Director, Emergency Preparedness & Resilience

US Diversity Job Search; Akron (OH); On-site; USD 197,000 - 284,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstEnergy in Akron, OH is seeking a Director of Emergency Preparedness to lead the company’s readiness, response, and mitigation programs across major weather events and emergencies. The role requires coordinating with operations, regulators, and external partners to protect employees, customers, and critical infrastructure.

This position drives analytics, technology, and training initiatives to strengthen grid resilience, align with regulatory expectations, and deliver sustained improvements

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in emergency management, Engineering, Meteorology, Data Science, or a related field.
• Master's degree or advanced certification (CEM, PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, or similar) preferred.
• Minimum of ten years of progressive experience in emergency preparedness, electric utility operations, or incident management.
• Experience with utility mutual assistance networks and large event logistics.
• Strong working knowledge of electric utility operations, ICS/NIMS, and regulatory requirements.
• Proven ability to leverage weather data, analytics, and technology in operational decision-making.
• Strategic leadership during high-impact, time-sensitive events.
• Effective executive communication and stakeholder engagement skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, execution, and continuous improvement of Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs).
• Direct preparedness and response activities for major system emergencies, including severe weather and infrastructure failures.
• Oversee incident command activation and ensure ICS/NIMS compliance.
• Lead after-action reviews and ensure corrective actions are identified, implemented, and tracked.
• Drive organizational change to embed preparedness, resilience, and continuous improvement into electric operations culture.

Skills

Leadership

Emergency preparedness

Regulatory compliance

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in emergency management, Engineering, Meteorology, Data Science, or a related field

Master's degree or advanced certification (CEM, PMP, Lean/Six Sigma, or similar)

Job description

FirstEnergy in Akron, OH is seeking a Director of Emergency Preparedness to lead the company’s readiness, response, and mitigation programs across major weather events and emergencies. The role requires coordinating with operations, regulators, and external partners to protect employees, customers, and critical infrastructure.

This position drives analytics, technology, and training initiatives to strengthen grid resilience, align with regulatory expectations, and deliver sustained improvements