Tsunami/Earthquake program assistant

Under the supervision of the Mitigation & Recovery Section Manager, is responsible for providing professional level emergency management assistance in the implementation of the statewide Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano program.

Agency overview

The Washington Military Department has four major operational divisions; Army National Guard, Air National Guard, Emergency Management Division, and the Washington Youth Academy. These divisions utilize state and federal resources to perform homeland defense, homeland security, emergency mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery activities, and education services for at-risk youth. The Military Department's state budget consists of 330 FTE's and a total biennial operating and capital budget of $377 Million. The Department has a strong culture of service. Our mission is to protect the citizens of Washington, their property and the environment on a twenty-four hour a day basis and to provide trained military units in support of civil authorities for domestic emergencies and in support of federal combatant commanders for national defense and homeland security missions.

Duties

Provides professional level emergency management assistance in the implementation of the statewide Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano Program.

Program assistance:

- Assists in all aspects of program/project management for the programs.
- Analyzes strategic policy issues for possible implementation in the programs.
- Assists professional staff with local jurisdictions on the logistics of the All Hazards Alert Broadcast (AHAB) system and installation activities statewide.

Grants/ Contracts/Budgets:

- Reviews payment requests for eligibility and calculations, verifies as appropriate, that all grant/contract funding conditions are met.
- Prepares grant payments and funding approval spreadsheets.
- Assists in grant close-out, sub-recipient monitoring activities and equipment purchasing.
- Assists in the monitoring of the Earthquake/Tsunami/Volcano program budget. Responsible for accurately creating, tracking, reconciling and reporting requirements.

Presentations/Public Education:

- In coordination with professional level staff, provides public education and outreach training to tsunami at-risk communities.
- Prepares and presents briefing materials for various meetings, trainings and public education activities. Represents the Tsunami Program Manager at events with local jurisdictions, tribes and other state agencies.

Qualifications

Required

- A Bachelor's Degree; OR
- Professional level experience in emergency management, financial management (grant, contracting, claims management, budgeting), training/education, public information/affairs, program/project management, environmental analysis or planning, civil/structural engineering, legislative affairs, and/or urban planning will substitute, year for year, for education.
- Experience working in an emergency management organization at or above the Office Assistant Senior or equivalent level will substitute, year for year, for education.
- One year of experience in one or more of the following. This experience may be gained concurrently with the experience listed above.
- Use of spreadsheet software, such as Microsoft Excel, to create and manipulate large or complex spreadsheets, use complex mathematical formulas to calculate data, and link worksheets. Import data from other sources, filter lists, and create and format charts and graphs.
- Grant or contract management to include experience assisting in the development, negotiation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of grants/contracts for federal, state, local governments, or private entities.

Desired skills and abilities

- Handle highly stressful or adverse situations, making good decisions, working calmly and accurately, and helping calm others.
- Prioritize and perform multiple tasks in the same timeframe, handle interruptions appropriately, and return to incomplete tasks.
- Listen attentively, identify issues, provide options, fulfill services, and/or exercise knowledge of laws and regulations to assist others and/ or resolve complaints or conflicts.
- Utilize good verbal and written communication skills that is appropriate to both the complexity of the topic and the knowledge and understanding while presenting the Department at professional and public forums.
- Use data and information to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, form conclusions, and make decisions.
- Develop and maintain tracking systems for grants.
- Independently analyze complex problems and judge best solution or action to resolve or respond to difficult situations.
- Use Microsoft Office Suite (including Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook, or similar software) to develop complex documents and presentations in support of program objectives.