Search and Rescue Branch Chief #00273

Title: Search and Rescue Branch Chief #00273

State Role Title: Emergency Coordinator Mgr I

Hiring Range: Commensurate with experience and qualifications (up to $90,000)

Pay Band: 5

Agency: Dept of Emergency Management

Location: 3310 Deepwater Terminal Road, Suite 102, Richmond, VA 23234

Agency Website: www.vaemergency.gov

Recruitment Type: General Public - G

Job Duties

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Search and Rescue Branch Chief.

The Search and Rescue Branch Chief is responsible for leading and coordinating with team leaders to ensure the effective implementation of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Virginia’s volunteer and specialized SAR teams, including Swiftwater Rescue, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR), and the Virginia Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (HART). This position plays a critical role in the strategic planning, budgeting, and operational readiness of SAR resources across the Commonwealth and serves as the senior subject matter expert for wilderness and missing person search and rescue operations. This position requires the incumbent to be able to travel statewide, as needed. 

Duties include but are not limited to:

- Lead the implementation and oversight of MOUs with statewide volunteer SAR, Swiftwater Rescue, USAR, and HART teams.
- Direct strategic planning, budgeting, and operational management of SAR resources, within an approximate annual program budget of $500,000.
- Ensure personnel and equipment readiness for all associated teams.
- Coordinate and oversee annual training for new SAR students and manage the currency and certification standards for approximately 400 SAR personnel statewide.
- Serve as the senior subject matter expert on all wilderness, missing, lost, or injured person SAR issues in Virginia.
- Represent the State Coordinator and the Governor in statewide and national SAR emergencies.
- Collaborate with law enforcement on SAR and missing person investigations and participate in unified command structures during incidents.
- Represent VDEM and the Commonwealth on national committees and task forces, influencing policy and operational standards related to wilderness and missing person SAR.

All VDEM employees are designated as essential personnel and may be required to work during emergency situations such as inclement weather and natural or man-made disasters/events as directed. This may require irregular work hours, work at locations other than the official duty station, and may include duties other than those specified in the employee’s official Employee Work Profile/job description.

Minimum Qualifications

- Working knowledge of state, federal, and local wilderness and lost, missing, or injured person SAR techniques and programs.
- Knowledge and experience in operating with numerous interagency SAR organizations including the DoD, National Guard, Civil Air Patrol, national/state USAR teams, and the US Coast Guard.
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Office products, Windows-based operating systems, Microsoft Applications to include MSTeams and MS Office Suite and GIS based systems such as ARCGIS, SARTopo SAR Common Operating Platform (SARCOP) and third party mapping applications such as Google Earth.
- Demonstrated ability to develop, manage, and oversee program budgets, expenditures, and contracts effectively.
- Demonstrate excellent program management and organizational skills, including the ability to plan and prioritize competing tasks and deadlines, manage multiple projects, set clear objectives to effectively achieve results, solve problems, and independently make decisions in alignment with VDEM’s mission under high-stress conditions while exercising sound judgment.
- Proven ability to build rapport, consensus and collaboration among diverse public safety professionals and various stakeholders.
- Proficient in using networked personal computers and emergency information systems.
- Skilled in leading, motivating, and coordinating a team, and in supervising and overseeing the training of professional and technical staff.
- Ability to compile and analyze data from a wide range of sources; prioritize requests for assistance; allocate resources effectively and efficiently; and monitor/direct response activities for organizations at various levels of government, as well as private organizations, during emergencies/disasters.
- Ability to effectively interpret government policies, regulations and guidance, and apply them to program aspects as appropriate; evaluate information from multiple sources and work effectively and cooperatively to align program strategy with new information.
- Exceptional oral and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey data, situational analysis, and response projections to various stakeholders, including government officials, legislators, federal agencies, state agencies, the media, and others as deemed appropriate.
- Must possess a satisfactory driving record and a valid driver's license.

Special Instructions

You will be provided a confirmation of receipt when your application and/or résumé is submitted successfully. Please refer to “Your Application” in your account to check the status of your application for this position.

Applications will only be accepted on-line through the State Job website. Applications must include all work history and references. The decision to interview an applicant is solely based on the information provided in the application materials. Therefore, it is essential to provide enough information to make this assessment.

Employment is contingent upon satisfactory results of a fingerprint-based criminal history background check, Division of Motor Vehicle check, employment reference check, and E-Verify. The selected candidate must complete a State of Personal Economic Interests as a condition of employment, if applicable (Va. Code 2.2-3114). Other financial, credit, driving, or degree verification checks prior to employment may be required for certain positions. A one-year probationary period is required of all newly hired and re-hired Commonwealth of Virginia employees.

The salary for this position is negotiable up to the maximum hiring range listed in this posting. Offers will not be made outside of the hiring range.

Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. Minorities, Individuals with disabilities, Veterans, and people with National Service experience are encouraged to apply.

VDEM does not provide sponsorship to prospective or current employees. Applicants applying for a position with our agency must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of employment and for the duration of their employment at VDEM without the need for a sponsorship.

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Contact Information

Name: Human Resources

Phone: (804) 912-7254

Email: Recruitment@vdem.virginia.gov

In support of the Commonwealth’s commitment to inclusion, we are encouraging individuals with disabilities to apply through the Commonwealth Alternative Hiring Process. To be considered for this opportunity, applicants will need to provide their AHP Letter (formerly COD) provided by the Department for Aging & Rehabilitative Services (DARS), or the Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI). Service-Connected Veterans are encouraged to answer Veteran status questions and submit their disability documentation, if applicable, to DARS/DBVI to get their AHP Letter. Requesting an AHP Letter can be found at AHP Letter or by calling DARS at 800-552-5019.

Note: Applicants who received a Certificate of Disability from DARS or DBVI dated between April 1, 2022- February 29, 2024, can still use that COD as applicable documentation for the Alternative Hiring Process.