City of Bloomington Utilities facilities and plants, Public Works facilities, Parks facilities, and other city buildings.
• Provides expert analysis, development, and continuous improvement of all-hazard emergency response and continuity plans across the city and organizational levels.
• Maintains an ongoing process for assessing natural, technological, and human‑caused hazards; identifies vulnerabilities; and recommends mitigation strategies.
• Serves in a leadership or command role during emergency incidents, coordinating response efforts and supporting the restoration of normal operations.
• Designs, coordinates, and evaluates drills, tabletop exercises, and functional exercises to ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Prepares and provides emergency preparedness and response training for city personnel, including departments, staff, elected officials and offices, and designated emergency roles.
• Tracks city preparedness efforts and response activities and communicates status updates, findings, and recommendations to executive leadership.
• Collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as city departments, to ensure alignment with best practices, standards, and coordinated emergency management efforts.

• Researches and recommends funding or grant opportunities; supports initiatives that enhance emergency preparedness, resilience, innovation, and safety capabilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Public Administration, Environmental Health & Safety, Homeland Security, or a related field, or equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Required at least two years of experience in emergency management, disaster planning, public safety, or a related operational field.
• Knowledge of emergency management principles, including the NIMS/ICS framework and FEMA guidelines.
• Experience developing or implementing emergency plans, training, drills, or exercises.
• Ability to analyze hazards, assess risks, and recommend mitigation or preparedness strategies.
• Knowledge of standard office software and the ability to learn emergency management systems or tools.
• Must be able to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours as needed.
• Must be able to pass background checks required for working in emergency management/public safety environments.

The incumbent must have advanced knowledge of emergency management principles, risk assessment, and incident command, and will work independently to plan, coordinate, and implement activities. The role balances multiple projects, priorities, and stakeholders, often under tight deadlines or high‑stress situations. The position may require extended hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, particularly during emergency events or critical incidents. The incumbent may be exposed to stressful or high‑pressure situations during emergency response or disaster events and must be able to access and operate in Emergency Operations Centers and field locations during drills or real incidents.

This position typically works 20 hours a week.

The incumbent must establish and maintain effective interpersonal relationships to carry out emergency preparedness,…