OEM Specialist

2026 Saline County

OEM Specialist

Job Description

                                              

Exempt:                                 No

Department:                          Office of Emergency Management

Reports To:                            Office of Emergency Management Deputy Director

Location:                                102 South Main Level B, Benton, AR  72015

Safety Sensitive:                   This position is designated as safety sensitive and is subject to pre-employment, reasonable suspicion and random drug and alcohol screening.

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF POSITION

Under the supervision of the Deputy Director of Emergency Management, the OEM Specialist performs professional, technical, administrative, and operational work supporting all functions of the Saline County Office of Emergency Management. The position is responsible for managing the daily administrative functions of the office while assisting with emergency planning, disaster response, resource coordination, training, special operations, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activities.

 

The OEM Specialist serves as the primary office administrator while also functioning as an operational emergency management professional capable of responding to incidents, coordinating resources, supporting emergency operations, and assisting partner agencies throughout Saline County.

Unlike a traditional clerical position, the OEM Specialist is expected to operate in both office and field environments and support all phases of emergency management.  This position is designated as a safety sensitive position as defined by Act 593 of 2017.  An essential function is the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.

 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Administrative Responsibilities (~50%)

Office Management:

• Manage daily office operations, answer telephones, and handle public inquiries.
• Maintain calendars, scheduling, electronic/paper filing systems, and coordinate office supplies and purchasing.
• Prepare correspondence, meeting agendas, minutes, and administrative reports.

Payroll & Personnel Support:

• Process payroll and maintain employee leave records, compensatory time tracking, and personnel files.
• Maintain employee certifications, training records, and travel documentation.
• Maintain confidential personnel records.

Financial Administration:

• Process invoices, track expenditures, and assist with annual budgeting.
• Maintain purchasing and inventory records.
• Assist with grant documentation and FEMA reimbursement tracking.

Compliance & Documentation:

• Maintain required documentation for the Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM), FEMA, Homeland Security grants, Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants, Public Assistance documentation, and county record retention requirements.

 

2.  Emergency Management Responsibilities (~50%)

Preparedness:

• Assist the Director and Deputy Director across all emergency management phases.

• Maintain emergency plans, update resource databases, maintain emergency contact lists, and conduct exercises.

• Coordinate training, prepare situation reports, and coordinate public education programs.

Response:

• Staff the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during emergencies.

• Coordinate incoming resource requests, track personnel and equipment, maintain incident documentation, and manage WebEOC entries.

• Deploy to emergency scenes, assist with damage assessments, coordinate shelter support, and assist with Incident Action Plan (IAP) documentation.
• Respond to after hours call on a on-call rotation to be determined by the Director.

Recovery & Mitigation:

• Support disaster documentation, damage assessment, FEMA Public Assistance, and recovery coordination.

• Collect hazard data and assist with mitigation planning and grant applications.

3.  Operational & Field Responsibilities

Maintain operational readiness and assist county agencies during emergency incidents, including:

• Hazardous Materials (HazMat) incidents

• Search and Rescue (SAR) operations

• Emergency communications and Mobile Command operations

• Incident logistics, resource tracking, and disaster deployments

• Emergency equipment management

Safely operate county emergency management vehicles, trailers, boats, UTVs, communications equipment, generators, and specialized response equipment.

 

4.  Perform any other related duties as required or assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty mentioned satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

These knowledge, skills, and abilities are usually, although not always acquired through a completion of a bachelor’s degree in emergency management or a related field plus 1 to 2 years of relevant experience in emergency management. 

 

COMMUNICATION SKILLS

The ability to write reports, business correspondence, and policy/procedure manuals; ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the public.

The ability to maintain a professional working relationship with our key partners, including:

• All Fire Departments, Sheriff’s Office, Municipal Police Departments and EMS Agencies
• Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM), FEMA, Arkansas State Policy and Arkansas Department of Health
• Hospitals, School Districts, utility providers, volunteer organizations and local industry.

 

CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS

Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

 

REQUIRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

Valid Arkansas Driver's License is required during the applicant’s employment with Saline County.

 

Each employee whose salary and/or benefits are funded by any portion of EMPG funding shall complete the following 15 courses during their first full EMPG period of performance to retain employment.  The employee will maintain documentation of successful completion and provide verification of completion (certificates) to the ADEM EMPG Coordinator.

The following certifications are to be completed within one year of employment:

• IS-100 Introduction of ICS
• IS-200 ICS for Initial Response
• IS-700 An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
• IS-800 In Introduction to National Response Framework 
• G-300 – Intermediate Incident Command for Expanding Incidents *
• G-400 – Advanced Incident Command for Complex Incidents *
• FEMA Professional Development Series:
  • IS-120.a – An Introduction to Exercises
  • IS-230.d – Fundamentals of Emergency Management
  • IS-235.b – Emergency Planning
  • IS-240.b – Leadership and Influence
  • IS-241.b – Decision Making and Problem Solving
  • IS-242.b – Effective Communication
  • IS-244.b – Developing Volunteer Resources
• Exercise Training:
  • IS-130.a - How to be an Exercise Evaluator
  • L-0146 - Homeland Security and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) within 2 years *

 

PREFERRED CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• HazMat Technician
• Basic Search and Rescue
• Technical Rescue Disciplines
• Arkansas Certified Emergency Manager (when eligible)
• Public Information Officer
• WebEOC
• CPR/AED
• Emergency Vehicle Operations
• Essential Characteristics

WORKING CONDITIONS

Continuously exposed to one or two elements such as noise, intermittent standing, walking, pushing, carrying, or lifting. This position will be placed on-call rotation at the direction of the Director and may have to attend meetings at night as well as out-of-town training.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The following work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

 

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to work in high, precarious places; frequently exposed to toxic or caustic chemicals, outdoor weather conditions; and occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, risk of electrical shock, vibration. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

The following physical activities described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be provided to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions and expectations.

 

Moderate diversity, low physical. Work activities which allow for a moderate amount of diversity in the performance of tasks are not as varied as those positions with high-level diversity and decision-making.

 

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle, or feel, reach with hands and arms, talk or hear, taste or smell; frequently required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or c. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision; distance vision; color vision; and ability to adjust focus.

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Ability to think and act quickly and appropriately in emergencies and highly stressful situations.

• Ability to work effectively with all regulatory agencies and with the public in a courteous, efficient manner.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Must be able to interpret a variety of county, state, and federal laws, make decisions and take action accordingly.

 

This position is designated as a safety sensitive position as defined by Act 593 of 2017 and an essential job function is the ability to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner.   

 

The duties listed above are intended only to show the various types of duties that will be performed.  The omission of a specific statement of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.  All positions within the Office of Emergency Management are assigned by the County Judge and/or the OEM Director and are subject to be changed when deemed in the best interest of the Office of Emergency Management operation. 

 

This job description does not constitute an employment agreement between Saline County and the employee and is subject to change by the employer if the need of the employer and requirements of the job change.

OEM SPECIALIST

• Starting at the rate of up to $60,000 annually, dependent upon qualifications and experience.
• This position is scheduled to work Monday/Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, with paid holidays office. This position will require evenings dependent upon the workload and on-call schedule.  This position will be available for on-call rotation for emergencies that occur after normal work hours, dependent upon the on-call scheduling assigned by the OEM/911 Director.  

• This position is considered an essential employee during a weather event and required to report to work as scheduled or maybe called in as needed. 
• This position is designated as a “safety sensitive” position as defined by Act 593 of 2017. An essential function of this position is the ability to work in a contact state of alertness and in a safe manner.
• Bilingual pay of $2,080 is available once proficiency has been established.
• Group health, dental and life insurance is paid by the County for the employee’s coverage provided the employee obtains a wellness check within the designated time frame. 
• For employee retirement, the County contributes 15.32% per pay period of the employee’s gross towards the employee’s retirement through the Arkansas Public Employees’ Retirement System.

 

Interested applicants for any position may view all job notice posting on the Saline County website under “CAREERS”.  To apply for any of the positions, select the position and you will be directed to BambooHR to upload your resume and complete the process.  If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Christy Peterson at 501-303-5658 or Christy.Peterson@salinecounty.org
or Audrey Villegas at 501-303-5701 or Audrey.Villegas@salinecounty.org.

 

POSTED _10/09/2026

THIS POSITION IS OPEN UNTIL 4:30 PM, ON 10/16/2026 OR UNTIL THE POSITIONS ARE FILLED. 

 

SALINE COUNTY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER