THIS IS A NON-CIVIL SERVICE POSITIONSalary Range: $65,716.00 - $112,971.00 AnnuallyHiring Salary Range:$65,716.00 - $89,343.50 AnnuallyNOTE: GRANT POSITIONS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR RETIREMENT BENEFITSJob Summary: The Baltimore City Office of Emergency Management is seeking a Senior Communications Planner to join its planning team. Qualified candidates will have a bachelor's degree in communications, Emergency Management, Public Health, Public Administration, or a related field with 4 years of relevant experience.
Essential Functions:- Collaborates with emergency operations teams, City and State agencies, community partners, and the media to foster information sharing and ensure consistent, accessible, and culturally inclusive communication across platforms.
- Manages social media platforms, the Everbridge emergency alert system, and the OEM website to ensure timely, accurate, and updated information dissemination.
- Drafts and develop talking points, press releases, presentations, and reports to support consistent and effective communication during City events or emergencies.
- Designs graphics and captures photography to enhance public information campaigns and communication efforts.
- Participates in and coordinates Joint Information Center (JIC) and Joint Information System (JIS) activities to ensure unified messaging across agencies.
- Trains staff and partners on communication protocols, social media management, and the use of emergency alert systems.
- Participates in local regional and state working groups.
Minimum Qualifications: Education: Have a bachelor's degree in communications, Public Administration, Public Policy, Political Science, Public Health, Emergency Management, Planning, or a related field from an accredited college or university.
AND Experience: Have at least 2 years of experience in either public communications, public policy and administration, public safety, emergency management, or other relevant experience; possess excellent analytical communication (written and oral), organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Preferred Qualifications: Received, or be in the process of obtaining, an advanced degree or certification in Communications, Public Administration, Emergency Management, Homeland Security, Public Health Preparedness or similar field described above; 4+ years of professional experience, including experience in emergency management, crisis communication, or public information roles; a background in the management of communication teams, interagency coordination and public outreach initiatives. Completion of FEMA Incident Command System Training, including introductory (100, 200, 700, 800) and Public Information Officer focused courses.
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: - Expertise in emergency operations, crisis communication strategies, and coordination of messaging during emergencies
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills to engage with emergency operations teams, City, State, and Federal agencies, peers, customers, community partners, and the public to ensure consistent, accessible, and culturally inclusive communication across platforms
- Strong public and media relations skills, and experience in managing social media platforms, emergency alert systems, and strategic engagement
- Ability to draft talking points, press releases, presentations, and reports
- Proficiency with emergency communication platforms, website content management software, graphic design tools, and other digital communication technologies
- Understanding of culturally inclusive communication practices tailored for diverse populations
- Competency in graphic design, photography, and multimedia storytelling to enhance public information campaigns
- Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills; familiarity with Joint Information Center (JIC) and Joint Information System (JIS) protocols
- Experience with public speaking, training facilitation, and effective communication protocols
- Flexibility and the ability to respond effectively to evolving situations
- Experience with designing mechanisms for collecting and evaluating information
- Skill in organizing and facilitating surveys, focus groups, meetings, symposiums, community events, and other public forums
- Ability to deal with emergencies or crises with calm, tact, and dispatch
- Ability to promote program activities
- Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.
Additional Information Background Check Eligible candidates under final consideration for appointment to positions identified as positions of trust will be required to complete authorization for a Criminal Background Check and/or Fingerprint must be successfully completed.
Probation All persons, including current City employees, selected for this position must complete a mandatory six-month probation.
