DEPT OF EMERGENCY AND MILITARY AFFAIRS

Papago Park Military Reservation (PPMR), Phoenix, AZ

Salary: $26.9701 - $42.0000 per hour (DOE) 

Grade: 24

Closing Date: November 25, 2025

This position oversees four statewide programs and is the lead for all offsite response for a Palo Verde incident: Radiological Emergency Preparedness Program (REPP); Energy Assurance; Improvised Nuclear Device, Radiological Dispersal Device, and Radiological Exposure Device Preparedness and Planning; and the Arizona Preventative Radiological and Nuclear Detection Program. The programs require continuous interface with executive leadership and senior management partners at all levels of government and within the private sector across Arizona and on a national level. This position manages three full-time coordinator level positions, two programmatic reservists/part-time staff, and up to 50 HAZMAT response personnel. Trains for specific SEOC positions and performs duties as assigned through internal agency policy. Incumbent of this position is required to carry a cell phone for stand by response to events at Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station (PVGS).

Responsibilities include:
• Oversees the coordination of the Arizona Off Site Response Organization, a multi-jurisdictional unified coordination group dedicated to emergency response and recovery for Palo Verde Generating Station. Provide oversight of the Division's role in maintaining and performing an annual review and update of the off site's radiological emergency response plan. including managing a minimum budget of $2M annually. Reviews and interprets federal policy and requirements for tech hazards and (REP) programs and explains issues of highly complex, sensitive, and visible nature to a diverse audience including legislators and public emergency management stakeholders. Determines, establishes, and enforces State policy and protocols related to radiological emergency preparedness. Prepares budgets plans and exercises. Makes State recommendations and provides some approvals. Coordinates the use of State agencies in the assistance of the Radiological response plan. Perform situational monitoring and status tracking of all aspects of the REP program to include sirens, detection equipment and response of an event.
• Manages 3 full-time staff and up to 50 part-time HAZMAT emergency responders from various agencies. Assigns and reviews work to ensure compliance. Initiates and recommends disciplinary actions of subordinate/s. Identifies and resolves workplace problems; manages Performance Management (MAP); provides feedback on worker performance. Participates in the interview and selection process of prospective employees. Resolves problems and questions presented by subordinate staff. Approves leave; maintains ETE. Develops staff to include on the job training and assisting with qualification to include APS and AQS. Promotes Teamwork.
• Holds the role of Technological Operations Center Director for tactical response to include directly supervising over 10 personnel and up to 50 depending on the level of incident. This includes the verification of all information coming from the Nuclear generating station to include dosimetry. Manages all tactical response and decision making for an offsite response to include the TOC, directing the National Guard CST, operations at the REAT forward to include survey, decontamination, and field surveys.
• Provides leadership and direction to managers, supervisors, and professional staff across State and local agencies in Radiological preparedness. Directs the conduction of Radiological training to include field survey, detection equipment, and REP planning. Attends and presents at national conferences, summits, classes, symposiums, and professional workshops. Leading complex resource management, providing programmatic guidance and technical support to State Local and Tribal partners pertaining to REP. Creates and establishes staff proficiency requirements and provides relative training for DEMA-EM staff.
• Informs Palo Verde on the updating of their on-site developments. Respond to emergency conditions, situations or events regarding PVGS. Perform assigned emergency work in the State Emergency Operations Center regarding any radiological incident or energy disruption emergency. Represent the State and Agency as spokesperson and subject matter expert in response to media inquiries or requests for information on technological hazards.
• Oversee the development and execution of REP exercises for Palo Verde with appropriate federal, state, county and local government, tribal, and volunteer organizations. Directly facilitate exercise scenario approval and Extent of Play for REPP exercises with federal organizations. Support exercise development and execution in collaboration with Exercise Branch.
• Trains staff and stakeholders and fill the positions within the SEOC and TOC as well as perform duties as assigned through internal agency policy. Provide technical assistance and advise to the Policy Group and Situational Awareness Section.

Knowledge of:
• Broad and generally deep understanding of all facets of management and leadership, as well as a vision for the Arizona Revised Statutes, Arizona Administrative Codes relating to all Nuclear and Radiological Preparedness and title 26.
• Principles and practices of administration, with special reference to organization, fiscal management, strategic planning, control, leadership and supervision, and personnel management and administration.
• General knowledge of radiation and radiological effects on human health.
• General knowledge of federal, state and local laws relating to radiological/nuclear emergency preparedness.
• Response and recovery capabilities of federal, state and local governments in a radiological/nuclear incident.
• General knowledge of critical energy generation, transmission, and distribution systems and infrastructure.
• Federal, state, and local laws relating to energy emergency preparedness and planning.
• Planning practices and procedures; project management.
• Exercise methodology and training management.
• The principles of emergency management.
• The principles and practices of program support and administration.
• Agency policy and procedures.
• Computers, software, graphics and data applications.

Skilled in:
• Conveying complex technical matters to a diverse audience and presenting concepts in a concise and organized fashion in both written and oral formats.
• Process improvement and problem-solving identification and analysis, utilizing Lean principles.
• Full-cycle programmatic and project development.
• Financial skills related to grants management and auditing.
• Active listening and critical thinking; using past experience, 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.
• Developing, interpreting, and implementing State and Federal laws, acts, rules, policies, statutes, codes and regulations.
• Proficient use of computers, software (Microsoft Word, Power Point, Excel) and graphics (PDF). Developing, interpreting, implementing State, Federal laws, acts, rules, policies, statutes, codes and regulations.

Ability to:
• Operate with little to no supervision in a complex environment, making final decisions for a program.
• Develop and monitor the division-level budget; reporting overall department-level budget to executive team; manages, monitors and tracks grant management-related costs and other relevant activities performed by the department.
• Identify required resources, train, schedule and monitor resources; lead hiring process; be accountable for effective use of resources.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in teams and across organizations.
• Develop and present instructional programs to political figureheads, emergency management personnel, state/tribal/county/local agencies, volunteer organizations and first responders.
• Anticipate changing priorities and proactively prepare adjustments to schedules; anticipate needs during absences and ensure work responsibilities and commitments will be met.
• Balance, prioritize and organize multiple tasks while developing and training a collaborative team.
• Synthesize feedback and adjust scheduling and priorities on short notice.

Desired qualifications include any combination of experience, education, and training that meets the knowledge, skills, and abilities as described. Basic Academy, Advanced Professional Series, Advanced Academy, Credentialed through the Arizona Qualification System, Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers, Certified as a Basic or Master Emergency Manager through the Arizona Emergency Managers Association, Preferred candidate possess a Master Exercise Practitioner, and/or Advanced Professional Series Certificate, and/or Palo Verde Plant Systems Training Course (NDS-12).

Special Job Requirements:
• This position requires possession of and ability to retain a current, valid Arizona state-issued driver's license appropriate to the assignment. Employees who drive on state business are subject to driver's license record checks, must maintain acceptable driving records and must complete any required driver training (see Arizona Administrative Code R2-10-207.12.)
• Incident Command System
• ICS 100 Introduction to the Incident Command System
• ICS 200 ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents
• Must Complete ICS 300 Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents within 6 months of Hire Date
• Independent Study
• IS 700 National Incident Management System, An Introduction
• IS 800 National Response Framework, An Introduction
• Professional Development Series
• Degree in Emergency Management, STEM, Health Physicist or related field or 4 years of relevant work experience
• Minimum 3 year of Supervisory experience
• Candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal background investigation as well as possess the ability to achieve a favorable Tier 3 investigation for the purpose of obtaining/maintaining a Secret clearance eligibility and Common Access Card (CAC) within one year of hire.
• Candidates for this position will be required to submit to a criminal history investigation
• In and out of state travel required
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Access and Safeguards Clearances per PVGS procedures required within 12 months of employment.

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver’s License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona offers a comprehensive benefits package to include:
• 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

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave pilot program here. 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