Homeland Security Planner - Critical Infrastructure (Staff Analyst) - Grant Funded

Staff Analyst

The Homeland Security Grants Program Division of the City of Houston Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security manages federal homeland security grants for the Greater Houston region and coordinates and supports regional homeland security preparedness projects and initiatives in the City of Houston and in the Counties of Brazoria, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, and Montgomery. This includes homeland security planning activities, regional community preparedness programs, and management of grant-funded initiatives.

This office seeks a Staff Analyst whose primary responsibility will be to serve as the administrator of a web-based critical infrastructure catalog used by jurisdictions, agencies, and private-sector partners in the Houston region. The employee will manage the system, support its adoption in the region, train new and existing users, and assist with tasks related to critical infrastructure protection programs and other homeland security priorities, goals, and objectives.

The employee in this position must possess or be able to obtain a federal security clearance at the SECRET level and must be able to maintain that clearance throughout the duration of employment in this position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Managing a web-based system that jurisdictions and agencies in the Greater Houston region use to catalog critical infrastructure information and related data.
• Coordinating with regional government agencies and private-sector partners to support them with the identification, prioritization, and assessment of critical infrastructure assets and systems in the region.
• Identifying opportunities for integration of existing and future technologies related to critical infrastructure data.
• Performing training related to the critical infrastructure catalog and other program elements.
• Designing data collection and research strategies, implementing appropriate processes, analyzing collected information, and creating reports and presentations.
• Interfacing with the vendor to foster user expansion, system refinement, and integration with other existing technologies.
• Coordination of regional special events data with regional stakeholders and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Special Events Working Group.
• Serve as the liaison for the Risk Management & Critical Infrastructure Committee, as part of the Houston Urban Area Security Initiative.
• Performing additional duties, as assigned, related to regional homeland security programs and priorities, including assessing and analyzing the region's risk from and vulnerability to terrorism.
• Providing temporary surge support when requested by the Houston Office of Emergency Management during disasters, emergencies, planned events, and other instances when the emergency operations center (EOC) is activated.

Working Conditions:

These positions are generally physically comfortable, and the individuals have discretion about walking, standing, etc. Driving is an essential function of this position. These positions will be required to travel within Houston and surrounding counties. The selected candidate must meet all City requirements for use of motor vehicles as described in City of Houston Administrative Policy 2-2. This position may also require occasional travel outside the Houston region or state of Texas.

This position may require long hours during stressful emergency situations. These are Tier II level positions and may be assigned to the Houston Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during large disasters at the discretion of the supervisor and/or department director (as described in City of Houston Administrative Policy 2-3). This may involve working nights/weekends/holidays, working extended hours, working from alternate City facilities, and/or working in the field.

Education Requirement:
Requires a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or a field directly related to the type of work being performed. Graduate degrees related to the type of work to be performed may substitute for the experience requirement on a year-for-year basis. Experience Requirement:
Three years of professional administrative, financial or analytical experience related to the type of work being performed are required. Professional experience related to the type of work to be performed may substitute for the education requirement on a year-for-year basis. License Requirements:
Valid Texas Driver's License and compliance with the City of Houston policy on driving (Administrative Policy 2-2).

Preferences will be given to candidates with the following skill sets:

• Management of web-based software applications/systems, and/or implementation or development of critical infrastructure protection programs.
• Training or certification relevant to infrastructure resiliency and/or vulnerability assessments.
• Understanding of critical infrastructure sector dependencies and interdependencies.
• Experience in emergency management,…