On-Site Work Statement:

This is an on-site/in-person work opportunity.

Marketing Statement:

If you have extensive experience in emergency management, incident command and safety oversight, Metro invites you to apply to become the next Senior Director of Emergency Preparedness. The Senior Director leads three functions: Response & Recovery Coordination, which provides 24/7 safety oversight coverage in the Integrated Command and Communications Center as well as specialist support to incident commanders on scene of serious or complex incidents across the Metrorail, Metrobus and MetroAccess networks; the agency's Fire Marshal who provides subject matter oversight to capital projects and day-to-day operations; Prevention & Mitigation, which proactively identifies and mitigates safety risks related to emergency response and coordination. Metro's Office of Emergency Preparedness sits within the Department of Safety and Readiness so the incumbent collaborates closely with Safety colleagues, and other Safety & Readiness teams in Health & Wellness, Quality and Training, while working hand-in-hand with operations departments including Metro Transit Police. The Senior Director is comfortable working in a large, complex operational environment, and is a collaborative influencer, able to build strong relationships to ensure improvement across the whole agency. Metro welcomes applications from a broad range of backgrounds and experience s.

Minimum Qualifications

Education

• A Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Business Management, Public Administration or a related field
  • In lieu of a bachelor's degree, a high school diploma or GED and four (4) years of frontline experience in emergency management for a large organization. The candidate will also need to satisfy the experience requirement referenced below

Experience

• Minimum of ten (10) years of increasing supervisory/managerial responsibility in emergency management, crisis management, risk management, program management and/or business continuity and recovery in operationally complex organizations.

Certification/Licensure

• Valid motor vehicle operator's license from the jurisdiction of residence

Preferred

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Business Management, Public Administration, or a related field
• Advanced certification in the field of Emergency Management (e.g. IAEM)
• Applied knowledge, experience or certification in Program Management, Safety Management Systems, Systems Engineering, Change Management and Just Culture
• Completed FEMA Incident Management training (e.g. NIMS 100a, 200a, 700a, 800b)
• Knowledge of transit operations and relevant emergency management principles, risks and strategies in a transit or transportation operating environment

Medical Group

Satisfactorily complete the medical examination for this position, if required. The incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of this position either with or without reasonable accommodations.

Job Summary

The Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) mission is a 24/7/365 commitment to preventing, mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from planned and unplanned events. This function requires around-the-clock dedication. The Senior Director, OEP serves as a key member of the leadership team established to implement a robust Safety Management System (SMS), working in strategic partnership with Metro's executive and senior management teams to ensure that OEP is meeting the enduring needs of our partners.

The incumbent is responsible for leading OEP, which includes a team of subject matter experts tasked with design, development and execution of agency-wide emergency preparedness plans, oversight of emergency response and recovery activities, and fire life safety programs in coordination with internal departments, and federal, state and local response agencies.

The incumbent will be a strategic leader who is capable of assessing the current state of emergency preparedness and response management, determining the ideal future state, and formulating the action plans required to realize the vision established. This includes continually evaluating the OEP organization and positioning the team to succeed. The incumbent will need to establish and manage working relationships with many internal partners as well as representatives from many external governmental and non-governmental organizations. The incumbent's managerial skillset includes the ability to manage a wide range of complex programs and commitments with a proven record of delivering results on time, within budget, and in collaboration with multiple departments.

Essential Functions

• Provides visionary leadership, strategic direction, and operational management to effectively address the Authority's goals for a comprehensive emergency preparedness and crisis management strategy that satisfies the highest standards, international best practices, and the business needs of one of the largest and high profile transit systems in the United States.
• Leads, manages, and directs the Authority's emergency preparedness and management functions, and the programs, policies, plans and initiatives that emergency management personnel are responsible for delivering. Recruits, trains, directs, and manages emergency management personnel.
• Responsible for effective coordination between all departments in preparation for and during emergencies/crises. Develops and implements strategic initiatives addressing long-term emergency preparedness needs to support the readiness of the agency to respond to emergency incidents, in coordination with multiple agencies across the region.
• Plans, develops and implements training, testing and exercise programs to educate and prepare internal and external senior leaders and frontline responders to emergency incidents including Authority executives, managers, and employees along with jurisdictional response agencies.
• Oversees the Authority's system to collect, organize, analyze, track and report on the organization's ability to respond to emergencies and crises safely and efficiently. This may include identifying metrics, designing reporting systems and feedback loops, providing training and coaching on how to conduct after action reviews, etc. The ultimate objective of these activities is to drive a process of continual improvement and risk mitigation for emergency management. In doing so, plays a lead role in driving forward the corporate SMS.
• Establishes, builds, and maintains relationships with regional governmental, federal and community officials and organizations on emergency management coordination efforts, information sharing, and special events/exercises. Represents the Authority on a wide range of internal and external emergency management activities, committees, task forces, teams and meetings.
• Oversees the budget for the Authority's emergency management program and assesses, evaluates, and proposes funding levels, requirements, and sources for program enhancement and improvements.

The essential duties listed are not intended to limit specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Nor is it intended to limit in any way the right of managers and supervisors to assign, direct and control the work of employees under their supervision.

Evaluation Criteria

Consideration will be given to applicants whose resumes demonstrate the required education and experience. Applicants should include all relevant education and work experience.

Evaluation criteria may include one or more of the following:

• Skills and/or behavioral assessment
• Personal interview
• Verification of education and experience (including certifications and licenses)
• Criminal Background Check (a criminal conviction is not an automatic bar to employment)
• Medical examination including a drug and alcohol screening (for safety sensitive positions)
• Review of a current motor vehicle report

Closing

WMATA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by applicable federal law.

This posting is an announcement of a vacant position under recruitment. It is not intended to replace the official job description. Job descriptions are available upon confirmation of an interview.