Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist

Federal Emergency Management Agency; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 185,000 - 197,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision insurance

Thrift Savings Plan

Flexible Spending Account

Paid federal holidays

Job summary

FEMA in Oakland, CA (Region 9) seeks a crisis leader with ESF-15 and NRF expertise to direct emergency communications, advise disaster leadership, and oversee austere deployments. This role requires readiness to deploy 24/7 and to coordinate regional outreach on preparedness, response, and recovery.

You will develop communications strategy, guide messaging, and support decision makers on agency policies and programs.

Responsibilities

• Provide communications strategy, message coordination, analyses and guidance on Agency policies, plans, programs and actions affecting stakeholders.
• Develop, oversee, and maintain operational readiness for ESF 15 (External Affairs) within the region and field offices.
• Design the Public Affairs, Congressional, Intergovernmental, Private Sector, and Outreach sections of the Regional Supplement to the NRF.
• Plan and lead regional communication campaigns for preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.
• Execute mandatory emergency response tasks and deploy to disaster environments with little notice.

Job description

• Department: Department of Homeland Security

This position is located in Region 9, Regional Administrator, External Affairs. Seeking a crisis leader with ESF-15 & NRF expertise to direct emergency communications, advise disaster leadership, manage austere deployments, and lead regional preparedness, response, & recovery outreach. Ready to deploy 24/7.

Key Responsibilities

What will I do in this position if hired? In this position, you will provide communications strategy, message coordination, analyses and guidance, relationship-building and decision-making support on Agency policies, plans, programs, key initiatives and actions that affect stakeholders.

Typical assignments include: Developing, overseeing, and maintaining operational readiness for ESF 15 (External Affairs) within the region and field offices, serving as the senior advisor for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Designing the Public Affairs, Congressional, Intergovernmental, Private Sector, and Outreach sections of the Regional Supplement to the National Response Framework, and participating in training exercises to test and refine these protocols.

Planning and leading regional communication campaigns targeted at critical preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts. Executing mandatory emergency response tasks, which requires remaining on call around the clock and deploying directly to physically challenging disaster environments with minimal notice. What else do I need to know?

At FEMA, our mission is to help people before, during and after disasters, and every employee at FEMA has a role in emergency management. Every FEMA employee has regular and recurring emergency management responsibilities, though not every position requires routine deployment to disaster sites.

All positions are subject to recall around the clock for emergency management operations, which 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 position description.

Travel requirements in support of emergency operations may be extensive in nature (weeks to months), with little advance notice, and may require employees to relocate to emergency sites with physically austere and operationally challenging conditions.

Requirements & Education

No Educational Substitution: There is no educational substitution for this position, and you must meet the qualifications listed in the \"requirements\" section of this announcement.

DHS offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package, including health, dental, vision, life, and long-term care insurance; retirement plan; Thrift Savings Plan [similar to a 401(k)]; Flexible Spending Account; Employee Assistance Program; personal leave days; and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules; tuition reimbursement; transportation subsidies; uniform allowance; health and wellness programs; and fitness centers.

DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of employee training and developmental opportunities. For more information, go to the DHS Careers website and select \"Benefits.\" Disabled veteran leave will be available to any federal employee hired on or after November 5, 2016, who is a veteran with a service- connected disability rating of 30 percent or more.

Which agency is hiring for this position?

This position is with Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security.

What is the salary for this position?

The posted pay range is $184950 - $197200/yr.

Is this position remote or telework eligible?

This position is eligible for telework.

What is the application deadline?

Applications close on 2026-11-20.

Who is eligible to apply?

This position is open under the 'Fed Transition' hiring path.