Special Assistant

Description Duties Description Under the general supervision of the Director State Office of Emergency Management, this position is responsible for establishing and maintaining working relationships with local, and county elected officials as well as public safety partners. Assistant Commissioners provide regional leadership, coordination, and communication support before, during, and after emergencies and potential emergency situations. The candidates must be self-starters and have the ability to build collaborative relationships with external partners. Based upon the nature of this work, the acceptable candidate must be available to deploy and provide executive level briefs on a 24 hour/7 day-a-week basis.

This position serves as a member of the New York State Executive Regional Emergency Response Team, coordinating DHSES emergency services field forces during regional team activations and works with external public safety agencies. Day to day, the Assistant Commissioner will attend regional public safety meetings, build collaborative relationships, gather data for statistical analysis, create and review policies and procedures and assist with the completion of strategic management plan goals. The Assistant Commissioner will serve as the Deputy Commissioner Emergency Services/Director State Office of Emergency Management’s regional executive liaison.

Duties may include, but not be limited to the following:

• Advise the Emergency Services Executive staff regarding external Public Safety issues.
• Support Mass Gathering planning efforts in cooperation with local Public Safety responders.
• Develop and deliver reports, briefings, presentations, and related materials as appropriate.
• Represent DHSES Executive staff at meetings, seminars, research groups, community events and other venues as directed.
• Develop and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships with internal and external agency partners and community representatives.
• Travel throughout New York State will be required.

NOTE: Support of operations during times of emergency and disaster from State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), state field offices and/or local deployments may be required, which would result in a change and/or increase in working hours, locations and/or duties.

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications Must have a minimum of 15 years of relevant emergency management experience in a police, fire, or other first responder agency. A bachelor’s degree may substitute for four years of experience.

Must have demonstrated ability to interact with relevant stakeholders, including during time of an emergency, including members of the public, Federal, State, County, and Local first responders, and emergency management officials, public/elected officials, and the media.

Ability to manage and lead high profile projects and programs.

Ability to respond to Executive and external stakeholder requests for information during ongoing operations. Must have excellent communication skills, good judgment, and ability to prioritize.

Must have emergency communications administration and management experience, including knowledge of public safety functions and public safety communication’s environment, demands, requirements, procedures, and systems; and

Must have demonstrated experience working with counterterrorism and anti-terrorism professionals and organizations.

Additional Comments NOTE: Support of operations during times of emergency and disaster from State Emergency Operations Center (EOC), state field offices and/or local deployments may be required, which would result in a change and/or increase in working hours, locations and/or duties.

NOTE ON TELECOMMUTING: Employees are required to apply and obtain approval through management to telecommute according to the agency’s Telecommuting Program Guidelines.

This position is eligible for location pay of $4,000.

The Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES) is an equal opportunity employer.

In accordance with the NYS Human Rights Law, DHSES does not discriminate based upon age, race, creed, color, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, military or veteran status, sex, disability (including pregnancy-related conditions), predisposing genetic characteristics, familial status, marital status or status as a victim of domestic violence, or …