Regional Planner Jobs in Iowa

Job Description

Job Description

Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) is seeking an emergency management professional to lead statewide disaster recovery planning and coordinate interagency recovery efforts. This position supports key planning initiatives, assists community recovery groups, and serves as a liaison to emergency management partners across the state. The role also participates in emergency operations and exercises as needed and performs additional duties assigned by Department leadership.

Who We Are:

The Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management’s Mission Statement is Enhancing the quality of life for Iowans by preparing our State and building resilient communities. The person selected for this position will demonstrate actions and behaviors guided by the HSEMD’s four core values:

MISSION ORIENTED - We are resolute in our service to Iowans

INTEGRITY - We conduct ourselves with honesty and are transparent in our actions

DISTINGUISHED - We are leaders in our field

ONE TEAM - We collaborate, connect, and share

What We Are Seeking:

We are seeking a professional with demonstrated experience in disaster recovery planning, emergency management coordination, and multi-agency collaboration. The ideal candidate will possess strong planning, communication, and stakeholder-engagement skills, along with the ability to support statewide recovery efforts and ensure compliance with applicable standards and laws. This role requires adaptability, professionalism, and the ability to represent the Department effectively while supporting both steady-state and disaster operations. This position is located at the Iowa National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters in Johnston, IA. Desired knowledge, skills and abilities include:

• Comprehensive knowledge of disaster recovery frameworks, including the National Disaster Recovery Framework (NDRF), Recovery Support Functions (RSFs), and state-level recovery planning processes.
• Thorough understanding of emergency management principles, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, with emphasis on long-term recovery operations.
• Familiarity with Continuity of Operations (COOP), Continuity of Government (COG), and emergency response planning standards, including FEMA’s CPG 101 and related guidance.
• Knowledge of community recovery structures, including Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs), Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COADs), and Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) coordination practices.
• Advanced planning and project management skills, including the ability to lead complex, multi-agency planning initiatives and produce high-quality emergency plans.
• Skilled in providing technical assistance, particularly in recovery planning, Recovery Support Function coordination, and community recovery group development.
• Skilled in relationship-building, especially with local emergency managers, voluntary agencies, and state/federal partners.
• Proficiency in developing, reviewing, and evaluating emergency plans to ensure compliance with standards and legal requirements.
• Ability to serve as the state’s subject matter expert for the State Recovery Plan and lead interagency recovery planning efforts.
• Ability to represent the Department professionally at district meetings, interagency workgroups, and public-facing engagements.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage competing priorities, and adapt to rapidly changing conditions during emergencies.
• Ability to collaborate across agencies and disciplines, fostering cooperative relationships and unified planning efforts.

What you will do:

You will be an integral member of the HSEM team by providing subject matter expertise and detailed planning in support of the department’s mission by:

• Serve as the Department’s lead and subject matter expert for the State Recovery Plan.
• Oversee and coordinate State-level interagency planning activities related to the State Recovery Plan.
• Lead the standup and coordination of State Recovery Task Force(s) in support of recovery operations.
• Provide planning technical assistance to Recovery Support Function (RSF) activities.
• Advise the State Coordinating Officer (SCO) for Disaster Assistance and the Preparedness Bureau Chief on recovery planning and implementation.

Departmental Planning Responsibilities:

• Support development and maintenance of key Department planning initiatives, including:
  • Continuity of Operations (COOP) / Continuity of Government (COG) Plans
  • Capitol Complex Plan
  • Emergency Response Plan
  • Access and Functional Needs Planning
• Ensure all plans comply with Department planning standards and applicable state and federal laws.

Community Recovery Coordination:

• Collaborate with the lead Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) to support development and sustainment of Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) and Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COADs).
• Coordinate LTRC and COAD activities with local, state, and federal partners, including EMAs, IDHRC, and impacted jurisdictions.

Liaison to Emergency Management Partners:

• Serve as the Department’s liaison to Iowa Emergency Management Agency District meetings.
• Represent the Department at scheduled meetings and brief districts on relevant topics.
• Act as a conduit between the Department and County Emergency Management Agencies during steady-state operations.
• Field non-emergency inquiries and relay important information between counties and the Department.

Emergency Operations and Additional Duties:

• Serve in various operational roles within the Department during emergencies or periods of high workload.
• Participate in Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) drills and exercises as assigned.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director, Chief of Staff, Response Division Administrator, or Preparedness Bureau Chief.

What We Offer You:

• Competitive pay and benefits package including health, dental, flexible spending, and life insurance.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Paid time off effective immediately (biweekly vacation, separate sick leave, accruals rollover on a yearly basis, and 9 paid holidays per year).

• Iowa Public Employee Retirement System (IPERS) Retirement Package with employer match

• Retirement Investors Club (RIC) (Employer Sponsored Retirement Plan).

• Optional 401A plan with employer contributions: The State makes match contributions into the employee’s selection of investments in a 401(a)-employer match account. The match is $1 for every $1 contributed up to a $75 monthly maximum.

• Employee Discount Programs from variety of vendors (vision, cellular, fitness, recreation, season passes, travel, counseling; legal, financial).

For additional information on benefits, please visit the Iowa Department of Administrative Services website at https://das.iowa.gov/human-resources/employee-and-retiree-benefits.

Travel: Some travel required.

This position will require a presence in the office on a regular basis. There will be a potential option for some remote work once on-boarding and training have been completed, but this is not a fulltime remote work position.

Working Hours:

7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. or 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. or 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

After on-boarding is completed, there is potential for some remote work, but this is not a full-time remote work position.

HSEM is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, creed, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, consistent with applicable state and federal policies and regulations.

Minimum Qualification Requirements

Applicants must meet at least one of the following minimum requirements to qualify for positions in this job classification:

1) Seven years of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility).

2) All of the following (a, b, and c):
a. One year of full-time work experience in the administration or operation/execution (i.e., providing consultation and/or technical assistance to stakeholders, research and analysis, or enforcement of program guidelines/policies/procedures) of a program (i.e., the provision of a service or an administrative oversight/enforcement responsibility); and
b. A total of four years of education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where thirty semester hours of accredited college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience; and
c. A total of two years of graduate-level education and full-time experience (as described in part a), where twenty-four semester hours of accredited graduate college or university course work in any field equals one year of full-time experience.

3) Graduation from an accredited school of law.

4) Current, continuous experience in the state executive branch that includes nine months of full-time work as a Program Planner 2 or twenty-seven months of full-time work as a Program Planner 1.

For additional information, please click on this link to view the job description (Download PDF reader).