Director of Emergency Management

Title: Director of Emergency Management
Department: Emergency Management
Campus Location: Normal, IL

Job Summary

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.

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
• 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 will be 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 limitations.

Salary Rate / Pay Rate

$125,000 – $150,000 annually

University Benefit Highlights

• Insurance benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life
• Retirement and supplemental retirement planning options
• Tuition waiver benefits available to staff as well as their eligible dependents
• Paid holiday/administrative closures during Fall and Winter Breaks
• Paid benefit time

Additional University Benefit information, including information regarding eligibility to participate in the State Universities Retirement System and the State of Illinois Group Insurance program, can be reviewed here: https://hr.illinoisstate.edu/benefits/ 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. Training or experience in Project Management
6. Knowledge of current federal, state, and local regulations, policies and practices regarding emergency management requirements as they apply to a higher education facilities.
7. Excellent written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate with individuals from various technical and educational backgrounds
8. Demonstrated Leadership skills, including effective teamwork skills
9. Ability to collaborate with campus leadership to identify, develop and administer effective strategies that achieve short- and long-term organizational objectives.
10. Excellent interpersonal skills to develop and maintain effective working relationship with internal and external constituencies.
11. Operational problem solving/decision making experience
12. Computer skills, to include: all Microsoft Office applications
13. Ability to read and interpret architectural drawings and specifications.
14. Ability to work, develop professionally, and adapt to challenges and changes typical for an office setting.
15. 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

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)

Please Note: 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”

Special Instructions for Applicants

For additional information about ISU and the position, please visit the leadership profile.

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.

Contact Information for Applicants

Cindy Lotz
cllotz@ilstu.edu

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.

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