Emergency Disaster Services Director

JOB SUMMARY

The Emergency Disaster Services Director (EDS) position is an administrative function of the National Community Relations and Development Department for the express purpose of representing The Salvation Army before national government officials, departments, and agencies, and to specific national voluntary agencies as directed; to keep The Salvation Army vitally engaged in all public policy and legislative matters relating to emergency disaster services; to serve as the National Liaison and support person to the territorial EDS directors with front line involvement in response to all disasters. Frequent distance travel required.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS: This job description should not be interpreted as all-inclusive. It intends to identify the essential functions and requirements of this position. Job-related responsibilities and tasks other than those stated in this job description are required.

• Serves as the national liaison regarding The Salvation Army’s policies and active involvement of Emergency Disaster Services to The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Response Coordination Center (NRCC), American Red Cross, National VOAD, International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, National faith based disaster relief organizations including the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief, Adventist Community Services, Catholic Charities, Feeding America, Lutheran Disaster Response, Mennonite Disaster Services, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA), Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), Send Relief, UMCOR, Christian Relief Cooperative (CRC), Samaritan’s Purse, Billy Graham Association, International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and others.
• Serves as liaison to the territorial EDS coordinators; monitors procedures to ensure that joint territorial efforts are coordinated to achieve a high level of service and efficiency; responds to territorial inquires; mediates between territorial EDS coordinators when necessary; reviews statistics and reports and provides recommendations for administrative approval.
• Represents The Salvation Army on coalitions, committees and task forces that are formed to support or challenge specific legislation that has a direct impact upon Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services.
• Serves as the National Headquarters representative on the National Disaster Services Committee and the National EDS Conference Planning Committee.
• Works with the territorial EDS coordinators to develop and maintain a cadre of Salvation Army staff to be deployed to FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC).
• Works with National legal counsel to facilitate and maintain a strong network of partner agencies for disaster response and process of authorization and enactment of memorandum of understanding (MOUs), standard operation procedures (SOPs) and memorandums of agreements (MOAs) that will document the specific details for each partner relationship.
• Provides a quarterly narrative to the section head which is used in the IHQ report.
• Provides a department brief for the National Chief Secretary (NCS) for the NCS Brief, when necessary.
• Provides effective supervisory leadership to assigned staff, making certain that all personnel policies and procedures are adhered to.
• Reviews and monitors assigned employee performance and conducts annual staff performance evaluations; provides personnel recommendations.
• Manages all national disaster grants and ensures grant compliance.
• Serves as the national coordinator of financial gifts and gifts-in-kind during national disasters.
• Works with NCRD personnel to secure and maintain disaster gifts-in-kind from national donors and partner organizations to manage all gifts-in-kind contributions to ensure contract compliance.
• Works with the National Development Office to submit funding requests for support of emergency disaster services i.e.: Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP), Lilly Endowment, Lowes Foundation, and others.
• Manages the National Disaster Training Program (NDTP); to include management and the long-term implementation of the training program and its objectives across the US in a cooperative alliance with the four territories.
• Keeps the territorial EDS coordinators fully informed on public policy activities related to emergency disaster services.
• Works with the NCRD Department staff in coordinating a strong public relations message and logistical support to the territorial EDS coordinators during times of disaster response.
• Works closely with the NCRD Secretary to administer the affairs of the office within the approved budget; follows prescribed procedures in making authorized expenditures or proposals requiring prior requisitions according to the prevailing NHQ policy. Where non-budgeted expenditures are proposed, submit full details and process such requests for proper authorization before making the expenditure.
• Provides positive supervisory leadership to assigned staff, making certain that all personnel policies and procedures are strictly adhered to.
• Works with the National SATERN Coordinator to ensure smooth operation of the SATERN program.
• Participates on Emergency Disaster Services conference calls (both internal and external) during disaster response activations, especially as they relate to FEMA’s National Response Coordination Center (NRCC).
• Visits disaster sites at the invitation of the territories for first-hand appraisal of The Salvation Army disaster response and recovery activities.

OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES:

This position includes front line involvement at disaster sites as the national Director and support to the territorial EDS coordinators and will require frequent extended distance travel, especially during a major disaster.

Performs other related projects and department work as assigned by the NCRD Secretary.

MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

General Office Equipment Computer Relevant Emergency Disaster Equipment

Congressional Quarterly Federal Register Internet research tools

Legislative research tools Legal libraries Electronic communication tools

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Disaster Management, Public Policy, Public Administration, or other closely related field. Master’s Degree preferred.
2. Five years or more experience in emergency disaster service management.

OR

• Any equivalent combination of training and experience which provides the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to fulfill the specific tasks of this position.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS:

1. A valid driver license
2. Completion of The Salvation Army Disaster Services Training Curriculum (after employment)
3. Train the Trainer Certification (after employment)
4. Completion of The Salvation Army media training program
5. Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) preferred.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Ability to integrate and interpret data from various sources, to plan, develop and implement responsible strategies.
• Ability to interpret multiple pieces of legislative language and to determine the positive and/or negative impact such legislation might have upon The Salvation Army.
• Knowledge of the federal legislative process and the ability to gain access to key government leadership in the House and Senate.
• Knowledge of the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) and ability to identify how the intersects with Salvation Army disaster services and provides opportunity for funding to support corps and divisional programs.
• Ability to communicate effectively with members of Congress, legislative staffers and other governmental and voluntary agency executives.
• Ability to articulate The Salvation Army’s policies and programs, and to be able to interpret accurately the organizations’ critical impact upon American life and values.
• Ability to make sound logical interpretations of established guidelines and regulations quickly.
• Ability to provide calm and logical leadership in the midst of a high stress disaster environment.
• Ability to work cooperatively with supervisors, territorial administrations, national and local advisory board members, territorial and divisional officer and peer staff with minimal conflict.

MENTAL AND PHYSICAL ABILITIES:

• Ability to meet attendance and travel requirements.
• Ability to read, write, and effectively communicate the English language. Spanish skills would be beneficial but not required.
• Ability to exert mental/visual effort required for sustained period of concentration, working under the presence of deadlines and during times of disaster, intense stress.
• Duties are usually preformed seated. Sitting may be relieved by brief or occasional periods of standing or walking.
• Duties of this position require visits to Capitol Hill, which may require utilization of public transportation, extensive walking and extend periods of standing, in order to make Congressional visits or to participate in scheduled meetings and press conferences.

WORKING CONDITIONS

Work is performed primarily in an office environment where there are little or no physical discomforts associated with changes in weather or discomforts associated with noise, dust, dirt, etc.

Occasionally work may be performed at disaster sites with exposure to harmful chemicals, dangerous conditions, extreme temperatures, infectious diseases, etc.

This position holds the potential of exposing the individual to additional elements of the outdoor (heat, wind, rain, cold, snow) by participating in outdoor Capitol Hill press conferences and disaster sites. Visiting disaster sites may require moving into environments that do not have immediate access to food, water, electricity or lodging for extended periods of time.

The Salvation Army reserves the right to revise the job description or require different or additional tasks be performed based on the organization’s need or when circumstances change.

All employees recognize that The Salvation Army is a church and agree that they will do nothing as an employee of The Salvation Army to undermine its religious mission.