Deputy Director, UW Emergency Management

Job Description

UW Emergency Management (UWEM) has an outstanding opportunity for a Deputy Director to join their team.

About this Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Emergency Management, the Deputy Director is responsible for the operational readiness of the university’s enterprise-wide emergency management program. This position supports the Incident Coordination Team (ICT), EOC) responders, Unit Response Centers (URC), and others to ensure the university is well-prepared to respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters.

The successful candidate must possess a high level of judgment and problem-solving skills, exceptional communication skills, and the ability to balance scheduled programmatic work with immediate, high-stress responses to unplanned events. They must be effective at guiding internal and external partners in achieving collective goals and have a proven ability to build strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders. In addition, the incumbent must possess or be able to rapidly develop deep in institutional knowledge of the University of Washington and work collaboratively across its diverse functions.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership (50%)

• Work in partnership with the UWEM Director and provide leadership and direction in their absence.
• Lead the development, continuous evaluation, and implementation of emergency management protocols and procedures, ensuring compliance with University policy as well as federal, state, local standards.
• Partner with the Training and Exercise Manager to design and facilitate high pressure exercise frameworks that build response reflexes and validate plans.
• Provide leadership in steady state times to ensure the UW community can respond effectively to high-impact emergencies.
• Manage and optimize primary, virtual, and alternate EOCs, providing operational leadership during EOC activations.
• Manage UWEM emergency response and recovery resources, ensuring equipment, technology and tools are in a continuous ready state.
• Ensure consistent delivery of emergency management program preparedness and activation efforts at all UW locations through technical support, guidance, and expert assistance across the enterprise.

Internal and external partner collaboration (40%)

• Work with key departments to ensure the Incident Coordination team (ICT) and EOC response teams, and URC personnel are identified, trained and supported.
• Align readiness efforts across the Seattle, Bothell, and Tacoma campuses, ensuring seamless communication and uniform operational standards.
• Lead the convening, monitoring, and communication between ICT, EOC, URC and other applicable teams; initiate and scale an ICT or EOC response when necessary.
• Support URCs through technical support and preparedness efforts, and cross-unit communications
• Work closely with the UWEM Training and Exercise Manager to ensure response personnel are trained regularly through programs, exercises, and drills.
• Collaborate with the Business Continuity Manager to ensure necessary plans are in place to resume business following major events.
• Support effective communication, training, coordination and response to emergency incidents that might significantly impact the University of Washington (including communicable disease outbreaks, earthquakes, storms, violence, and civil disturbances)
• Collaborate with internal departments, external agencies, and community partners to coordinate emergency planning efforts and foster mutual aid agreements.
• Represent UWEM on designated University committees, work groups and boards as assigned.

Other (10%)

• Lead coordination and share in duty phone emergency call coverage responsibilities with rest of UWEM team.
• Share in Crisis Communications team response coverage with rest of UWEM team.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

To be considered for this opportunity your application must demonstrate you meet both the minimum qualifications and additional qualifications listed below. Equivalent education and/or experience may substitute for minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license, certification, and/or registration.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants who do not meet these qualifications WILL NOT be forwarded to the Hiring Department.

• Bachelor’s Degree in Public Health, Emergency Management, Environmental Health and Safety, Social Sciences, or related field.
• Five years of progressive experience in emergency preparedness activities, disaster operations, project management, or operational contingency planning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Operational Response Experience: Proven track record leading response operations, logistics, or program development. Higher education background is not required; broad-scale operational experience is essential.
• Adaptive Collaboration: demonstrated ability to build relationships across diverse, non-traditional stakeholder groups by translating technical emergency concepts into practical, localized language.
• Action-Oriented Planning: Direct experience developing and using functional emergency plans and exercises focused on operational execution and utility.
• Digital Literacy: High proficiency in utilizing collaborative platforms to rapidly synthesize complex information into simple, useable operational terms during an incident.
• Crisis Composure: Proven ability to remain anchored, objective, and decisive during fluid, high-stress situations while managing changing priorities effectively.
• Problem-solving and Integrity: demonstrated capability to anticipate, recognize, and resolve complex structural problems with personal integrity, trustworthiness, and professional tact.

About the Team

UW Emergency Management (UWEM) works to increase the safety and resilience of UW's students, staff, faculty, and visitors. Through all aspects of the disaster cycle - preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation - UWEM coordinates across units and locations to ensure the safety and resiliency of UW's communities in the event of a disaster.

Compensation, Benefits and Position Details

Pay Range Minimum:

$102,000.00 annual

Pay Range Maximum:

$106,848.00 annual

Other Compensation:

-

Benefits:

For information about benefits for this position, visit https://www.washington.edu/jobs/benefits-for-uw-staff/

Shift:

First Shift (United States of America)

Temporary or Regular?

This is a regular position

FTE (Full-Time Equivalent):

100.00%

Union/Bargaining Unit:

Not Applicable

About the UW 

Working at the University of Washington provides a unique opportunity to change lives – on our campuses, in our state and around the world.

UW employees bring their boundless energy, creative problem-solving skills and dedication to building stronger minds and a healthier world. In return, they enjoy outstanding benefits, opportunities for professional growth and the chance to work in an environment known for its diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty.

Our Commitment 

The University of Washington is committed to fostering an inclusive, respectful and welcoming community for all. As an equal opportunity employer, the University considers applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, pregnancy, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, disability, or veteran status consistent with UW Executive Order No. 81.

To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 or [email protected].

Applicants considered for this position will be required to disclose if they are the subject of any substantiated findings or current investigations related to sexual misconduct at their current employment and past employment. Disclosure is required under Washington state law.