FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation February 2012

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Introduction Beginning this week, FEMA will undergo a multi-faceted disaster workforce transformation, designed to improve and enhance the work experience of all agency employees. The changes that will occur are focused on helping you, our most important asset, by providing training for disaster support, resources, and structure needed to allow you to excel. FEMA’s ethos is about service to citizens and communities; at the same time, it is also about service to you, our employees.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Disaster Workforce Transformation Every Employee is an Emergency Manager will clarify where you fit in to the agency and how we rely on you to meet FEMA’s mission of service. It will provide you the opportunity to fulfill your commitment to service; It will make sure you receive the proper training to perform that service at a high level and make sure you have the opportunity to deploy to disasters or support disasters at FEMA Headquarters; It will make clear our critical reliance on you and make clear the expectations of what we require of you; and It will demonstrate a commitment to you, your skills, and your desire for making a difference in the lives of those who need our help.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Disaster Workforce Transformation You will see: An equitable, transparent, and clearly understood process for training and deployments; A more professionalized disaster workforce; and Regular, consistent, two-way communication with the reserve workforce, even when they are not deployed. To maximize the effectiveness of these changes we welcome your thoughts and feedback throughout this process.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Intent The intent of Every Employee is an Emergency Manager is to: Delineate clearly everyone’s role during times of disaster; Ensure that you and your co-workers operate under the same set of expectations and guidelines, and that they are applied consistently, equally, and fairly across the board; Clarify how you and your co-workers contribute to the mission regardless of the type of appointment to the FEMA workforce; and Provide you the best chance to succeed in your job by giving you the tools you need.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Initiatives Every Employee is an Emergency Manager will help you excel by utilizing these new initiatives: FEMA Qualification System New FEMA Reservist Program

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation FEMA Qualification System The FEMA Qualification System (FQS) is an effort to make clear to you the requirements and expectations of the incident management or incident support position you will fill so that you have a clear understanding how to be successful in your job. The system was developed to: Help you be successful; Provide you clear expectations of your disaster work; Provide you the training and mentoring to help you meet those expectations; Strengthen emergency management training standards for your position by implementing improvements based on analysis; and Develop personal and professional goals, and encourage your advancement within the agency.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation FQS Implementation FQS will be implemented over the coming year. Last month, most Reservists received notification of their incident management position in FQS and their Position Task Book associated with that position. Next to receive notifications will be PFT, CORE, and TFT incident management employees. Incident support positions (NRCC, RRCC) are in development and should be completed sometime this year.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation New FEMA Reservist Program The new FEMA Reservist Program is still in development but at its core is the recognition that we need to be better stewards of you, our intermittent workforce. We need to ensure that you are trained, equipped, and ready to deploy, giving you every opportunity to succeed; We need to explore every position benefit that is feasible and help to enhance career pathways for you; and We need to engage in real, regular, and substantive communication with all of you, even when you are not deployed, because we are all part of the FEMA family.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Outcomes At the heart of the Every Employee is an Emergency Manager philosophy is the belief that the more successful we can help you be, the more successful we can be as an agency, and the more successful we will be in helping disaster survivors. These initiatives will ensure that: You know you are valued and your contributions to the agency’s success are understood and recognized; You see the commitment we have in you and believe that you are worth the investment in training, resources, and opportunities; You have the opportunity to demonstrate your passion for service and your desire to help people when they need help the most; and You know that we recognize that you are the agency’s most valuable asset.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Our Commitment to You Your input does matter! We commit to being the best agency we can by encouraging your participation in framing our path forward and listening to what you say; We commit to taking your feedback and adjusting our approach if it makes sense in order to make things better for everyone; and We commit to openness, in the way we communicate, in the way we listen, and in the way we make decisions.

FEMA Disaster Workforce Transformation Call to Action What We Need from YOU! A continued commitment to service; A dedication to learning -- your job, what others do, and FEMA programs; An open mind, understanding change can be a challenge but remaining positive about where we are headed and engaging in a professional way in discussions about things that might need adjusting; and Recognizing and understanding that this line of work is hard, and that it’s not for everyone. It takes a special dedication, it takes commitment, it takes sacrifice. It takes all of us moving in the same direction, working from the same page and staying focused on why we do this…to help others.