Director, Emergency Management & Preparedness - 137106

La Jolla

9500 Gilman Drive, San Diego, CA 92093, United States

#137106 Director, Emergency Management & Preparedness

Filing Deadline : Thu 10 / 30 / 2025

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UC San Diego values and welcomes people from all backgrounds. If you are interested in being part of our team, possess the needed licensure and certifications, and feel that you have most of the qualifications and / or transferable skills for a job opening, we strongly encourage you to apply.

DESCRIPTION

The Director of Emergency Management & Preparedness provides campus-wide leadership for the university's emergency management and preparedness programs, ensuring readiness and resilience across all academic, administrative, and health divisions. Operating at the strategic level, the Director develops, manages, and evaluates systems and policies designed to safeguard the institution against natural disasters, acts of violence, public health crises, cyberattacks, supporting free expressive activities, and other events that could impact the university's mission and assets.

A central responsibility is leadership of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the university's hub for coordinated emergency response and recovery. The Director is accountable for all EOC activities, including implementation of the comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan, integration across the five Incident Command System (ICS) Sections (Management, Operations, Planning & Intelligence, Logistics, Finance & Administration), and oversight of Command Staff roles such as Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer, Special Needs Officer, and Safety Officer. The Director ensures decisions made within the EOC are strategically aligned, operationally effective, and coordinated with executive leadership, field command officers, police, fire marshals, emergency medical teams, and other first responders.

The Director serves as the primary advisor and liaison to the Executive Policy Group (EPG), comprised of the Chancellor's Cabinet, providing expert recommendations on priorities, policies, and resource allocation during crises. In guiding the EPG, the Director ensures that executive decisions are informed by professional emergency management expertise and aligned with organizational strategy.

The Director builds and sustains partnerships with city, county, and state emergency agencies, as well as local utilities, health services, UC systemwide EOC teams, and other community partners to ensure coordinated planning and mutual aid. Equally important is fostering collaboration with campus and Health stakeholders to integrate academic, administrative, and operational units into a cohesive emergency management framework.

To strengthen preparedness, the Director works with Vice Chancellors and campus departments to ensure that each unit develops and maintains emergency action and business continuity plans. The Director oversees the infrastructure that assigns building managers to every university facility, establishes evacuation plans and safety committees, and promotes a culture of preparedness across the institution.

Exercising delegated authority on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Director leads a department with organization-wide impact and broad service responsibilities. Errors in judgment, poor recommendations, or failure to meet objectives could significantly affect the university's financial stability, academic standing, reputation, and the safety of the members of our community.

The position requires strong project management skills to assess needs, develop and implement strategies, and build cross-functional relationships that ensure success. The Director leads the team responsible for training, drills, preventative programs, debriefs, regulatory reporting, and corrective actions to continuously strengthen readiness.

The Director also ensures that preparedness and response are supported by robust technology and communication systems, including mass notification platforms, data continuity systems, and cybersecurity resilience measures. The role is the primary point of accountability for external audits, federal and state compliance, accreditation standards, and emergency management reporting. A priority is advancing equity and accessibility by ensuring emergency plans, drills, communications, and resources accommodate individuals with disabilities, language access needs, and diverse campus populations reinforcing transparency, compliance, and inclusivity across all operations.

The role is on call 24 / 7, 365 days a year, as emergencies may arise at any time and require immediate leadership.

Success in this position requires political acumen and the ability to engage a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including students, parents, faculty, staff, community members, media representatives, university leadership, and local and state officials. The Director must navigate complex situations with diplomacy while providing steady, decisive leadership in times of crisis.

This role carries accountability to the Chancellor, the Office of the President, the UC Regents, the campus community, and the public to ensure all incidents are managed effectively, transparently, and in alignment with the university's mission and regulatory obligations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Comprehensive and thorough knowledge and understanding of EH&S technical requirements, logistics, materials and operations, rules, regulations, laws, etc.
• Excellent management skills to effectively lead and direct subordinate staff.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communications skills, including advanced political acumen and skill to effectively communicate with diverse constituencies in a highly political environment.
• Excellent skills to create, develop, implement EH&S projects / programs. Strong project management skills, including the ability to assess needs, develop strategies, implement plans, and measure outcomes.
• Excellent skills to appropriately and efficiently respond to and direct the response to emergencies and critical situations, including follow-up evaluation and critique of response efficacy; recommend, develop and implement changes to emergency response as required.
• Deep understanding of emergency management frameworks and structures. [Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), Emergency Operations Center (EOC), etc.]
• Advanced knowledge of risk assessment methodologies, business continuity planning, and resilience strategies.
• Demonstrated expertise in adult learning theory, instructional design, and facilitation strategies tailored to diverse professional audiences.
• Proven ability to develop, deliver, and evaluate engaging learning experiences-both in-person and virtual-that promote skill acquisition, behavior change, and organizational alignment.
• Skilled in translating complex concepts into accessible, actionable content using a variety of modalities (e.g., workshops, coaching sessions, e-learning, job aids).
• Strong understanding of learner-centered approaches, including experiential learning, reflective practice, and competency-based development.
• Ability to assess training needs, define learning objectives, and measure outcomes to ensure continuous improvement and strategic impact.
• Adept at fostering psychologically safe learning environments that encourage participation, feedback, and growth across all levels of leadership.
• Understanding of mass notification systems, emergency communications technology, data continuity systems, and cybersecurity as they relate to organizational resilience.
• Competence in analyzing complex information, making sound decisions under pressure, and providing expert advice in high-stakes environments.
• Ability to maintain 24 / 7 availability for emergency response and to lead effectively in unpredictable circumstances.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Pay Transparency Act

Annual Full Pay Range : $119,400 - $230,800 (will be prorated if the appointment percentage is less than 100%)

Hourly Equivalent : $57.18 - $110.54

Factors in determining the appropriate compensation for a role include experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business and organizational needs. The Hiring Pay Scale referenced in the job posting is the budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position. The Annual Full Pay Range may be broader than what the University anticipates to pay for this position, based on internal equity, budget, and collective bargaining agreements (when applicable).

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If employed by the University of California, you will be required to comply with our Policy on Vaccination Programs, which may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.

To foster the best possible working and learning environment, UC San Diego strives to cultivate a rich and diverse environment, inclusive and supportive of all students, faculty, staff and visitors. For more information, please visit UC San Diego Principles of Community .

The University of California 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, age, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state or federal law.

For the University of California's Anti-Discrimination Policy, please visit : https : / / policy.ucop.edu / doc / 1001004 / Anti-Discrimination

UC San Diego is a smoke and tobacco free environment. Please visit smokefree.ucsd.edu for more information.

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