Job Description

GRANT FUNDED THROUGH 8/31/2024 WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXTENSION

New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM) helps New Yorkers before, during, and after emergencies through preparedness, education, and response. NYCEM is responsible for coordinating citywide emergency planning and response for all types and scales of emergencies. We are staffed by more than 200 dedicated professionals with diverse backgrounds and areas of expertise, including individuals assigned from other City agencies.

The Response Bureau is responsible to monitor incidents throughout the City, alert the public and City agencies, initiate NYCEM response, on-scene coordination and special event planning and coordination. It is comprised of for Watch Command, Field Response Unit, and the Response Support Unit.
The Watch Command unit monitors citywide radio frequencies; local, national, and international media; and weather forecasts 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They function as the central notification point for NYC, transmitting notifications to agencies and Notify NYC messages. Watch Command also dispatches Citywide Interagency Coordinators, deploys the Interagency Communications Vehicle and in support of incident command, dispatches assets, subject matter experts and request additional agency support when necessary.

The Watch Command unit is seeking a Watch Commander to assist in a wide variety of tasks related to teams daily operations. This unit a 24/7/365 unit that works to alert the agency and city officials to monitor various points of communication for situational awareness of incidents that can impact the City and assist our larger Response bureau in responding to those incidents. Under the supervision of the Watch Command Supervisor, with latitude for independent initiative and judgment, the Watch Commander would also perform professional work of varying degrees of difficulty and responsibility.

Duties and Responsibilities
- Monitors multiple sources of information (agency radios, computers, telephones, etc.) for situational awareness of incidents that may adversely impact the city, require a multiagency response, and/or require a NYCEM response.
- Communicates with agencies/organizations to confirm the nature, scope, and impact of incidents.
- Coordinates requests for assistance received from the field.
- Analyzes multiple sources of information, including GIS, to develop a comprehensive operational picture.
- Collects, collates, assembles, and disseminates information.
- Supports communications in the field at large events or incidents.
- Participates in drills and exercises.
- Other duties as assigned by the Deputy Commissioner of Operations or the Director of Watch Command

*PLEASE NOTE: The selected candidate will be assigned to an on-call Emergency Operations Center (EOC) team and will be expected to work non-business hours during some emergencies. These non-business hours include nights, weekends, holidays, and extended week hours outside of a 9AM-5PM schedule. The selected candidate will also participate in trainings to build skills and competencies in emergency response; will participate in drills and exercises associated with the on-call EOC team; and may volunteer to assist with Ready NY emergency preparedness presentations to external groups. EOC teams are on call for three weeks at a time, with six weeks off in between.

Qualifications

1. A master’s degree from an accredited college in emergency management, public administration, urban planning, engineering, economics, political science, the physical sciences or related field and one year of satisfactory full-time professional experience in one or a combination of the following: emergency management, fire, police, or military service, public safety, public health, public administration, urban planning, engineering, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made; or
2. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college and two years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas listed in “1” above; or
3. A four-year high school diploma or its educational equivalent approved by a state’s
department of education or a recognized accrediting organization and six years of satisfactory full-time professional experience in the areas listed in “1” above, at least two years of which must have been in one of those areas, or another specialized area to which the appointment is to be made.

Additional Information

The City of New York is an inclusive equal opportunity employer committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce and providing a work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based upon any legally protected status or protected characteristic, including but not limited to an individual's sex, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, veteran status, gender identity, or pregnancy.