Unit Chief, Watch Commander

Job Title
Unit Chief, Watch Commander

Agency
Texas Division of Emergency Management

Department
Special Projects Section

Proposed Minimum Salary
$9,646.88 monthly

Job Location
Austin, Texas

Job Type
Staff

Job Description

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

The Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) is an emergency response entity, and this status can affect working hours, travel and changes in duties as needed. Performs complex (journey-level) managerial work administering of the State Operations Center Watch Section of TDEM. Work involves establishing goals and objectives; developing guidelines, procedures, policies, rules, and regulations; developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating business function, division, or department activities; developing and evaluating budget requests. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Performs disaster response coordination work in the Watch during periods of increased readiness levels, weekends, and holidays, the position will be assigned 24/48 hr. Shifts. Works under minimal supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Must carry and use agency assigned cellular phone to be available to TDEM leadership and direct reports when immediate contact is required. This position supervises the Watch Supervisors.

This position reports to the Section Chief, Special Projects.

This position is considered at-will status and serves at the discretion of the head of the agency.

*Salary is a fixed rate.

*This position is located on-site and not subject to telecommuting.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage activities of section staff within the Watch of TDEM.
• May operates as a SOC Manager on duty, day or night.
• Provide support for P-Card transactions.
• Provide support for Concur travel.
• Oversee the preparation of management and productivity reports and studies.
• Oversee special investigations, program analyses, research studies, and internal audits.
• Establish goals and objectives; develops and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and manages evaluation activities.
• Develop and implement techniques for evaluating business functions or division or department activities.
• May develop and evaluate budget requests, monitors budget and grant expenditures, and makes adjustments as necessary.
• Plan, implement, coordinate, monitor, and evaluate policies and procedures, and monitor compliance with policies and procedures.
• Identify areas of needed change and make recommendations to improve operations.
• Provide technical guidance for a business function, division, or department.
• Represent the business function, division, or department at meetings, hearings, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees.
• May manage programs focusing on continuous process improvement.
• Manages staff development plans and activities.
• Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others.
• Conducts and prepares performance evaluations; takes or recommends appropriate disciplinary action when needed and guides the professional development of assigned employees.
• Face-to-face and person-to-person interactions are required.
• Maintains a regular course of attendance during authorized work schedule and work extended hours when needed.
• Ability to travel 25%.
• Performs related work as assigned.

This document represents the major duties, responsibilities, and authorities of this job, and is not intended to be a complete list of all tasks and functions. Other duties may be assigned.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Education - Bachelor's degree in an applicable field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Experience - Minimum of seven (7) years' progressively responsible experience in program or business management of a metropolitan, state or public sector, or a military or large-scale industrial organization. One (1) or more years of direct supervisory or management experience.

Preference - Five (5) years of operations in an operations center at metropolitan, state, military or large-scale industrial organization.

*Additional relevant work experience may be substituted for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. Thirty (30 semester hours are equivalent to one (1) year of experience. A completed advanced degree in a relevant field may also be substituted in lieu of work experience.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Working knowledge of, or the ability to rapidly assimilate information related to TDEM, Texas A&M University System, state and federal regulations, legislation, guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory methods and principles, performance, and productivity standards. Able to develop plans, policies, and procedures for efficient workflow and overall effectiveness. Must exhibit integrity; provide clear direction to subordinates; promote teamwork and be able to motivate others to accomplish goals.
• Ability to exercise poise, tact, diplomacy, and an ability to establish and maintain positive, working/professional relationships with internal/external customers.
• Must be organized, flexible, and able to effectively prioritize in a multi-demand and constantly changing environment; able to meet multiple and sometimes conflicting deadlines without sacrificing accuracy, timeliness, or professionalism.
• Must be able to construct and deliver clear, concise, and professional presentations to a variety of audiences and/or individuals.
• Must demonstrate ability to quickly and efficiently access relevant information and be able to utilize and/or present research and conclusions in a clear and concise manner.
• Must demonstrate an ability to examine data/information, discern variations/similarities, and be able identify trends, relationships, and causal factors, as well as grasp issues, draw accurate conclusions, and solve problems.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook). Must be able to learn new software/systems.
• Ability to responsibly handle sensitive and confidential information and situations and adhere to applicable laws/statutes/policies related to access, maintenance, and dissemination of information.
• Availability for after-hour, weekends and holiday work is required during increases in the SOC's readiness levels for disaster response operations.

REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION OR LICENSURE:

Complete and obtain certification in IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, IS-800 Professional Development Series or Emergency Management Professionals Program Basic Academy FEMA courses within twelve (12) months of employment and any other training as determined.

*Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed at: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions

*Resumes are not accepted in lieu of an application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution's verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution's procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Veterans/Disability Employer.