Director of Emergency and Risk Management

Heema; Livingston (AL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

University of West Alabama is seeking a Director of Emergency and Risk Management to provide strategic leadership for emergency management, continuity of operations, and risk mitigation across campus. This role will develop, implement, and maintain policies and training to protect students, faculty, staff, visitors, and facilities.

The position requires coordinating with local, state, and federal partners, leading drills, and guiding risk governance.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in public safety, emergency management, risk management, or related area.
• Working knowledge of NIMS and ICS.
• Experience coordinating with law enforcement, fire/rescue, EMS, public health or other agencies.
• Ability to identify and assess risks and develop practical mitigation strategies.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with senior leadership and external agencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Disaster Management Plan, Emergency Response Plan, and COOP aligned with FEMA/NIMS/ICS.
• Lead preparedness initiatives including hazard identification and risk analyses.
• Coordinate emergency response planning for disasters, public health emergencies, and crises.
• Serve on Critical Incident Management Team and COOP Response Team, advising leadership.
• Conduct drills, tabletop exercises, and full-scale exercises; evaluate and improve outcomes.
• Develop risk policies and procedures; monitor risk indicators.
• Provide training on emergency preparedness and risk mitigation.

Skills

NIMS/ICS

Emergency mgmt

Risk assessment

Budget management

Stakeholder comms

Leadership

Interagency coord

Job description

FULL JOB DESCRIPTION

Director of Emergency and Risk Management

University of West Alabama: Administration and Human Resources: Campus Safety and Security

Location

University of West Alabama

Open Date

Oct 01, 2026

Description

The Director of Emergency and Risk Management provides strategic leadership, planning, coordination, and oversight for the University of West Alabama's comprehensive emergency management, continuity of operations, and risk management programs. This position is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining policies, procedures, training, and response frameworks that safeguard students, faculty, staff, visitors, facilities, and University operations.

The Director ensures institutional preparedness, regulatory compliance, and risk mitigation through collaboration with University leadership and internal and external partners.

Emergency Management & Preparedness

• Maintain and update the University's Disaster Management Plan, Emergency Response Plan, and Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) in alignment with FEMA's National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
• Lead University preparedness initiatives, including hazard identification, vulnerability assessments, and risk analyses.
• Coordinate emergency response planning for natural disasters, public health emergencies, active threat incidents, severe weather, infrastructure failures, and other crises.
• Serve as a key member of the Critical Incident Management Team, the COOP Response Team, and advise University leadership during emergencies.
• Conduct drills, tabletop exercises, and full-scale exercises; evaluate outcomes and implement improvements.

Risk Management

• Lead the University's risk management framework to identify, assess, prioritize, and mitigate institutional risks.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies and monitor risk indicators.
• Develop and maintain risk policies and procedures aligned with industry best practices.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies surrounding minors on campus.

Training

• Provide training and awareness programs for faculty, staff, and students on emergency preparedness and risk mitigation.
• Maintain required documentation, reporting, and regulatory submissions.

Partnerships & Coordination

• Serve as primary liaison to local, state, and federal emergency management agencies.
• Coordinate with law enforcement, fire services, public health agencies, and community partners.
• Represent the University in regional emergency planning committees and mutual aid networks.

Leadership & Administration

• Manage departmental budget.
• Develop annual goals, metrics, and reports for University leadership.
• Advise University leadership on institutional risk posture and emergency preparedness readiness.

Qualifications

Required:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in public safety, law enforcement, emergency management, risk management, business continuity, occupational safety, or a closely related area.
• Working knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS).
• Experience coordinating with law enforcement, fire and rescue services, emergency medical services, public health agencies, emergency management agencies, and other governmental or community partners.
• Experience with emergency notification systems, emergency operations centers, crisis communications, or emergency management technology.
• Ability to identify and assess risks and develop practical risk mitigation strategies.
• Experience managing budgets, contracts, or departmental resources.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with senior leadership, employees, students, public safety personnel, and external agencies.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain composure when responding to emergencies, crises, and other time-sensitive situations.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and coordinate projects involving multiple departments or agencies.
• Ability to respond to University emergencies outside normal business hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as necessary.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel as required for University business.

Preferred:

• Fifteen or more years of progressively responsible experience in public safety, law enforcement, emergency management, risk management, business continuity, occupational safety, or a closely related area.
• Experience developing, implementing, or maintaining emergency response plans, continuity of operations plans, risk assessments, or related policies and procedures.
• Experience developing policies, procedures, training programs, and compliance documentation.
• Experience advising executive leadership regarding emergency preparedness, organizational risk, or crisis response.

FLSA

Exempt

Position Details

Review of applications will begin immediately, with an anticipated start date of February 1, 2027.

Application Instructions

Before hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation, including information obtained from social media and other internet sources.

AA/EO Employer.

Minority applications encouraged.

University of West Alabama (UWA)