Description
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 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 is 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 as limitations.
Proposed Starting Date: 11/1/2026
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)
These documents are required to be submitted online in order to complete the application process. Please have these documents ready prior to clicking on "Apply"
Application Deadline: Jul 26 2026 - 23:55 CDT
Requirements
Required Qualifications:
1. Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management, Fire Science, Criminal Justice, or related field
2. A minimum of 10 years of experience in all four phases of emergency management (mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery).
3. Illinois (or other state) Professional Emergency Manager (PEM) certification or acquired within 2 years of employment.
4. Knowledge in several areas of discipline, to include disaster planning, emergency management, emergency preparedness, National Incident Management System, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other nationally recognized emergency response agencies and protocols.
5. Demonstrated experience supervising and developing professional staff, including hiring, performance management, coaching, and team leadership
6. Training or experience in Project Management
7. Knowledge of current federal, state, and local regulations, policies and practices regarding emergency management requirements as they apply to higher education facilities.
8. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate with individuals from various technical and educational backgrounds
9. Demonstrated Leadership skills, including effective teamwork skills
10. Ability to collaborate with campus leadership to identify, develop and administer effective strategies that achieve short- and long-term organizational objectives.
11. Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationship with internal and external constituencies.
12. Operational problem solving and decision making experience
13. Computer skills, including all Microsoft Office applications
14. Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and specifications.
15. Ability to work, develop professionally, and adapt to challenges and changes typical for an office setting.
16. Valid driver's license.
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Master's degree in related field
2. Certified Emergency Manager (CEM)
3. A minimum of 5 years of higher education emergency management leadership experience
Work Hours: Core work hours are M-F, 8:00am - 4:30pm. Work hours beyond core hours required as business needs dictate.
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
In addition, the following can be encountered while employed in this position:
1. Extended hours and flex hours
2. On-call participation (rotational basis)
3. Temperature extremes
4. Inclement weather
Special Instructions for Applicants:
For additional information about ISU and the position, please visit the leadership profile linked in the position posting.
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.
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 (309) 438-3383. 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 (309) 438-8311.
