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

Candidates for this position should possess a strong desire to work in a team-oriented, fast-paced, professional public safety environment, and a willingness to serve the public in the fifth largest city in the nation. The successful candidate for this position will assist with the development, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation of an integrated preparedness program to support the preparedness for and response to emergency incidents in Philadelphia.

Essential Functions

Under the direction of the First Deputy Director, the Health and Medical Planning Program Manager is responsible for a range of activities including, but not limited to, the following:

• Developing comprehensive response plans for a variety of health and medical related issues such as healthcare facility preparedness, disease control and prevention, hazardous materials, weapons of mass destruction, and casualty and fatality management.
• Developing and maintaining partnerships with a variety of stakeholders from local, state and federal government as well as community-based organizations, non-profit organizations and private entities.
• Identifying and collecting resource information and best practices related to but not limited to hospitals, health centers, homecare agencies, emergency medical service providers, long-term care facilities, companies that handle hazardous materials, and local, state, and federal agencies that govern public health and medical services.
• Writing and updating assigned elements of citywide emergency plans for meeting essential healthcare and emergency medical services needs during the preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation phases of emergency management.
• Providing support and coordination for the Philadelphia Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) and the SARA Title III reporting program.
• Writing, maintaining, and updating a complement of documents including, but not limited to project memorandums, citywide emergency plans, and incident action plans.
• Facilitating communication and coordination between agencies involved in emergency response under the direction of designated OEM response team leaders.
• Managing up to one planning coordinator staff to support the planning objectives of the portfolio.
• Successful completion of required courses to gain working knowledge of a variety of healthcare, public health, environmental safety, hazardous material issues and emergency medical services issues, and other fundamentals of the practice of emergency management.
• Conducting special projects.
• Performing other work as required.

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills
• Effective oral and written communication skills
• Strong leadership and negotiation skills
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and develop partnerships
• Ability to coordinate diverse groups toward a common goal
• Ability to contribute and coordinate work in a team
• Ability to problem solve creatively
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a high-pressure work environment
• Ability to complete projects on schedule
• Ability to interpret federal and state emergency management requirements and regulations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access)

Work-Life

Working hours are generally 37.5 hours per week. Our team is currently hybrid with both virtual and in-office days, however the position can opt to come in the office each day if desired. OEM personnel will be required to serve in an on-call capacity which may require work outside of typical business hours, for extended periods of time, during states of emergency, in a field environment, in the 24/7 watch center, and during activations of Philadelphia’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Example environments include but are not limited to scenes where materials are on fire, around compromised utilities, around compromised structures, near hazardous materials storage that may be compromised, in congregate living settings, in/near crowds, near downed vegetation or other debris, or near flooding and water-damaged materials. All work will be performed while donning a level of personal protective equipment recommended by the incident safety officer and that you are trained on.

Example tasks include working at a computer, observing and documenting conditions, 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/carrying materials. OEM personnel are essential workers.

Education and Experience

• Completion of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college required.
• Candidates with degrees or backgrounds in emergency management, public health, social work or human services organization is preferred.
• Experience working within an emergency management, public health, social work or human services organization is preferred.
• Familiarity with Philadelphia geographic area is preferred.

Licenses, Registrations, and Certification

• 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.
• OEM personnel are essential, and 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.
• 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 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 while in or outdoors.

TO APPLY: Interested candidates must submit a cover letter, writing sample and resume.

Salary Range: Starting at $75,000 - Commensurate with education and experience

Discover the Perks of Being a City of Philadelphia Employee:

• Transportation: City employees get unlimited FREE public transportation all year long through SEPTA’s Key Advantage program. Employees can ride on SEPTA buses, subways, trolleys, and regional rail for their daily commute and more.
• Parental Benefits: The City offers its employees 6 weeks of paid parental leave.
• 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
• Pay off your student loans faster - As a qualifying employer, City of Philadelphia employees are eligible to participate in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Join the ranks of hundreds of employees who have already benefited from this program and achieved student loan forgiveness.
• Unlock Tuition Discounts and Scholarships - The City of Philadelphia has forged partnerships with over a dozen esteemed colleges and universities in the area, ensuring that our employees have access to a wide range of tuition discounts and scholarships. Experience savings of 10% to 40% on your educational expenses, extending not only to City employees but in some cases, spouse and dependents too!

Join the City of Philadelphia team today and seize these incredible benefits designed to enhance your financial well-being and personal growth!

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

Effective May 22, 2023, vaccinations are no longer required for new employees that work in non-medical, non-emergency or patient facing positions with the City of Philadelphia. As a result, only employees in positions providing services that  are patient-facing medical care (ex: Nurses, doctors, emergency medical personnel), must be fully vaccinated.

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 or send an email to [email protected].

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