Description

Under the direction of the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) Manager, the State EOC Planning Section Chief serves as the primary and lead Planning Section Chief for the Washington State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and in that role oversees and directs effective section activities as outlined in the SEOC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and as called for in National Incident Management System (NIMS) Doctrine for all aspects of incident response.

This is a civilian position and does not require military service affiliation. 

Emergency Management Division Overview
As a part of the Washington Military Department, the Emergency Management Division leads and coordinates mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery in Washington State to minimize the impact of disasters and emergencies on the people, property, environment, and economy. 

About the Washington Military Department
Protecting people is our passion.  At the Washington Military Department, we combine our unique talents to create safer communities and ensure our neighbors and loved ones can recover from whatever emergency might arise.  Our agency unites civilian employees with members of the Washington National Guard, creating a team that is deeply committed to public service.  We go home at night knowing that our day-to-day work supports activities that truly make a difference.  Whether that's partnering with our communities to prepare for a disaster, leading an emergency response, hiring top-notch talent or supporting at-risk kids at our Washington Youth Academy - the Washington Military Department seeks to safeguard our way of life and those that call Washington home.

In addition to job fulfillment, the Washington Military Department offers an excellent benefits package which includes exceptional health care coverage, a retirement savings plan, and job training opportunities. 

To learn more about the Washington Military Department, visit: www.mil.wa.gov     

Responsibilities include:

• Directly supervise any staff temporarily assigned to the SEOC Planning Section Chief.
• Serves as Planning Section Chief in the SEOC during and after EOC activations; supporting response to and recovery from emergency incidents, planned special events, and exercises.
• Trains and prepares SEOC staff assigned to the SEOC Planning Section.
• Provides expert level individualized and general support to SEOC staff through training, exercises, and credentialing.
• Leads and oversees the organization of and work performed by all staff assigned to and serving in the SEOC Planning Section to support effective and engaged SEOC staff members.
• Serves as lead for the SEOC Planning Section for preparedness, response, and recovery activities, including before, during, and after activations of the SEOC.
• Supports the credentialing and qualification efforts of SEOC staff assigned to the SEOC Planning Section.
• Builds close working relationships with and ensure effective coordination and communication with key partners before, during, and after SEOC activations.
• Develops, maintains, organizes, and supports SEOC situational awareness products and systems, response planning efforts, and pre-incident planning.
• Performs (rather than oversees) functions of the SEOC Planning Section if staff are not assigned to perform them.

Requirements

REQUIRED

• One year of experience as an Emergency Management Program Specialist 3, and
• One year of lead and/or supervisory experience. 

OR

• A Bachelor's degree, and 
• Five years of professional level experience in emergency management , public safety (law enforcement, firefighting, emergency medical services, search and rescue, hazardous materials), logistics, risk management, public works/engineering, managing critical infrastructure sector emergency functions (transportation systems, telecommunications, energy, water and wastewater systems, government facilities, nuclear facilities and materials, food and agriculture), financial management (grant, contracting, claims management, budgeting), training/education, public information/affairs, program/project management, environmental analysis/planning, legislative affairs, and/or urban planning, and
• One year of lead and/or supervisory experience.  

Additional qualifying experience will substitute, year for year, for the education requirement. A Master's degree or Ph.D. degree will substitute for one year of the experience requirement. 

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Preference may be given to candidates who have: 

Education/training:

• Bachelor's degree or master's degree in emergency management, homeland security, or public administration.
• IS-100, IS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400 training.
• All-Hazards Planning Section Chief Position Specific Training (or equivalent).

Working Knowledge of:

• National Incident Management System (NIMS).
• Incident Command System (ICS).
• Function and responsibilities of the Planning Section and all Planning Section Branches, Divisions, Groups, and Units.
• Community Lifelines and Critical Infrastructure Sectors.

Experience:

• Performing the functions of the Planning Section Chief position in an Incident Command Post (ICP) or Emergency Operations Center (EOC), or similar setting during response to large exercises and/or real-world emergency incidents.
• Gathering, analyzing, summarizing, and reporting on incidents specific data or information to support response operations.
• Developing high quality written products to include reports, snapshots, briefings, infographics, and similar for a variety of audiences.
• Coordinating activities with a diverse group of stakeholders and participants.

Skills and Abilities to:

• Develop and implement plans in accordance with current state, federal and supporting organizational directives.
• Provide training to staff with differing levels of experience and expertise.
• Develop and execute exercises and drills for a wide variety of participants of differing levels of experience and expertise.
• Understand and comfortably use different, new, and existing technology to improve processes, workflows, and perform daily job functions.
• Ability to take action to meet the needs of others.
• Ability to take action to learn and grow.
• Use Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, TEAMS, and SharePoint) to develop documents in support of program objectives.

For more information about this position or to apply online visit www.careers.wa.gov or State EOC Planning Section Chief.

This job posting closes on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 11:59 PM Pacific.