A best-in-class city that attracts best-in-class talent, Philadelphia is an incredible place to build a career. From our thriving arts scene and rich history to our culture of passion and grit, there are countless reasons to love living and working here. With a workforce of over 30,000 people, and more than 1,000 different job categories, the City of Philadelphia offers boundless opportunities to make an impact.

As an employer, the City of Philadelphia values inclusion, integrity, innovation, empowerment, and hard work above all else. We offer a vibrant work environment, comprehensive health care and benefits, and the experience you need to grow and excel. If you’re interested in working with a passionate team of people who care about the future of Philadelphia, start here.

What we offer

• Impact - The work you do here matters to millions. 
• Growth - Philadelphia is growing, why not grow with it? 
• Diversity & Inclusion - Find a career in a place where everyone belongs.
• Benefits - We care about your well-being.

Agency Description

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) works to mitigate, plan, and prepare for emergencies; educate the public about preparedness; coordinate emergency response and recovery efforts; and develop tools and identify resources to support the overall preparedness of the City of Philadelphia.

The Public Health Preparedness Manager will manage and coordinate the Office of Emergency Management’s COVID-19 planning and response operations. This position, under the supervision of the Deputy Director, will be responsible for supervising COVID-19 EOC operations, coordinating with OEM staff and partner agencies on active COVID-19 operations, and participating in any future pandemic planning efforts for the City of Philadelphia.  

Essential Functions

• Manage OEM’s pandemic planning and response operations in coordination with public health partners, City departments and other stakeholders.
• Assess OEM’s planning and operations needs and develop a strategy to support a sustained emergency management pandemic operation.
• Develop OEM planning products and standard operating procedures for pandemic response in accordance with emerging best practice and state and federal plans, and in consultation with relevant partners and with OEM’s finance and administration, operations, logistics, planning, and public information sections.  
• Facilitate partnership development between local, state, and federal government as well as private and non-profit sectors.
• Coordinate OEM’s after-action review process for COVID-19 pandemic response (i.e., convene meetings, survey participants, conduct data analysis, write content, coordinate review and approval process);
• Ensure that the major activities of the COVID-19 Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation, pandemic warehousing, and pandemic field services are completed five to seven days per week.
• Directly supervise up to 3 staff members in daily tasks: assign tasks; ensure accountability, ensure completion of necessary documentation; ensure compliance with established safety and security practices; communicate expectations to the team and raise challenges to management; ensure compliance with local, state, and federal guidelines and policies related to the response operation.
• Facilitate meetings, calls, and other collaborative efforts.
• Produce written documents, and verbal and/or visual briefs.
• General project management.
• Fulfill Emergency Operations Center (EOC) roles during activations, including nights and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Strong relationship-building skills
• Effective oral communication skills
• Strong leadership and negotiation skills
• Professional conduct and accountability
• Proven time-management and self-management skills
• Ability to problem solve and work with others under pressure
• Ability to multitask effectively
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and develop partnerships
• Ability to complete tasks and projects in a timely manner
• Ability to contribute and coordinate work in a team

Education and Experience

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college required; a master’s degree preferred.
• Candidates with degrees or backgrounds in planning, public health, disaster management, or related fields are encouraged to apply. 
• 1-3 years of experience working within an emergency management or other public safety organization is preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in project management is preferred.
• 1-3 years experience with technical writing is preferred.
• Experience engaging a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Familiarity with the City of Philadelphia or Southeastern Pennsylvania is preferred.
• Experience developing, training, and exercising tactical plans is preferred. 
• Experience with the National Incident Management System is preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certification

• Possession of a valid proper class motor vehicle operator’s license issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within six months of hire. Commercial driver’s license is preferred.
• Successful completion of FEMA Independent Study courses (IS 100.a, 200.a, 700.a, and 800.b) within first month of appointment.
• Candidate will have access to secure public safety information.  All selected applicants must undergo and successfully complete a background investigation as a condition of placement in this position.

Other requirements

• Work may entail nights, weekends, and holidays with advanced notice.
• OEM personnel are essential, requiring work during states of emergency or other city closures.
• OEM personnel are required to serve periodically in an on-call capacity which may require the following conditions of work: work outside of typical business hours or for extended periods of time; work during states of emergency; work in a field environment, in a 24/7 watch center, or during activations of Philadelphia’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Example on-call work environments include, but are not limited to, scenes with the following conditions: materials that are on fire; utilities that are compromised; compromised structures; scenes near hazardous materials storage that may be compromised; scenes in congregate living settings, or in or near crowds; scenes near downed vegetation or other debris; or scenes near flooding and water-damaged materials. All work is performed while donning a level of personal protective equipment that 1) is recommended by the incident safety officer and 2) for which OEM personnel have received training. Example on-call response tasks include, but are not limited to, the following: working at a computer or with a portable tablet; observing and documenting conditions remotely or in the field; staffing an incident command post; communicating with responders or survivors; operating vehicles up to your licensed class; staffing facilities for survivors; transporting materials; being near a site where a serious injury or loss of life has occurred; sitting, standing, walking, climbing, crawling, or lifting or carrying materials.
• All OEM personnel are “emergency managers first.” During times of disaster, work assignments, schedules, and reporting structures may be altered to meet the incident objectives.
• Full-time residency within the City of Philadelphia geographic boundaries is required within six months of hire.  There are no exceptions to this policy.
• Ability to physically perform the duties during and outside of normal business hours.

Salary: $75,000

Grant funded through June 2023

*The successful candidate must be a city of Philadelphia resident within six months of hire

Please note that effective September 1, 2021 the City of Philadelphia is requiring all new employees to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. 

Did you know?

• We are a Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program qualified employer
• 25% tuition discount program for City employees (and sometimes spouses and dependents as well) in partnership with area colleges and universities
• We offer Comprehensive health coverage for employees and their eligible dependents
• Our wellness program offers eligibility into the discounted medical plan
• Employees receive paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays
• Generous retirement savings options are available

The City of Philadelphia is an Equal Opportunity employer and does not permit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, marital status, source of income, familial status, genetic information or domestic or sexual violence victim status. If you believe you were discriminated against, call the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations at 215-686-4670

 For more information, go to the Human Relations website: http://www.phila.gov/humanrelations/Pages/default.aspx