Job description
This State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO) position is the State of Arizona's and agency's sole Subject Matter Expert (SME) for all State and Federal Hazard Mitigation programs. This position assists legislators, attorneys, and executive leadership, as the SME, in the development and writing/rewriting of Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona Administrative Codes, and appropriation bills related to hazard mitigation, as well as the State's response to proposed changes in federal laws/policies/regulations. Independently responsible for managing and administering federal and state hazard mitigation programs, to include but not limited to: FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant program: Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire (HMGP - Post Fire), Safeguarding Tomorrow through On-going Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act, Legislative Pre-Disaster Mitigation (L-PDM), and State sponsored hazard mitigation projects. In addition, this position consults and advises directly with local, State, and federal officials regarding mitigation activities impacting federal and State Public Assistance programs and assists local agencies in developing viable projects. Personally, prepares for anytime (24/7) response and no-notice recalls to the State or Alternate Emergency Operations Center (SEOC), and/or Joint Field Office (JFO), and/or the State Recovery Operations Center (SROC) during disaster or exercise activations. Trains for specific SEOC/SROC positions and performs duties as assigned through internal agency policy.
- Conducts the implementation of all DEMA-managed Hazard Mitigation programs.
- Reviews and interprets federal policy and requirements for hazard mitigation programs.
- Determines, establishes, and enforces State policy and protocols related to hazard mitigation grants.
- Manages federal & State funds for Mitigation. Prepares grant documents, makes State recommendations and approvals.
- Coordinates the use of State inspectors and auditors. Determines eligibility of proposed projects. Perform situational monitoring and status tracking of proposed projects.
- Approves disbursal and payment of State and federal funds.
- Manages the Recovery Mitigation section including oversight of the Mitigation office and final work product(s), and supervision of its staff through regular group meetings and one-on-one interactions.
- Determines and assigns Reservist assignments/hours and approves timecards and billed accounts, in accordance with their submitted hours and recorded daily activity logs.
- Conducts FEMA classes, DEMA classes, mitigation outreach, workshops, Recovery Road Shows, seminars, and internal programmatic training for stakeholders, applicants, and staff.
- Attends national conferences, summits, classes, symposiums, and professional workshops.
- Provides programmatic guidance and technical support to Sub-Applicants.
- Creates and establishes staff proficiency requirements and provides relative training for DEMA-EM staff.
- Liaisons between FEMA, DEMA-EM, and all Sub-Applicants.
- Administers, maintains, and approves State and sub-applicants' access to State and federal systems, including: eCivis, eGrants, FEMA GO, and NEMIS.
- Annually updates and maintains the federally required State Hazard Mitigation Administrative Plan.
- Regularly evaluates, establishes, and manages budget of available management costs.
- Continually evaluates changing conditions and funds availability and determines workload and assignments for staff.
- Initiates and provides outreach, and interfaces with stakeholders, officials and representatives at federal, State and local government levels, and Private Non-Profits in the application and management of multiple Mitigation grant programs.
- Trains for specific SEOC/SROC positions and performs duties as assigned through internal agency policy. May provide technical assistance to the Infrastructure Coordinator and Recovery Branch Manager.
- Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona Administrative Code. Auditing procedures. Federal, State, and local procurement laws, requirements and processes.
- Federal programmatic guidance and regulatory requirements for all federal HMA programs. Financial management.
- Principles and practices of administration, with special reference to organization, fiscal management, strategic planning, control, leadership and supervision, and personnel management and administration.
- Effective methods of organization and planning.
- State government processes including legislative and administrative processes.
- The principles of emergency management, specifically those related to mitigation and the current nationwide trends. Federal laws, acts, rules, policies, codes regarding disaster recovery programs (44CFR, Stafford Act, FEMA policies).
- State statutes, codes regarding disaster recovery programs (Arizona Revised Statutes, AZ Administrative Code).
- Structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
- Business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, procedures for leadership technique, production methods, personnel information systems, and coordination of people and resources.
- Principles and processes for providing customer and personal services; customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and preparing reports.
- Grant concepts, spreadsheets, practices and procedures, report writing, emergency management and grant terminology.
Skilled in:
- Financial skills related to grants management and auditing.
- Evaluating circumstances, analyzing problems, and making quick decisions.
- Preparing budgets and contracts.
- Leading and facilitating committees and work groups.
- Communicating effectively both verbally and in writing. Understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
- Active listening and critical thinking; use logic and reasoning to identify strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
- Providing effective guidance and technical expertise to all levels of government and customers. Interpreting and implementing State and Federal laws, acts, rules, policies, statutes, codes, and regulations.
- Establishing and maintaining effective interpersonal relationships, including dealing professionally with subject matter experts and political figures.
- Anticipate changing customers’ needs and adapt.
- Anticipate and pro-actively respond to stakeholder concerns; use diplomacy and persuasiveness to present program concepts, effective solutions, and plans.
- Leadership that will result in the accomplishment of work products and completed objectives. Facilitate and encourage communication between team members.
- Proficient use of computers, software (Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel) and graphics (PDF). Interpreting, implementing State, Federal laws, acts, rules, policies, statutes, codes, and regulations.
Ability to:
- Manage multiple budgets and funding sources in accordance with State and federal laws and regulations. Provide direction to supervised staff.
- Make critical decisions quickly. Manage time efficiently.
- Anticipate and respond to internal staff and external customer needs.
- Work well in stressful situations.
- Coordinate multiple projects.
- Complete difficult projects in a short time.
- Deal in a positive manner with inter-governmental relationships among local, state, tribal, federal, and private agencies involved in emergency management.
- Conduct analysis and evaluation of program quality and effectiveness, capable of future thinking and planning.
- Conduct policy development, decision making and direction of work activities.
- Manage employees with diverse responsibilities.
- Develop and present instructional programs to political figureheads, emergency management personnel, state/tribal/county/local agencies, volunteer organizations and first responders.
- Combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions, and to make informed decisions to solve problems.
- Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
- Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
- Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
- Establish goals and expectations and manage time effectively.
- Anticipate changing priorities and pro-actively prepare adjustments to schedules; anticipate needs during absences and ensure work responsibilities and commitments will be met.
- Establish and maintain effective relationships; analyze situations accurately and take appropriate action. Interact with diverse audiences and be a team member.
- Coordinate and facilitate activities.
Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities described. The preferred candidate for this position will possess 5+ years’ experience with FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program, to include BRIC, FMA, HMGP, HMGP-Post Fire, STORM and PDM is preferred; in personnel management & project logistics; and/or in grant administration and financial reporting. Experience in eGrants, FEMA GO, NEMIS, and Grants Portal systems is preferred.
- Requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid state issued driver's license. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete a required driver training (See Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12).
- In and Out of State travel required.
- Candidates for this position will be required to pass a criminal background investigation and have identification enabling them to enter federal facilities.
- Sick leave
- Vacation with 10 paid holidays per year
- Health and dental insurance
- Retirement plan
- Life insurance and long-term disability insurance
- Optional employee benefits include short-term disability insurance, deferred compensation plans, and supplemental life insurance.
For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page
Eligible DEMA employees participate in excellent retirement programs provided by the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) and for fire personnel the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS).
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact hr@azdema.gov.
DEMA is a smoke-free work environment.
ADA/EEO Employer
The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity and Reasonable Accommodation Employer
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