Assistant Director, Emergency Management

Job Description

The Public Safety Division at Virginia Tech comprises the Police Department, Environmental Health & Safety, and Virginia Tech Emergency Management and has a critical role in supporting the well-being of our community. Virginia Tech Emergency Management takes an all-hazards approach to continuously further the capability of the community to plan for, mitigate against, respond to, and recover from an incident or emergency. The program has an integral role in the coordination and planning of university response, recovery, and resumption of operations. Its programs align with industry standards and best practices and undergo a continual process of improvement.

Under the leadership of the Executive Director of Emergency Management, the Assistant Director will coordinate the emergency planning initiatives for the university as well as provide program evaluation and compliance review with the Governor's Executive Orders, the Clery Act, University Policies and Procedures and other related regulatory requirements. The Assistant Director also provides support to and collaborates in the planning, development, implementation, analysis and documentation of emergency preparedness projects. Other duties include, but are not limited to:

• Develops and facilitates emergency preparedness training.
• Reviews and analyzes operations, prepares reports of findings, and makes recommendations including justifications for procedural or policy changes.
• Serves as an office liaison to faculty, staff, students, government agencies and community organizations.
• Conducts emergency preparedness workshops, training sessions, public awareness activities and seminars for the university community.
• Provides planning and management support before, during, and after an incident or event.
• Leads the Virginia Tech Incident Management Team and Emergency Operations Center function.

The incumbent is subject to being on-call and/or called back to work for emergencies. To ensure continuity, in the absence of the Executive Director, the Assistant Director will fulfill this role for the University.

The incumbent also performs other duties as requested; takes initiative to support a healthy work environment; strives to fulfill the terms in the Standards of Business Conduct; exemplifies Virginia Tech’s Principles of Community; and supports the university’s motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve).

Required Qualifications

Education
• Advanced degree in a related field, or a bachelor’s degree with significant training and relevant experience.

Experience
• Significant years of full-time experience in emergency management.
• Experience working with senior executives, employees at all levels of an organization, and external stakeholders and/or partners.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Comprehensive knowledge of all Emergency Management functions.
• Completion of NIMS certifications (i.e., IS 100, IS 200, IS 700, IS 800).
• Strong understanding of organizational planning processes and technologies.
• Ability to implement and improve broad-based, practical, and effective organizational plans.
• Proficient in use of computers and software.
• Ability to communicate effectively and present information to a diverse range of professionals, other interested groups, and/or individuals.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates, staff, public officials, civic and community groups, and the general public.
• Ability to network, develop and maintain effective working relationships with key individuals throughout the University and within the emergency management profession.
• Ability to prepare technical reports.
• Ability to collect, organize, retain, analyze and produce information related to emergency management and response.
• Ability to multitask, reprioritize and work, at times, with minimal direction and supervision.
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Ability to make effective presentations to large and small groups.
• Ability to translate the mission and strategic direction of the University into emergency management priorities.

Preferred Qualifications

Education
• Advanced Degree in public or business administration, urban planning, or the physical sciences.
• Certified Emergency Management (CEM) certificate

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Experience
• Experience in higher education

• Experience working for or with public agencies.
• Experience in the following emergency management areas: mitigation, response, continuity of operations, recovery, and/or preparedness.
• Experience in designing, implementing, delivering and coordinating emergency management training and exerci