EMS003.2603 State EMS Medical Advisor

Position Summary

The State EMS Medical Advisor serves as the medical advisor to the Division of State Emergency Medical Services, providing clinical leadership and expert consultation across all operational, regulatory, and policy functions. Working under the general direction of the State EMS Director and Deputy Director, this position advises on prehospital medical care standards, protocol development, system design, and clinical quality oversight.

In addition, the State EMS Medical Advisor serves as the Medical Director for the New York State EMS Task Force, providing medical direction, policy guidance, and clinical oversight for Task Force operations and specialty response missions. This role ensures medical readiness, establishes and maintains clinical governance and credentialing standards, and provides indirect medical direction for all Task Force operations conducted under the authority of the Department.

The State EMS Medical Advisor collaborates with the State Emergency Medical Advisory Committee (SEMAC), State EMS Council (SEMSCO), EMS medical directors, and other partners to ensure statewide alignment with evidence-based practice and equitable access to high-quality emergency care.

Complexity

This position requires the exercise of advanced clinical judgment and policy interpretation in the development and oversight of statewide EMS medical standards. Work involves balancing medical, legal, and operational factors; applying expert knowledge of emergency medicine, health-systems regulation, and EMS operations; and issuing recommendations that may have statewide consequence. The incumbent acts independently within broad policy parameters, providing authoritative consultation to executive leadership, regulatory programs, and external partners.

Non-Competitive: possession of a license to practice medicine in New York State, board-eligible or board certification in a medical specialty, and one year of experience in a clinical, hospital, or patient care setting.

Certifications / Licenses:

ICS-100, ICS-200, and IS-700 required or obtainable within six months of appointment; NFPA 1061 or APCO Public Safety Telecommunicator I/II certification (or equivalent) preferred; Emergency Medical Technician certification preferred but not required.

Experience:

Minimum of three years as an EMS Medical Director, Associate Medical Director, or Clinical Advisor; Experience as a certified EMS provider or Physician Field Responder; Experience in regulatory, healthcare oversight, or public-health systems; Experience participating in multi-agency emergency or public-health responses.

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

Expert knowledge of prehospital clinical care and EMS system design; Familiarity with New York State Public Health Law Article 30, SEMAC, and SEMSCO roles; Strong analytical skills and ability to interpret and apply clinical data; Excellent communication and presentation skills to translate clinical guidance for non-clinical audiences; Demonstrated collaboration with diverse partners across public-safety and healthcare sectors; Commitment to health equity and the continuous improvement of emergency care statewide.

Physical / Medical Fitness:

• Extended periods of computer-based work and document review.
• Occasional standing, walking, or travel for site assessments, meetings, and field coordination.
• May be required to operate in emergency response or field-based settings during activations.

Work Environment and Schedule:

• Primarily office-based with periodic work in conference, field, or operational environments.
• May be exposed to variable conditions during emergency response or investigative activities.

Tools, Equipment, and Technology: 

• Operates a state-issued vehicle for official travel to meetings, inspections, and field sites.
• Uses standard office, communication, and incident-management systems and equipment.

Clinical Policy and Medical Oversight – 25 %

Advise the Department on EMS medical care standards, clinical protocols, and quality benchmarks; Review and recommend approval of medical policies proposed by EMS agencies, SEMAC, and regional systems; Provide medical consultation on legislation, regulation, and system-design initiatives.

Quality Improvement and System Performance – 25 %

Lead and guide statewide clinical performance monitoring and quality improvement initiatives; Analyze data to identify trends, outcomes, and opportunities for improvement; Promote research and collaboration to advance evidence-based EMS practice.

Technical Assistance and Field Engagement – 15 %

Provide consultation and clinical guidance to local and regional EMS Medical Directors; Serve as a subject-matter expert during facility reviews, incident investigations, and enforcement actions; Participate in audits and compliance reviews to assess adherence to medical standards.

State EMS Task Force Medical Director – 20 %

Serve as the Medical Director for the State EMS Task Force, providing medical oversight and direction for all Task Force missions, operations, and specialty response capabilities; Develop, approve, and maintain Task Force medical policies, protocols, and operational guidelines consistent with SEMAC guidance and national standards; Oversee credentialing, competency validation, and medical readiness of Task Force personnel; Provide indirect medical direction during deployments through coordination with Task Force leadership, the State Medical Operations Coordination Center (SMOCC), and regional EMS Medical Directors; Participate in mission planning, risk assessment, and after-action review processes; Serve as liaison to partner agencies and federal counterparts regarding medical direction and clinical governance; Maintain awareness of NIMS EMS Medical Advisor standards to ensure interoperability and readiness.

Emergency Preparedness and Response – 10 %

Provide clinical oversight for EMS system readiness and public-health emergency response planning; Collaborate with public-health, fire, law-enforcement, and healthcare partners to maintain continuity of operations; Support Department response activities through SMOCC participation and consultation.

Education, Outreach, and Representation – 5 %

Represent the Division at state and national forums, committees, and workgroups; Provide education and outreach to EMS providers, medical directors, and partner organizations; Support consistent interpretation and application of statewide clinical policies.

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.

During declared emergencies or disaster activations, an employee’s normal travel requirements may be temporarily modified to meet operational needs. This may include extensive travel with little advance notice and assignments of varying duration at field, regional, or statewide locations under physically demanding or austere conditions.