What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Emergency Management position at UNC Charlotte?
The mission of Safety and Security is to collaborate and engage the campus community in areas related to the protection, health and safety of students, faculty, staff and visitors while safeguarding University assets; to identify and prioritize the management and planning of risks facing the institution and coordinate the appropriate response; to ensure law enforcement standards and compliance guidelines maximize campus safety and security; and to enhance the response and recovery time for any campus emergency by preparedness, training and coordination of emergency management and business continuity principles.
Primary Purpose of Position
The Director of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is responsible for leading the planning and coordination of the Institution’s operational emergency preparedness, response, and recovery from a disaster or incident that disrupts normal operations. The Director ensures OEM adheres to a comprehensive all-hazards, whole community approach to incident planning and management based on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Preparedness System and to University Policy 701: Emergency Management which designates OEM with the following responsibilities:
- Developing and maintaining all institutional-level emergency plans, which include the following:
- University Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) including, but not limited to, the Annexes and Appendices below.
- Base Plan
- Community Lifelines
- Functional Annexes
- Hazard Specific Annexes (severe weather, active shooter, etc.)
- Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Guidebook
- Policy Group Handbook
- Family Assistance Center (FAC) Plan.
- University Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) including, but not limited to, the Annexes and Appendices below.
- Assist University Communications with the development of the Crisis Communications Plan (CCP).
- End-to-end management of the Institution’s business continuity program.
- Recovery Annex of the EOP.
- Departmental Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs).
- Strategic oversight and hazard-specific day-to-day management of the Institution’s emergency alerts system, NinerAlerts. This includes partnering with University Communications on NinerNotices for non-emergency events and incidents.
- Responsibility for campus-wide emergency trainings, exercises, and after-action reports.
- Management of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and overall coordination of institutional emergency operational response.
- Coordination of the Incident Management Team (IMT) and Policy Group (PG).
- Coordination with local, state, and federal emergency management agencies, including the UNC System, for the preparation for, response to, and recovery from any incident or disaster.
Summary of Position Responsibilities
Office Administration:
- This is a key area involving the management of the annual budget for the Office of Emergency Management, supervision and mentorship of staff, oversight of emergency management grants (including application, tracking, and reporting), maintenance of comprehensive records, representation of the organization at various emergency management forums, ensuring compliance with administrative policies, and management of procurement for necessary equipment and supplies.
Emergency Notification:
- Another key area of focus is the oversight, management, maintenance, and testing of all emergency notification and warning systems.
- This includes:
- Developing and maintaining clear protocols for system activation.
- Ensuring alert templates are regularly updated.
- Coordinating public information and warning strategies during emergencies for timely and accurate dissemination.
- Evaluating new technologies to improve notification capabilities.
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Management:
- A significant focus is on overseeing the readiness, maintenance, and technological capabilities of primary and alternate EOC facilities.
- This involves leading the development and maintenance of EOC activation procedures and staffing plans, serving as the EOC Manager during activations (or designating appropriately trained personnel based on NIMS/ICS principles), facilitating situational awareness and resource coordination within the EOC, and ensuring efficient and effective EOC operations supporting field activities.
Preparedness:
- This key area concentrates on developing and implementing strategies to enhance community and organizational readiness for potential emergencies. It includes leading hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and risk analysis processes, overseeing public education and outreach programs (such as “NinerReady” campaigns and workshops), establishing and maintaining mutual aid agreements, and identifying and pursuing grant funding to support preparedness initiatives.
Planning:
- A crucial focus is on leading the development, review, and regular updating of the comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and its associated annexes. This involves ensuring all emergency plans align with national standards (like NIMS, NRF, CPG 101) and relevant requirements, developing and maintaining hazard mitigation plans to reduce long-term risk, coordinating the development of pre-disaster and long-term recovery plans, and facilitating collaborative planning efforts with a wide range of stakeholders..
Training & Exercise:
- This area is key to ensuring the development and management of a comprehensive training program for emergency management staff, EOC personnel, incident responders, and other stakeholders, in compliance with NIMS training requirements. It includes overseeing the design, conduct, and evaluation of a progressive exercise program (e.g., drills, tabletop, functional, full-scale exercises) based on HSEEP methodology to test plans, policies, and interagency collaboration, overseeing the development of After-Action Reports and Improvement Plans, and identifying training needs.
Business Continuity / Continuity of Operations (COOP):
- A final key area of focus involves leading the development, implementation, maintenance, and testing of the organization’s Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and departmental Continuity of Operations (COOP) plans. This includes overseeing Business Impact Analyses (BIAs) to identify critical functions and recovery time objectives, ensuring coordination with department heads to identify essential personnel and resources, ensuring strategies are in place for Community Lifeline alternatives (facilities, communications, succession planning), and integrating BCP/COOP principles into overall emergency management planning and exercises.
Minimum Education/Experience
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- 8 years of emergency management experience
Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience
- 10 years experience in higher education emergency management including emergency planning, training & exercises, business continuity, and/or EOC management.
- 5 years supervisory experience in emergency management field.
- Post graduate degree/certificate in emergency management related field.
- Direct experience managing mass notification systems (Rave Mobile Safety, Alertus, etc.).
- FEMA or state emergency management instructor credential.
Necessary Certifications/Licenses
- FEMA Incident Command System 100-400.
- Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program.
- Valid Driver’s License Needed for Position.
Preferred Certifications/Licenses
- State or international emergency management designation
- National Emergency Management Basic Academy
- L-0363 Multi-hazard Emergency Planning for Higher Education
- MGT-361 Managing Critical Incidents for Higher Education Institutions
- O-305 All Hazards Incident Management Team
Special Notes to Applicants
- The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report
- The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with the finalist.
- Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to support your answers to the supplemental questions.
- UNC Charlotte Benefits Information: https://hr.charlotte.edu/benefits/benefits-overview/
Posting Open Date
11/20/2025
Posting Close Date
12/05/2025
Open Until Filled
No
Proposed Hire Date
01/05/2026
If time-limited please indicate appointment end date
Contact Information