EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PLANNER 3- EAST REGION- 09112026- 80959

Opening: 09/11/2026 12:00AM CT – Closing: 09/24/2026 11:59PM CT. Full‑Time Hybrid position located in Knoxville, TN (East Tennessee Region) with the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA).

About the role

The Tennessee Department of Emergency Management Authority (TEMA) is dedicated to protecting Tennessee communities before, during, and after emergencies. Through preparedness, coordination, rapid response, and recovery, we work alongside local agencies, first responders, and residents to build a safer, stronger, and more resilient Tennessee. Working for TEMA is more than a career — it's an opportunity to serve the people of Tennessee when they need us most. Every role contributes to protecting communities, supporting those on the front lines, and helping Tennessee prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. Join a team where your work has a meaningful impact across our state. Serve Tennessee. Support your neighbors. Make a difference.

The Regional Planner serves as the primary planning support resource to county emergency management agencies within an assigned region. This position specializes in the development, review, maintenance, and integration of County Basic Emergency Operations Plans (BEOPs) and County Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs). The Regional Planner ensures these plans meet state and federal standards, align with TEMA guidance, and support statewide preparedness, mitigation, and response outcomes. Working under the Planning Branch and in coordination with the Regional Planning Manager, the Regional Planner supports county planning processes, facilitates stakeholder engagement, assists in exercise‑driven plan improvements, and contributes to statewide capability assessments.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct technical assistance to county emergency management agencies in developing, writing, reviewing, and updating County BEOPs to ensure compliance with state and federal planning standards and FEMA CPG-101.
• Guides counties through the Hazard Mitigation Planning process, including risk assessment development, mitigation strategy formulation, and alignment with FEMA's Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide.
• Reviews submitted BEOPs and HMPs for completeness, accuracy, and conformance with state frameworks, recommending revisions to strengthen operational readiness and hazard reduction outcomes.
• Facilitates workshops, planning meetings, and stakeholder coordination sessions to support plan development and multi‑jurisdictional collaboration.
• Assists counties in integrating risk assessment findings, capability gaps, and lessons learned from exercises or disaster events into current and future BEOPs and HMPs.
• Monitors plan expiration cycles and ensures counties remain on schedule for required updates, including FEMA approval cycles for Hazard Mitigation Plans.
• Supports counties in identifying mitigation priorities, potential grant‑eligible projects, and alignment with state mitigation strategies.
• Collects and analyzes county and regional data for use in THIRA/SPR assessments, Integrated Preparedness Plans (IPPs), and planning‑related grant documentation.
• Coordinates with the Regional Planning Manager and Exercise Program Manager to incorporate BEOP and HMP elements into exercises and uses After‑Action Reports/Improvement Plans to drive plan improvements.
• Assists local jurisdictions in maintaining documentation and providing reports required for Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG), Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), BRIC, and other grant programs related to planning.
• Prepares written reports, plan review summaries, correspondence, and technical guidance for county and regional partners.
• Supports the development of templates, guidance documents, and instructional