Director of Emergency Management

Illinois State University; Normal (IL); Hybrid; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Insurance benefits, including health,

Tuition waiver benefits available to

Paid holiday / administrative closures

Retirement and supplemental retirement

Paid benefit time

Job summary

Illinois State University in Normal, IL seeks a Director of Emergency Management to lead the university's comprehensive emergency management program and ensure preparedness before, during, and after crises. You will oversee staff, coordinate public safety operations, and align plans with federal, state, and local regulations.

The role requires a collaborative leader with strong communication, analytical skills, and expertise in NIMS/FEMA guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency management with responsibilities for mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
• Experience supervising and developing professional staff, including hiring, coaching, and performance management.
• PEM certification or the certification must be acquired within 2 years of employment.
• Expertise in emergency management and disaster planning, including leading preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts and applying NIMS, FEMA guidance, and related frameworks.
• Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, policies, and practices related to emergency management.
• Valid driver's license.
• Ability to report to the Normal campus within 30 minutes of notification; on-call 24/7 for emergencies.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the University's Emergency Operations Plan and related documents and support plans.
• Supervise emergency management staff, including hiring, onboarding, performance management, and evaluation; ensure alignment with priorities.
• Train designated University personnel in emergency preparedness and response duties.
• Develop, deliver and evaluate drills and exercises to enhance the University's emergency response capability.
• Maintain records, documentation, reports related to emergency management activities and training.
• Coordinate emergency planning, briefings and public safety operations for special events.
• Collaborate with University personnel to ensure local emergency plans and training are utilized and understood.
• Serve as University Emergency Manager coordinating response to significant emergencies and disasters.

Skills

Emergency management

Leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

NIMS knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

PEM certification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Title: Director of Emergency Management
Department: Emergency Management
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

The Director of Emergency Management is a member of a campus-wide team of public safety professionals within the Division of Student Affairs. The overall responsibility of the team is to monitor and assess conditions on campus and provide necessary oversight to ensure that ISU provides a safe and resilient campus for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. This position is responsible for leading the University's emergency comprehensive management program and ensuring that the University is adequately prepared before, during, and after any type of crisis that may impact campus. This position provides direct supervision to full-time staff and student employees, including oversight of performance management, professional development, and day-to-day operational direction.

The successful candidate will be a collaborative and strategic leader with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, capable of building productive relationships across a diverse range of campus and community stakeholders. They will demonstrate sound judgment, effective problem-solving and decision-making abilities, and a proven capacity to advance organizational goals through partnership, teamwork, and influence. The candidate will possess the technical and professional competencies necessary to lead a comprehensive emergency management program, including expertise in emergency preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery; knowledge of federal, state, and local emergency management regulations and practices; and the ability to apply National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) guidance, and other nationally recognized emergency management frameworks and protocols. Success in the role requires strong analytical and technical skills, proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, and the ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and specifications to support emergency planning, mitigation, and response activities. Above all, the individual will exhibit adaptability, resilience, and a commitment to preparedness and continuous improvement while navigating the complex and evolving needs of a university environment.

The Director of Emergency Management is directly responsible for the following:

• - Develop and maintain the University's Emergency Operations Plan and related documents and support plans
• - Supervise emergency management staff, including hiring, onboarding, and professional development and evaluation; ensure alignment with departmental and University priorities while fostering a high-performing team
• - Train designated University personnel in their assigned responsibilities and duties associated with emergency preparedness and response activities
• - Develop, deliver and evaluate drills and exercises that serve to raise the University's capability to respond during and after an emergency
• - Maintain required records, documentation, reports, etc. associated with emergency management activities and related training
• - Coordinate emergency planning, briefings and public safety operations for special events
• - Collaborate with University personnel to ensure that local emergency response plans, training and education are effectively utilized to ensure campus personnel are familiar with emergency response actions for various types of emergencies
• - Serve as University Emergency Manager in coordinating the response efforts to significant University emergencies and disasters

Additional Information

The Director of Emergency Management will be expected to set an example in fulfilling duties and responsibilities in a professional manner and to work in a collaborative and positive manner with on-and-off campus public safety staff, respecting each member's skills and capabilities, as well limitations.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$125,000 - $150,000 annually

University Benefit Highlights

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday / administrative closures during Fall and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/

Required Qualifications

• 1. Bachelor's degree.
• 2. A minimum of seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency management or a closely related field, with demonstrated responsibility for comprehensive emergency management functions, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
• 3. Demonstrated experience supervising and developing professional staff, including hiring, performance management, coaching, and team leadership.
• 4. Illinois (or other state) Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) certification or acquired within 2 years of employment.
• 5. Demonstrated expertise in emergency management and disaster planning, including the ability to lead preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery efforts and apply NIMS, FEMA guidance, and other nationally recognized emergency management frameworks and protocols.
• 6. Knowledge of federal, state, and local regulations, policies, and practices related to emergency management.
• 7. Valid driver's license.
• 8. Must be able to report to the Normal campus within 30 minutes of notification during emergency situations and critical incidents. This position is on call 24/7 for emergencies.

Preferred Qualifications

• 1. Degree in emergency management, homeland security, fire science, criminal justice, public administration, public safety administration, business continuity, risk management, environmental health and safety, or related field.
• 2. Master's degree.
• 3. Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) or Professional Emergency Manager (PEM).
• 4. Higher education emergency management experience.
• 5. Experience leading emergency management programs in complex organizations such as universities, healthcare systems, municipalities, government agencies, or large corporations.

Work Hours

Core work hours are Monday through Friday, 8:0 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Due to the nature of emergency management operations, this position serves in an on-call capacity 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and must be available to respond to emergencies, critical incidents, severe weather events, and other situations that may affect the safety and continuity of University operations. Evening, weekend, holiday, and extended hours are required as operational conditions warrant.

Functional Expectations

Must be able to complete the following with or without a reasonable accommodation:

• 1. Remain at a workstation for extended periods
• 2. Move about in various locations on and off campus as needed to complete day-to-day work
• 3. Effectively communicate on a daily basis

Proposed Starting Date

1/4/2027

Required Applicant Documents

• Resume/C.V.
• Cover Letter
• Reference List (specifically, the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of at least three professional references)

Special Instructions for Applicants

A leadership profile, providing additional information about Illinois State University and the position, is available here. This posting will be updated with a link to the leadership profile at that time.

Applicants for this position must be currently legally authorized to work for Illinois State University in the United States. Illinois State University will not sponsor or take over the sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. Illinois State University is not a qualifying employer for the STEM OPT benefit: only the 12-month OPT may be used to work at Illinois State University.

Contact Information for Applicants

Cindy Lotz
[e-mail]

Important Information for Applicants

This position is subject to a criminal background investigation and if applicable, an employment history review, based on University Policy 3.1.30 and any offer of employment is contingent upon you passing a satisfactory criminal background investigation and/or an employment history review. You may not begin work until the criminal background investigation results have been received and cleared by Human Resources.

Illinois State University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

If you are an individual with a disability and need a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or other state or federal law you may request an accommodation by contacting the Office of Equal Opportunity and Access at [phone]. The Office of Equal Opportunity and Access will hold any confidential information you provide in confidence.

If you are having difficulty accessing the system, please call Human Resources at [phone].