Emergency Planning Coordinator

Job Description:

Emergency Planning Coordinator

Description

JOIN THE CITY OF AUSTIN TEAM

At the City of Austin, we are more than just an employer-we are a vibrant community dedicated to shaping one of the nation's most dynamic and innovative cities. As we strive to fulfill our commitment as public servants, it is important that we ground our efforts in a set of guiding principles - Empathy, Ethics, Excellence, Engagement, and Equity - anchors in delivering services that significantly impact the lives of Austinites. Joining the City of Austin means embarking on a purposeful career, contributing to the community, and being part of a forward-thinking organization that values every employee.

What Makes the City of Austin Special?

• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
• Value and Innovation : Work in an environment where employees are valued and innovation thrives.
  
• Competitive Benefits : Enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes generous leave, work-life balance programs, and extensive benefits.
  
• Retirement Security : Plan for the future with the City of Austin Employees' Retirement System.
  
• Sustainable Transportation Options : Commute easily with access to public transit and bike-friendly infrastructure.
  
• Focus on Wellness : Stay healthy through wellness programs, on-site fitness centers, and mental health support.
  
• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
• Modern Workspaces : Work in innovative and sustainable environments that foster collaboration and inspiration.
  

By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Job Description:

Emergency Planning Coordinator

Purpose:

Under general direction, ensures operational readiness and designs response procedures to ensure the effective mobilization of protective, safety, and relief services in emergencies or disasters.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

• Assists in the development of short- and long-term planning goals and objectives for the department.
  
• Identifies capability gaps and identifies funding opportunities for solutions.
  
• Oversees and coordinates Continuity of Operations (COOP) planning.
  
• Participates in Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, emergency drills and exercises.
  
• Attends meetings with City of Austin Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM), Capital Area Council of Governments (CAPCOG), and other partner agencies.
  
• Assists in the development and maintenance of cooperative agreements with other organizations as needed.
  
• Participates in the maintenance and renewals of interlocal agreements when needed.
  
• Participates in hazard material incident cost recovery as needed.
  
• Ensures the operational readiness of special operations systems. Represents special operations at meetings, exercises, and conferences. Works cooperatively with special operations staff.
  
• Develops, writes, and publishes operating manuals, technical reports, and training materials.
  
• Participates in the grant process, including grant planning, application, and implementation.
  
• May participate in specification, calibration, maintenance, networking, tracking, retiring, and replacing of hazard material technical equipment.
  

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• May provide leadership, work assignments, evaluation, and guidance to others.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of Incident Command Systems.
  
• Knowledge of the development and coordination of emergency planning, techniques for evaluating emergency response procedures, business continuity standards, and best practices.
  
• Knowledge of technical equipment capabilities, maintenance requirements, sampling processes, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws and ordinances emergency response.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software applications.
  
• Skill in using and networking technical equipment.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing.
  
• Skill in negotiating common practices between stakeholders and other emergency agencies.
  
• Skill in maintaining productive relationships with internal and external customers and stakeholders.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to train others.
  
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  
• Ability to exercise good judgment, tact, and diplomacy in all public dealings to include presentations.
  
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the job, plus four (4) years of experience in emergency response or planning.
  
• One (1) additional year of experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

Class C Texas Driver’s License

Preferred Qualifications:

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
  
• Experience developing and implementing safety protocols, conducting risk assessments, and leading safety initiatives.
  
• Experience in auditing and managing local, state, and federal safety compliance for multiple locations.
  
• Experience with a wide variety of safety programs (i.e. COOP, Hazard Communication, JHA, Confined Space, injury/vehicle accident prevention and investigations, and ergonomic assessments).
  
• Experience representing the department/organization in internal, external, and committee meetings.
  
• Experience creating, facilitating, and managing safety trainings and assessments, conducting trend analysis, tracking, and leading safety-related training to employees at all levels.
  
• Demonstrated ability to work with different leadership styles, diverse and/or complex organizational issues, and people of diverse backgrounds.
  
• Experience overseeing driver safety programs.
  
• Experience handling Workers Compensation cases.
  
• Proficiency with computers and experience using Microsoft Office (i.e. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
  
• Ability to respond to emergency events impacting the department and the organization.
  
• Ability to travel to more than one work location.
  

Notes to Candidate:

The Emergency Planning Coordinator is dedicated to managing, leading, and ensuring the safety of all individuals across the Austin Public Libraries. They play a pivotal role in developing and implementing safety protocols, conducting risk assessments, leading safety initiatives, and fostering a culture of safety awareness. Their responsibilities will encompass overseeing safety training, performing regular inspections, and effectively responding to any safety concern(s) that may arise.

Work Location:

Austin Central Library - 710 West Cesar Chavez St., 78702

Salary Range:

$71,630 to $90,980 annually

Hours:

Exempt/Full Time/40 hours per week

• Ability to respond to after-hours emergencies.
  
• Hours and shifts may vary to include weekends, holidays, and extended shifts.
  
• Hours subject to change based upon Library needs.
  

To view the City of Austin recruitment video, please click here.

Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits, such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, training opportunities, and more. Please click HERE for more information.

Application Information:

• A detailed, complete COA employment application is REQUIRED. It helps us to better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine your salary if you are selected for this position.
  
• Please be sure to provide a COMPLETE and detailed employment history, including all previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications.
  
• For each position, please describe your specific experience as it relates to the minimum and preferred qualifications.
  
• Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  

• Please understand that your job application, cover letter, and resume will be used to measure or assess your written communication skills, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling, in helping us screen applications and determine candidates to be interviewed.
  

Note: A cover letter and/or resume will NOT be used to substitute for an incomplete job application.

Additional Information:

• TRAVEL: If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.
  

• All new employees are required to attend City of Austin and Austin Public Library training as scheduled and should arrange their outside schedules to accommodate such training.
  

• This posting may be used to fill additional vacancies of the same job title that may become vacant. The additional vacancies may include a difference in work location, workweek hours, and schedule. Filling additional vacancies from this posting is based on the business needs of the department.
  

E ssential Personnel :

• This has been designated as an Essential Employee position. In the event of a city-designated extraordinary situation or emergency condition, essential employees provide services that impact the public health, safety, utility services, and welfare of members of the Austin community and other employees, as well as ensure the continuity of essential operations. Essential Employees may be called back in during such events, required to modify their schedule, assigned to a City -designated work site, or retained on-site to assist with operations and recovery.
  

Driving Requirements:

• This position requires a Valid Texas Class C Driver’s License or the ability to acquire one within 90 days of your hire date. External New Hires must meet the City of Austin’s Driver Record Evaluation (DRE) requisite . To be considered for a driving position, applicants cannot have more than three moving violations or a total of six Driver Record Evaluation points within a period of thirty-six (36) months.
  

If Selected as a Top Candidate:

• Verification of the minimum qualifications (Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in a field related to the job, plus four (4) years of experience in emergency response or planning. One (1) additional year of experience may substitute for one (1) year of the required education with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.) will be required. You must provide proof of education from an accredited organization/institute.
  

• Veteran candidates will be required to provide a copy of their DD-214
  

Language:

• Must have the ability to read, write, and speak fluently in English.
  

Important note to applicants:

The Austin Public Library reserves the right to close posted positions prior to the advertised close date, based on recruitment strategies and business needs.

Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-03-19