Senior Emergency Response Planner

Nigel Wright Consultancy Ltd (UK); Oregon; Hybrid; USD 94,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Metro in the greater Portland region seeks a Senior Emergency Planner to lead emergency preparedness efforts, design exercises, and coordinate with regional partners to strengthen readiness and response. You will maintain emergency plans and support EOC operations during critical events.

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in a related field and at least three years in emergency management or policy development, with strong communication and training skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field such as environmental science, public administration, or emergency management.
• Three years of experience in emergency management, project management, or public policy development.
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

Responsibilities

• Design and lead engaging exercises using Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) best practices to test capabilities, strengthen readiness, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with departments across Metro to develop, maintain, evaluate, and improve emergency response plans.
• Support occupational health and safety drills and preparedness activities that build confidence, capability and readiness throughout the organization.
• Facilitate after-action reviews, develop improvement recommendations, and help track corrective actions to ensure lessons learned are translated into meaningful organizational changes.
• Help maintain and enhance Metro's Emergency Operations Plan and other key preparedness, response and recovery documents.
• Support Metro's emergency communications and incident coordination capabilities, including emergency notifications, crisis communications, and operational coordination tools.
• Serve in a primary support role during emergency response activities, including supporting Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions.
• Collaborate with internal partners on systems and tools that support emergency communications, video management, and access management.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field such as environmental science, public administration, or emergency management

Job description

This recruitment will close at 11:59 PM on October 7, 2026, or once 100 applications have been received, whichever occurs first. Qualified applicants are strongly encouraged to apply as early as possible to ensure consideration.

Hello, we’re Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.

Join Metro's Office of Risk, Readiness & Resilience (R3) and play a vital role in advancing the region's preparedness and resilience efforts. Metro is seeking a collaborative and strategic Senior Emergency Planner to lead emergency preparedness initiatives that strengthen the agency's ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disruptions. In this role, you will coordinate exercises, enhance emergency plans, cultivate partnerships with regional stakeholders, and support emergency response operations during critical events. This position is ideal for a proactive problem solver who is passionate about applying lessons learned to drive continuous improvement and organizational readiness.

As the Senior Emergency Planner you will:

• Design and lead engaging exercises using Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) best practices to test capabilities, strengthen readiness, and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Partner with departments across Metro to develop, maintain, evaluate, and improve emergency response plans.
• Support occupational health and safety drills and preparedness activities that build confidence, capability and readiness throughout the organization.
• Facilitate after-action reviews, develop improvement recommendations, and help track corrective actions to ensure lessons learned are translated into meaningful organizational changes.
• Help maintain and enhance Metro's Emergency Operations Plan and other key preparedness, response and recovery documents.
• Support Metro's emergency communications and incident coordination capabilities, including emergency notifications, crisis communications, and operational coordination tools.
• Serve in a primary support role during emergency response activities, including supporting Emergency Operations Center (EOC) functions.
• Collaborate with internal partners on systems and tools that support emergency communications, video management, and access management.

Attributes for success:

• Enjoy bringing people together to solve complex problems and improve organizational readiness.
• Energized by planning, facilitating, and evaluating emergency management exercises and drills.
• Have experience designing, developing and delivering engaging training for a variety of audiences.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, especially when navigating complex or high-pressure situations.
• Build strong, productive relationships across departments and with external partners.
• Bring an understanding of emergency management principles and emergency planning processes.
• Are comfortable working and navigating in ambiguity, balancing multiple priorities, and adapting to changing needs.
• Take a continuous improvement approach and enjoy turning ideas and lessons learned into practical, actionable solutions.
• Understand and apply trauma-informed and culturally responsive communication practices.
• Are passionate about strengthening resilience, preparedness, and public service.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro’s goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.

Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity

TO QUALIFY

We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.

Minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field such as environmental science, public administration, or emergency management.
• Three years of experience in emergency management, project management, or public policy development.
• Any combination of education, professional, volunteer and lived experience that provides the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the classification duties and responsibilities.

If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply

If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.

Hybrid Telework

This position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will be required to work onsite and at times have the option to work away from your assigned work location. The specific schedule and balance of onsite and telework will be discussed with the hiring manager at the time of offer. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. Please note, the designation of hybrid telework may be subject to change at a future time.

Like to have qualifications

You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.

• Master Exercise Practitioner (MEP) Certificate or other professional certifications related to emergency management.
• Experience working in local, regional, state, or federal government.

SCREENING AND EVALUATION

The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.

• A completed online application
• Responses to supplemental questions

The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.

• Initial review of minimum qualifications
• In-depth evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
• Consideration of top candidates/interviews
• Testing/assessments (if applicable)
• Reference check
• Background records check for finalist candidate

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON

The full-salary range for this position is step 1: $94,106.41 to step 7: $126,142.16 annually.However, unless a candidate’s qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro’s internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1: $94,106.41 to the equity range step 3: $103,758.91 annually.

This position is not eligible for overtime and is represented by AFSCME union. It is classified as a Senior Solid Waste Planner.

Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.

Questions?

Equal employment opportunity

All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.

Non-discrimination in hiring decisions

Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions – including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation – must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.

Accommodation

Metro will gladly provide a reasonable accommodation to anyone whose specific disability prevents them from completing this application or participating in this recruitment process. Please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Veterans' preference

Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans' preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans' preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.

Hybrid Telework

This position is designated as “hybrid telework.” You will be required to work onsite and at times have the option to work away from your assigned work location. The specific schedule and balance of onsite and telework will be discussed with the hiring manager at the time of offer. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. Please note, the designation of hybrid telework may be subject to change at a future time.

Pay equity at Metro

No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.

Online applications

Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.

Metro

Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area’s garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.