Specialist, Emergency Services

Specialist, Emergency Services

locations

Remote

Full time

Location:Remote

Hiring Range:This positions hiring range is anticipated to be $60,000 to $85,000 annually, depending on experience, plus great benefits!

Interviews will occur weekly until the position is filled.

Summary: The Specialist, Emergency Services assists in the management of programs related to emergency preparedness and response for Best Friends and national shelters across the country. This individual will provide much needed support to aspects of emergency planning and response, providing guidance and support to shelters and emergency management agencies before and after disasters, as well as recruiting, training, coordinating and managing Emergency Response (ER) volunteer teams. This individual will also help to develop related training, establish and update plans, processes and procedures, coordinate drills and exercises, and work with Best Friends and national shelters to implement and maintain emergency readiness.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Program Development & Support 60%

• Support internal Best Friends readiness program with the development of additional plans, training and drills. Assist with the maintenance and operational updates of existing plans. Plan, design, and execute emergency response drills and exercises with input from various departments. Conduct reviews to evaluate plan efficacy and determine areas for improvement.
• Manage and support ER volunteer program by developing training, resources and engagement opportunities, as well as assist in the coordination and management of volunteers during deployments.
• Develop and implement readiness resources and training that can be utilized by shelters and emergency management agencies nationwide to help them partner and better prepare them for emergencies.
• Provide coaching and mentorship to shelters in need, in areas of emergency preparedness, lifesaving transports, pet lifesaving and other areas.
• Develop a robust emergency response transport program that provides ER teams with a chance to participate in more lifesaving transports during disaster responses.
• Work with safety team to stay up to date on regulations and procedures that relate to emergency preparedness and to keep members updated on preparedness efforts.

Operations & Deployment 40%

• Support Emergency response operations, including shelter support deployment occurring anywhere in the country, as needed and when bandwidth allows.
• Serve on an on-call capacity, monitors and supports emergency response and communications for events in and around BF properties and locations. Coordinate with Safety team and others to ensure synchronicity.

Skills and Experience:

• Knowledge and experience in emergency management, or disaster/field response highly preferred.
• Training development and public speaking experience required.
• Experience with managing volunteers required.
• Experience in animal welfare or in a shelter environment highly preferred.
• Experience with coordinating animal transports preferred.
• Plan writing and development experience preferred.
• Exercise development and implementation skills preferred.
• Extensive experience with Microsoft Office programs.

Qualifications:

• Must be able to travel regularly up to 50% in certain months for planning and exercises and to support response operations, when required.
• Must be detail oriented with excellent verbal and written communication and editing skills.
• Must have excellent critical thinking, organizational, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to coordinate and manage teams of people to determine and delegate roles and responsibilities.
• Ability to professionally advocate Best Friends’ positions on issues.

Physical Requirements:

• Extended periods of time working on the computer with repetitive typing, arm and hand motion.
• Ability to be in a shelter environment and work in the presence of both cats and dogs, including large numbers of cats and dogs as in a shelter setting.
• Ability to travel via various forms of transportation.
• Out-of-town travel for the job is expected to range an estimated 50% depending on the location of the jobholder and specific responsibilities and tasks assigned.
• Ability to drive a Best Friends vehicle when necessary.