Review Vacancy
TitleState EMS Task Force Operations Zone Captain (Health Systems Specialist 1 EMC) (NY HELPS) - MULTI
Occupational CategoryOther Professional Careers
Bargaining UnitPS&T - Professional, Scientific, and Technical (PEF)
Salary RangeFrom $66951 to $85138 Annually
Duties Description The Task Force Operations Zone Captain (Health Systems Specialist 1 EMC) serves as a uniformed, deployable first-line supervisor within the New York State EMS Task Force and directs the personnel, units, and specialized resources assigned to an EMS zone or designated operational area. The position provides direct supervision to Task Force Operations Paramedics; Plans and coordinates daily work and readiness activities; And leads routine and emergency missions involving EMS system support, medical incident operations, patient movement, healthcare facility crises, special operations, public health support, and other authorized deployments within the assigned zone and statewide.
The position translates mission objectives into safe, coordinated field operations by assessing operational needs, assigning personnel and resources, conducting briefings, establishing command and communication arrangements, monitoring safety and performance, and coordinating with the Zone Chief, State Medical Operations Coordination Center, local EMS providers, healthcare facilities, emergency management, public health, fire, law enforcement, and other partners. The position also provides technical assistance, develops assigned personnel, coordinates training and exercises, evaluates unit performance, and ensures the continuous clinical, operational, and deployment readiness of assigned personnel and resources.
The position manages varied assignments ranging from routine employee supervision, scheduling, training, and equipment readiness to rapidly evolving incidents involving critically ill or injured patients, multiple agencies, medically fragile populations, specialized resources, healthcare infrastructure failures, or hazardous and austere conditions. Work requires analysis of mission requests, staffing, clinical and safety requirements, local capabilities, incident conditions, and available state resources to establish assignments, configure response resources, adapt operational plans, and determine when additional support or higher-level review is required.
The work requires independent judgment, leadership, adaptability, and clear communication when information may be incomplete or conflicting, conditions may change throughout an operational period, and concurrent missions may compete for limited personnel or equipment. The position must balance patient and responder safety, employee supervision, local command authority, statewide policy, continuity of EMS and healthcare operations, and the limits of delegated authority. Errors in supervision, resource assignment, hazard recognition, readiness oversight, clinical or operational decision-making, or interagency coordination may result in patient harm, responder injury, loss of accountability, ineffective use of state resources, or disruption of EMS or healthcare services.
Major Functions and Associated Duties:
Personnel Supervision, Workforce Management, and Unit Leadership – 30%
Provides direct supervision to assigned Task Force Operations Paramedics and other assigned personnel; Plans and schedules work according to staffing, operational priorities, training requirements, readiness needs, and mission demands; Assigns and reassigns work according to employee qualifications, availability, and assignment complexity; Conducts routine, readiness, and mission briefings and explains applicable policies, procedures, protocols, and operational expectations; Reviews work in progress and at completion, including patient care, controlled substance, mission, equipment, time, and personnel records, for completeness, timeliness, adherence to established requirements, and identification of matters requiring clinical, supervisory, or administrative review; Monitors attendance, conduct, safety, competency, and performance; Prepares unit activity reports, staffing and readiness summaries, performance documentation, and recommendations concerning personnel, training, equipment, and operational needs for review by the Zone Chief; Approves or coordinates leave, time records, schedule changes, and coverage adjustments in accordance with policy and operational needs; Trains, coaches, counsels, and evaluates employees, addresses performance deficiencies, and recommends corrective or disciplinary action when warranted; Participates in recruitment, interviewing, selection, onboarding, and employee development; Establishes and reinforces expectations for personnel accountability, teamwork, responder safety, and professional conduct.
Mission Planning, Medical Incident Management, and Field Operations – 30%
Evaluates mission requests and incident information to determine operational objectives, personnel, vehicles, specialized assets, communications, safety, logistics, and sustainment needs; Develops and communicates field assignments, command relationships, reporting requirements, safety measures, and contingency actions; Coordinates deployment and supervises Task Force operations during EMS system disruptions, disasters, mass-casualty incidents, severe weather, public health emergencies, special events, patient movement operations, and other authorized missions; Performs assigned positions within incident command and medical incident management structures, including Task Force Leader, Strike Team Leader, Medical Group Supervisor, Treatment Unit Leader, Transport Unit Leader, Ambulance Staging Manager, liaison, or other role consistent with training and assignment; Conducts operational risk assessments and safety briefings and establishes personnel accountability, protective equipment, rehabilitation, exposure-control, and other responder-safety measures based on mission hazards and Department requirements; Modifies, delays, or suspends unsafe Task Force activities within delegated authority and requests additional safety, clinical, logistical, or command support when conditions exceed available capabilities; Provides advanced life support assessment and treatment, assists with triage or patient movement, and performs other paramedic duties when required by mission conditions, staffing needs, or immediate threats to patient safety while maintaining appropriate supervisory and command oversight; Coordinates triage, treatment, transport, casualty collection, ambulance staging, responder rehabilitation, patient tracking, medical communications, and resource accountability; Supervises specialized EMS operations supporting hazardous materials incidents, technical rescue operations, high-consequence infectious disease response, biohazard patient movement, austere environments, UTV Ambulance operations, and other complex or nontraditional missions; Integrates Task Force personnel and resources with local, regional, and state incident command structures and coordinates field activities with SMOCC and the Zone Chief; Monitors mission progress, adjusts assignments and resources, resolves operational problems, and elevates significant clinical, safety, personnel, or resource concerns; Coordinates personnel relief, demobilization, documentation, equipment restoration, and after-action activities; Prepares or approves deployment rosters, mission assignments, staffing and resource plans, communications and safety instructions, resource requests, operational logs, situation reports, personnel accountability records, demobilization documentation, and after-action submissions; Ensures mission information and significant operational decisions are documented in WebEOC and other Department-designated systems.
EMS System Support, Facility Crisis Management, and Technical Assistance – 20%
Conducts recurring operational assessments, site visits, and planning activities within the assigned zone to identify EMS coverage vulnerabilities, healthcare facility risks, seasonal and planned-event demands, potential mobilization and staging locations, logistical constraints, and available local and regional capabilities; Maintains zone-specific contact information, response references, deployment locations, resource information, access instructions, and other operational materials needed to support timely state response; Coordinates with EMS providers, healthcare facilities, emergency management agencies, public health agencies, and other response partners to validate operational assumptions, identify capability gaps, and prepare for anticipated or emerging threats; Coordinates Task Force support to EMS providers and communities experiencing temporary advanced life support (ALS) coverage gaps, staffing shortages, service interruptions, mutual aid exhaustion, unusual demand, or other operational instability; Assesses local system conditions and recommends or coordinates the deployment and positioning of Paramedic Response Units and other state resources within delegated authority; Coordinates Task Force response to hospitals, nursing homes, adult care facilities, and other healthcare settings affected by fire, flood, evacuation, power loss, HVAC failure, oxygen or utility disruption, structural concern, staffing emergency, or another threat to patient safety or continuity of operations; Coordinates with facility leadership, local incident command, SMOCC, and response partners to assess patient impacts, shelter-in-place options, evacuation requirements, transportation needs, receiving-facility coordination, patient tracking, and resource priorities; Supervises Ambulance Bus operations, multi-patient movement, alternate care sites, shelter medical operations, public health support, and deployment of mobile medical, power, HVAC, oxygen, communications, temporary treatment, and other healthcare continuity resources; Provides technical assistance to EMS providers, healthcare facilities, emergency management, and other partners concerning continuity planning, medical incident management, staffing contingencies, patient movement, facility evacuation, special event medical operations, resource requests, and use of state capabilities; Communicates regional conditions, recurring needs, capability gaps, and recommended actions to the Zone Chief.
Clinical and Operational Readiness, Specialized Assets, Training, and Continuous Improvement – 20%
Directs readiness and accountability activities for Paramedic Response Units, Special Operations ambulances, UTV Ambulances, Ambulance Buses, command and support vehicles, trailers, medications, controlled substances, medical equipment, personal protective equipment, respiratory protection, patient isolation systems, communications equipment, patient tracking systems, deployment supplies, and other specialized assets; Conducts or directs routine and mission-specific inspections and coordinates inventory, replenishment, preventive maintenance, repairs, decontamination, replacement, deployment loading, and post-mission restoration; Ensures vehicles, equipment, personnel, and deployment packages remain appropriately configured and available for assigned missions; Maintains the clinical and operational competencies required by certifications, authorizations, and assigned duties; Ensures assigned paramedics maintain the clinical knowledge, psychomotor skills, judgment, protocol proficiency, medication familiarity, and documentation competency required to provide safe and effective care; Coordinates and documents continuing education, simulation, skills validation, patient care review, field evaluation, remediation, and other Department or medical direction competency processes; Identifies clinical competency or patient-safety concerns, implements immediate operational safeguards within delegated authority, and refers matters requiring clinical restriction, remediation, or formal review through established supervisory, quality improvement, and medical direction processes; Plans and conducts drills, exercises, equipment demonstrations, mobilization tests, and regional familiarization activities; Reviews mission performance, safety events, documentation, after-action findings, and readiness data to identify corrective actions and recommend improvements to training, equipment, policies, procedures, and deployment practices; Participates in Task Force outreach, stakeholder presentations, operational demonstrations, work groups, and the development or evaluation of Task Force policies, procedures, equipment, and response capabilities.
Minimum Qualifications Permanent Transfer Candidates: Current NYS Department of Health employee with one year of permanent or contingent-permanent, competitive, service as a Health Systems Specialist 1 (EMC), SG18.
Non-Competitive Candidates via NY HELPS: New York State DOH Emergency Medical Technician-Basic (EMT B), or Advanced EMT – Intermediate (AEMT-I) certification AND four years of administrative experience in an EMS program including work as a professional EMS planner; county or regional emergency medical administrator/coordinator, administrator or officer position with an ambulance squad, or EMS educator or trainer.
Substitution: EMS experience in an ambulance service, or advanced life support first response service, may be credited on a month-to-month basis for up to two years of the required experience. College study may be substituted for up to 2 years of the required experience at the rate of 30 credit hours for 1 year of experience.
Preferred Qualifications: Preferred Qualifications (Certifications / Licenses): Current New York State Paramedic certification; Valid driver’s license acceptable in New York State; Current provider-level CPR, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life support or equivalent credentials; Completion of ICS-100, ICS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 at appointment or within six months following appointment; Completion of ICS-300 and ICS-400 preferred or required within a Department-established period following appointment; National Fire Academy EMS Incident Operations or equivalent medical incident management training; Emergency vehicle operations, hazardous materials operations, respiratory protection, bloodborne pathogens, and high-consequence infectious disease response training preferred; Current or prior Certified Instructor Coordinator or Certified Lab Instructor certification preferred.
Preferred Qualifications (Experience): At least four years of progressively responsible experience in EMS operations, emergency management, public health emergency response, healthcare emergency preparedness, or a related field, including at least two years supervising or leading EMS personnel, operational teams, or specialized response personnel; Experience scheduling and assigning staff, conducting operational briefings, evaluating performance, coordinating multi-unit or multi-agency operations, and managing fleet and equipment readiness; Experience with medical incident management, mass-casualty response, disaster operations, healthcare facility evacuation, patient movement, special operations, high-consequence infectious disease response, special event medicine, training, technical assistance, or quality improvement preferred.
Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge / Skills / Abilities): Knowledge of EMS operations, deployment strategies, personnel supervision, incident command, medical incident management, patient movement, healthcare facility emergency operations, responder safety, and specialized EMS capabilities; Skill in leadership, situational analysis, operational planning, resource coordination, performance evaluation, training facilitation, technical assistance, problem resolution, after-action review, and interagency communication; Ability to direct personnel in high-stress environments, make timely decisions with incomplete information, manage competing priorities, maintain personnel and resource accountability, and integrate state resources effectively into local command structures.
Additional Comments Health Emergency Management Statement: All Division of State Emergency Medical Services staff are expected to participate in emergency management activities as part of their roles. While not all positions require regular deployment to disaster sites, all employees may be subject to 24/7 recall for emergency operations. This may involve irregular work hours, duties outside of the official position description, and assignments at locations other than the designated duty station. Travel in support of emergency operations may be extensive (lasting from days to weeks), with little advance notice, and may involve relocation to sites with physically demanding and challenging operational conditions.
When reviewing qualifications, omissions and vagueness cannot be interpreted in the candidate’s favor. Candidates are responsible for providing accurate and clear descriptions of their experience demonstrating how they meet the minimum qualifications.
This position is part of the NYS HELPS program. No examination is required.
This position may require travel throughout New York State including overnights to areas not served by public transportation.
We offer a work-life balance and a generous benefits package, worth 65% of salary, including:
• Holiday & Paid Time Off
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF)
• Pension from New York State Employees’ Retirement System
• Shift & Geographic pay differentials
• Affordable Health Care options
• Family dental and vision benefits at no additional cost
• NYS Deferred Compensation plan
• Access to NY 529 and NY ABLE College Savings Programs, and U.S. Savings Bonds
• And many more...
The NYS Department of Health is committed to making New York a safer, healthier, and more equitable place to live. Understanding health equity, social determinants of health and health disparities is critical to accomplish our goal of eliminating health disparities. For more information on the NYS Department of Health’s Mission, Vision, Values and Strategic Plan, please visit: https://health.ny.gov/commissioner/index.htm
If you require reasonable accommodation to complete a job application, a job interview or to otherwise participate in the hiring process, please contact by phone 518-486-1812 or email doh.sm.Reasonable.Accommodation@health.ny.gov to make a request.
The NYS Department of Health does not participate in E-Verify and does not sponsor visa applications.
For new State employees appointed to graded positions, the annual salary is the hiring rate of the position (beginning of the salary range). Promotion salaries are calculated by the NYS Office of the State Comptroller in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law, OSC Payroll rules and regulations, and negotiated union contracts.
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Name Human Resource Management Group, PC/HSS1EMC/TFZC
Email Address resume@health.ny.gov
Address
Street Corning Tower, Empire State Plaza, Room 2217
Notes on ApplyingPlease submit your resume and cover letter through the online portal using the link below:
https://apps.health.ny.gov/pubpal/builder/survey/EMS066.2615
Alternatively, resumes and cover letters may also be submitted by:
Email to: Resumes@health.ny.gov
Mail to: Human Resources Management Group, PC/HSS1EMC/TFZC, Rm 2217, Corning Tower Building, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY 12237-0012
Fax to: (518) 473-3395