Director of Response Operations

Job Title

Director of Response Operations

Agency

Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service

Department

Administration

Proposed Minimum Salary

$14,104.50 monthly

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Texas A&M Task Force 1 is a premier urban search and rescue team and a key statewide emergency response asset. Based in College Station and sponsored by the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), the task force serves both as a FEMA deployable resource and as a Texas emergency response capability for major disasters.

Texas A&M Task Force 1 is built for rapid deployment in high-consequence incidents such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, structural collapses, and other large-scale emergencies. Its personnel include firefighters, rescue specialists, medical providers, canine handlers, and technical experts who operate as a highly coordinated team under demanding, often austere, conditions.

Part of what distinguishes Texas A&M Task Force 1 from other FEMA teams is its broader mission profile. In addition to the traditional FEMA urban search and rescue activities, Texas A&M Task Force 1, Texas Task Force 2, and Texas Task Force 3 support swift water rescue and helicopter rescue operations, making it especially valuable in Texas, where disasters often involve both inland flooding and wide-area impact. The team is designed to be self-sufficient, mobile, and ready to sustain operations over extended periods.

Specific to the Director of Response Operations, the position requires an individual skilled in disciplined readiness, interagency coordination, and mission adaptability. Its work demands strong leadership, operational excellence, and the ability to manage complex resources while protecting lives in the most challenging disaster environments.

The Director of Response Operations oversees the Texas A&M Task Force and related TEEX response teams and is responsible for leading the emergency response system that manages Emergency Support Function (ESF-9 Urban Search and Rescue) capabilities, ensuring statewide operational readiness and seamless integration with FEMA’s National US&R Response System. The Director leads the emergency response system and coordinates Task Force deployments in response to Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) requests, FEMA activation requests, and other local, state, and federal incidents.

This role is responsible for strategic planning; oversight of training, exercises, and canine programs; financial and grant management, including compliance with the FEMA Cooperative Agreement; maintenance of the equipment cache lifecycle; and facility security. The Director leverages and coordinates resources across the State of Texas to deliver immediate rescue and emergency relief services to disaster-impacted communities.

The Director serves as the senior liaison to key state and national partners, including the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), Texas Military Department (TMD), Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), FEMA US&R Branch, and local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs), and provides management and oversight of Texas A&M Task Force 1, Texas Task Force 2, and Texas A&M Task Force 3.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

• Ten years of progressively responsible experience in agency-level strategic planning and operations, including managing complex programs, personnel, and budgets; improving organizational processes and workplace effectiveness; and direct experience supporting or operating within a federal or state Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force.

A FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Task Force is a multidisciplinary, highly trained team authorized by FEMA to locate, extricate, and provide initial medical stabilization for victims trapped in collapsed structures or confined spaces.

Required Licenses/Certifications: 

• Must have a valid motor vehicle operator’s license or ability to obtain within 30 days of employment.

• Must have a valid passport or ability to obtain within 180 days of employment.

Preferred Qualifications: