Continuity Analyst / Subject Matter Expert

Location:      Germantown, Maryland (GTN) Office of Headquarters Security Operations (AU-40)

This position is for a Continuity of Operations Subject Matter Expert (SME) and Analyst to assist the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of the Associate Under Secretary for Environment, Health, Safety and Security (AU) in establishing, maintaining, and improving a continuity program for the continuation of essential functions during a continuity event. This position will ensure AU continuity efforts are nested within and support the overarching efforts of the DOE Continuity Program Office (CPO). This support will include assisting the CPO with planning, development, conduct, and evaluation of Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Exercises, utilizing Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines in support of the DOE Continuity mission and goals, and validation of DOE COOP plans and procedures in accordance with the new Presidential Preparedness Directive 40 (PPD 40): “National Continuity Policy,” Federal Continuity Directives 1 and 2 (FCD 1 and 2) and the FEMA Continuity Evaluation Tool, Version 8 (CET, v.8).

Responsibilities:

• Support AU as the Continuity of Operations Subject Matter Expert and Analyst reporting directly to the Office of Headquarters Security Operations (AU-40).
• Review and document the extent of current AU Continuity Program preparedness, directives, policies, security, training, drills and exercises.
• Compare and contrast present status with that required by DOE Orders, Directives, or government-wide directives such as FEMA FCD 1 and 2, and other current National Continuity Policies guidance and requirements, especially DOE O 150.1A (Continuity Programs) and PPD 40.
• Identify deficiencies of AU compliance against DOE continuity-related orders and provide recommended corrective actions to ensure AU has the ability to:
  • Plan and implement a COOP program commensurate with responsibilities to ensure the performance of essential functions, and ensure that it addresses infectious disease/pandemic influenza and cyber events.
  • Document/reference and address all continuity elements in a COOP plan.
  • Identify a field element that will assume responsibilities during a devolution event.
  • Ensure that continuity programs and plans are aligned with and support the DOE COOP Plan and their devolution site’s COOP plan.
• Develop tailored Continuity Program preparedness directives, policies, security, and procedure documentation.
• Technical support will include, but not be limited to, developing and providing Continuity Program preparedness, directive, policy, security, and procedure documentation appropriate for the various functions and activities of AU.
• Assist in the analysis and development and/or re-write of AU policies and procedures necessary to effect a functional continuity AU program.
• Assist in the CPO meeting requirements for Essential Functions and Records Management.
• Support the Communications and Information Management functions (unclassified and classified) functions within the CPO.
• Support AU efforts in DOE HQ Continuity exercises:
  • Development of AU exercise package.
  • Participation in the development of controller/player instructions.
  • Delivery of an after-action report that identifies corrective actions.
• As required, attend inter- and intra-agency meetings (classified and unclassified) that support alternate site activities.
• Be prepared to immediately assist or augment staffing support of the designated Continuity facility in the event of a Continuity of Government Readiness Conditions (COGCON) activation.
• May be required work more than 8 hours per day under COOP activation or COOP exercise conditions.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Homeland Security, Emergency Management, or related field of study, +2–5 years’ experience in Continuity Operations.
• DOE site access will require the qualified candidate be a U.S. citizen with an active "L" security clearance with the ability to obtain and maintain a "Q" security clearance. The candidate’s written consent to conduct a drug and alcohol screening test and a background check for the purposes of obtaining a security clearance will be required as a condition of employment.
• Skilled in the use of databases and spreadsheets; comfortable extrapolating information from multiple databases and generating reports on the results.
• Familiarity with the FEMA Readiness Reporting System (RRS).
• Demonstrated writing and editing skills in the creation of documents and procedures.
• Willingness to work directly with clients in an environment that changes rapidly; must possess a mature approach to the personal interactions between a consultant and the client.
• Must be an independent self-starter with excellent organizational skills and an ability to multitask and be comfortable working with a team of technical experts in varying fields of security and emergency operations disciplines.
• Extensive experience with the Microsoft Office Suite, including advanced word processing using Microsoft Word, as well as Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat, utilized as the platform for the FEMA CET v.8.
• Able to sit for extended periods and perform work in an office environment, including extensive use of computers, under sometimes stressful conditions.
• Certain positions requiring a security clearance may require the periodic successful completion of a counterintelligence-scope polygraph examination.
• Ongoing reviews and tests for the absence of any illegal substances may be conducted as a requirement for ongoing access to DOE sites. The candidate’s written consent to conduct such tests may be required as a condition of employment.
• Must meet minimal security training and awareness for COOP personnel.
• Must meet minimal security training and awareness for Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) personnel.

Desired or Preferred Qualifications:

• Working knowledge of PPD-40, FEMA FCD 1 and 2, FEMA HSEEP, FEMA CET v.8, alternate EOC concepts and operations, and SCIF support.
• Experience with the DOE Complex, including knowledge of DOE 150-series Orders (Continuity Programs and Emergency Management) strongly desired.
• Experience with DOE sites strongly desired.