Director of Emergency Management

FORDHAM University; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 122,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Fordham University seeks a Director of Emergency Management to provide university-wide leadership for emergency management, fire safety coordination, and operational readiness across its campuses. The role requires travel to all university locations and on-call availability 24/7 for emergencies.

Responsibilities include maintaining the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, coordinating activations, and advising senior leadership on risks, gaps, and resource needs while partnering with IT,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, fire safety, or related field.
• Minimum of three years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Experience coordinating emergency response activities in a complex organization.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, implement, and improve the emergency management program including preparedness, response, recovery, continuity planning and fire safety.
• Maintain the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and related campus plans, protocols, and checklists.
• Coordinate emergency activations and incident responses across all campuses; act in senior incident management roles.
• Partner with university leadership and campus partners to ensure effective preparedness and notification systems.
• Advise university leadership on risks, gaps, and resource needs; drive continuous improvement through after-action reporting.
• Oversee vehicle operation in compliance with regulations and insurance requirements.

Skills

Emergency management

Public safety

Fire safety

Leadership

Planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

NIMS/ICS knowledge

Emergency notification systems

Job description

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement plans; life insurance; short and long-term disability; employee assistance program ( EAP ); tuition remission; and generous time off. Successful candidates should have a knowledge of and commitment to the goals of Jesuit Education.

Reporting to the Associate Vice President of Public Safety, the Director of Emergency Management provides University-wide leadership for emergency management, fire safety coordination, and operational readiness. The Director will oversee the University’s emergency management program and maintain a comprehensive and compliant framework that supports the safety of staff, students, faculty, and visitors. The Director serves as a senior emergency management leader during critical incidents and coordinates strategic and operational responses across all campuses. This position is required to travel to all University campuses and locations and is on call 24/7 for emergencies.

Essential FunctionsLeads, develops, implements, and continuously improves the University’s comprehensive emergency management program, including emergency preparedness, response, recovery, continuity planning, mitigation, training, and fire safety. Maintains, updates, and operationalizes the University’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and related campus-specific emergency plans, protocols, annexes, checklists, response guides, and emergency communication procedures. Provides leadership and coordination for emergency activations, critical incidents, planned events, severe weather, campus disruptions, and fire safety planning, serving in senior incident management roles and supporting the Associate Vice President for Public Safety. In coordination with the Associate Vice President, coordinates campus-wide emergency preparedness initiatives, including active threat preparedness, evacuation planning, shelter-in-place planning, continuity of operations, fire and life safety, hazardous materials, public health emergencies, utility disruptions, demonstrations, and large campus events. Ensures that emergency management and fire safety programs align with applicable federal, state, and local requirements, including relevant standards and best practices for higher-education emergency preparedness. Partners with University leadership, Information Technology, University Marketing and Communications, Facilities, Residential Life, Public Safety, and external agencies to ensure effective emergency preparedness, emergency notification systems, fire safety compliance, and coordinated response. Establishes and maintains relationships with external emergency response and public safety partners, including NYPD , FDNY , NYC Emergency Management, local law enforcement, local fire officials, EMS providers, and other local, state, and federal agencies. Ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local emergency management and fire safety requirements, while maintaining emergency management records, training documentation, exercise records, fire safety documentation, plans, reports, and other materials needed for compliance and institutional learning. Advises University leadership on emergency preparedness risks, gaps, priorities, and resource needs while leading continuous improvement efforts through after-action reporting and tracking corrective actions. Operates University vehicles in compliance with federal, state, and local regulations and insurance requirements.

Essential Functions NoteThis list is not intended to be an exhaustive list.The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Management ResponsibilitiesProvides strategic leadership and contributes to higher-level direction. Typically oversees managers via direct and indirect reports. Responsible for hiring, developing leaders, managing performance, corrective action, and compensation decisions.

Additional FunctionsServes as Emergency Operations Center Manager or in another leadership role within the University’s incident management structure. Represents the University at emergency management, fire safety, higher education safety, and public safety meetings, trainings, conferences, and professional development programs. Participates in campus planning efforts related to safety, emergency preparedness, major events, construction impacts, and business continuity. Supports the development of emergency preparedness communications, videos, guides, website content, and instructional materials. Coordinates with campus partners on preparedness programs for students, employees, visitors, and special populations. Supports other Public Safety initiatives and programs as assigned by the Associate Vice President for Public Safety.

Required Qualifications: Education and ExperienceBachelor’s degreeMinimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, fire safety, law enforcement, emergency services, higher education administration, or a closely related field. Minimum of three years of supervisory or team leadership experience. Demonstrated experience developing, implementing, and evaluating emergency management plans, training, exercises, or preparedness programs. Experience coordinating emergency response activities in a complex organization. Valid driver’s license.

Required Qualifications: Knowledge and SkillsAdvanced knowledge of emergency management principles, including preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and continuity planning. Working knowledge of the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System, preferably in a higher education, campus, municipal, or similarly complex setting. Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage staff, set priorities, and coordinate work across multiple departments or campuses. Ability to direct or support an incident management team in a high-tempo environment for multiple hours or days at a time. Strong understanding of fire safety, life safety, evacuation planning, drills, and related compliance expectations. Demonstrated ability to develop and conduct training, tabletop exercises, drills, instructional materials, and after-action reports. Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills. Proven ability to manage multiple projects independently and effectively. High level of judgment, discretion, professionalism, and attention to detail. Ability to work collaboratively with senior leaders, campus partners, students, faculty, staff, external agencies, and first responders. Ability to respond to emergencies outside of normal business hours and travel among University campuses and locations as needed. Knowledge of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, explosive, severe weather, active threat, fire, and other emergency hazards, as well as related response and mitigation protocols.

Preferred QualificationsMaster’s degree in emergency management, public administration, homeland security, fire science, criminal justice, higher education administration, or a related field. Possession of a professional credential, such as the Certified Emergency Manager ( CEM ) or Associate Emergency Manager ( AEM ) designation from the International Association of Emergency Managers ( IAEM ), is highly preferred. Experience in higher education emergency management or campus public safety. Experience supervising emergency management, fire safety, public safety, or emergency services personnel. Completion of relevant FEMA , NIMS , CISA , emergency management, fire safety, or continuity planning training. Certification or membership in a recognized emergency management, fire safety, public safety, or higher education safety organization. Experience working with emergency notification systems, emergency operations centers, business continuity planning, crisis communications, and after-action improvement planning

Minimum Starting Salary Minimum Starting Salary $122,000

Maximum Starting Salary Maximum Starting Salary $135,000

Note Note Salary is commensurate with qualifications, experience, and skills.

Is this a Union position?Is this a Union position? No

Posting Number Posting Number A1135P

Number of Vacancies Number of Vacancies 1

Start Date Start Date ASAP

Posting Date Posting Date 08/31/2026

EEO Statement

Fordham University is committed to excellence and welcomes candidates of all backgrounds.Fordham University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Physical Activity and Work Environment

Physical Activity

Sitting Often

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing)

Repetitive Hand Motion (such as typing) Often

Hearing, Listening, Talking Often

Standing

Standing Seldom

Walking

Walking Seldom

Running

Running Not Required

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling

Bending, Stooping, Kneeling, squatting, Crouching, Crawling Not Required

Climbing stairs Not Required

Climbing ladders

Climbing ladders Not Required

Reaching overhead

Reaching overhead Not Required

Pulling, pushing

Pulling, pushing Not Required

Shoveling

Shoveling Not Required

Lifting – up to 20 pounds

Lifting – up to 20 pounds Not Required

Lifting – up to 50 pounds

Lifting – up to 50 pounds Not Required

Lifting – over 50 pounds Not Required

Work Environment Office Environment: Employees are protected from weather conditions or contaminants, but not necessarily occasional temperature changes., Outdoor Environment: Employees work outdoors and may not be protected from weather conditions.

Documents Needed to Apply

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental questions you will be required to answer on the application (No action is needed on this page)

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * Do you have a bachelor's degree?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, fire safety, law enforcement, emergency services, higher education administration, or a closely related field?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have experience coordinating emergency response activities in a complex organization.?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have advanced knowledge of emergency management principles, including preparedness, response, recovery, mitigation, and continuity planning?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a working knowledge of the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System, preferably in a higher education, campus, municipal, or similarly complex setting?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have a valid Driver's License?
  • Yes
  • No
• * Do you have Knowledge of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear,explosive, severe weather, active threat, fire, and otheremergency hazards, as well as related response and mitigationprotocols?
  • Yes
  • No