Emergency Management Planner (Grant)

Salary : $73,985.60 Annually
Location : Leonardtown, MD
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:
Department: Emergency Services
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: Continuous

Job Summary

This position performs high-level planning duties for the County's Emergency Management Division. The work includes a wide variety of tasks used to formulate, organize, coordinate, and maintain emergency plans. The Emergency Planner will maintain/update existing emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation plans for St. Mary's County, as well as assist in the coordination of response to and recovery from emergency events at Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (CCNPP) and activities within Emergency Planning Zones (EPZs). The position will also provide public education and outreach for aspects of Emergency Services, as they relate to preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Often will operate under limited direction, establishing courses of action and methods to obtain desired results. Required to make frequent decisions with only general guidance. Performs other duties as assigned.
The hiring salary for this position is $73,986 annually.

Essential Functions

1. Plans, coordinates and manages the department, county-wide and regional coordination of emergency and administrative plans for response, recovery, mitigation and prevention of all disasters involving emergency preparedness activities;
2. Provides review and input to emergency plans, including but not limited to Emergency Operation Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, COOP Plans, and other agencies mitigation plans as directed;
3. Develops, writes, and maintains the County's Radiological Emergency Plan (REP) in coordination with FEMA, MEMA, Calvert and Dorchester Counties Public Safety Departments and Federal guidelines;
4. Reviews and recommends revisions to county ordinances regarding existing approved plans;
5. Develop, coordinate, write, and maintain a County Disaster Recovery Plan as well as Recovery Support Functions (RSF) in coordination with FEMA, MDEM, and Federal guidelines;
6. Tests existing plans, makes recommendations for improvement, and coordinates agencies with including improvements into plans;
7. Liaisons with federal, state, local and volunteer agencies involved in the development and execution of emergency plans including strategic planning for future generations;
8. Performs research related to tasks that may require Department Planning activities.
9. Provides staff support as directed at emergency management training and exercise activities;
10. Assist in preparing projects and annual reports;
11. Researches and recommends preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation plans not yet developed;
12. Assists with the planning, and implementation of public awareness and training/exercise programs to enhance the County's disaster resilience (includes general public, schools, day care centers, vulnerable populations, critical infrastructure facilities, and special events).
13. May be required to provide public outreach to various business, volunteer organizations and the public;
14. Provides response as needed and directed to assist with emergency response operations involving the Department;
15. This position is considered "essential" personnel during emergencies and can be called upon for response;
16. Performs other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

1. Ability to gain thorough knowledge of St. Mary's County Government policies and procedures;
2. Ability to act as a representative of St. Mary's County;
3. Expert knowledge of emergency management principles and procedures;
4. Knowledge of relevant Federal, State, and Local emergency management laws and regulations regarding the administration of plans and programs;
5. Ability to effectively communicate with other staff members; ability to coordinate, advise, and work with other professionals;
6. Ability to effectively deliver presentations to groups of various sizes and in a variety of venues;
7. Ability to prioritize and multitask;
8. Ability to review and analyze existing information and make informed and sound decisions;
9. Ability use available resources to research information;
10. Ability to keep accurate records;
11. Ability to operate relevant computer systems, including hardware and software, and simple office machines.

Education and Experience

1. Bachelor's degree in public safety field or equivalent technical training, education, and/or experience preferred;
2. Completion of the NIMS/ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700 and 800 within one year of employment.
3. Completion of the Emergency Management Institute's Professional Development Series Independent Study Program. within the first year of employment. (Introduction to Exercises Fundamentals of Emergency Management, Emergency Planning, Leadership & Influence, Decision Making & Problem Solving, Effective Communication and Developing & Managing Volunteers).

Additional Requirements:

1. Must have valid Maryland Driver's License;
2. Successfully pass a criminal background investigation with negative results;
3. Must successfully pass pre-employment drug testing;
4. Must be available for emergency response day and or night, holidays, and weekends.

Physical and Environmental Conditions:
Work requires general office duties and ability for emergency response in office or field setting.

Work environment involves everyday risks or discomforts, which require normal safety precautions typical of such places as offices or meeting rooms, e.g., use of safe workplace practices with office and field equipment, and/or avoidance of trips and falls.
Full salary range for this position is $73,986 - $127,400 annually. The full salary range does not reflect the anticipated hiring salary for this position. The anticipated hiring range is $73,986 annually, based on the selected candidate's qualifications and experience.
We offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees including health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plan, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, identity theft protection, sick-leave transfer, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.

Regular Part-time employees who work an average of 20 or more hours per week over the course of a year, receive benefits on a pro-rated basis.

To learn more details, visit our benefits page at the following link: