Job Details

Assistant Director of Emergency Management

FLSA Status: Exempt

Months Per Year: 12

Employment Status: Full-Time

Work Model: Hybrid Eligible*

Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University.

Seattle University's Core Competencies

Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives. 

Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally.

Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions. 

Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making positive impact. 

Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness.  

Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, purses excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values.  

Position Description

The Assistant Director of Emergency Management supports the development, implementation, and oversight of comprehensive emergency preparedness programs designed to enhance the safety, resilience, and readiness of the institution. This role collaborates with internal and external partners to plan, coordinate, and execute emergency response strategies while ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.

The Assistant Director plays a key role in risk assessment, training, and emergency response operations, including developing policies, conducting drills and exercises, and educating the campus community on preparedness initiatives. In addition, they provide critical leadership during incidents, working closely with leadership teams, public safety personnel, and community stakeholders to mitigate risks and ensure effective crisis management.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker with strong communication skills, experience in emergency management planning, and the ability to perform under pressure in fast-paced, evolving situations.

The Assistant Director reports to the Associate Director of Operations and oversees assigned staff, including auxiliary personnel. Operates in accordance with Seattle University policies and the Department of Public Safety and Transportation guidelines. The Assistant Director of Emergency Management will also participate in the on-call rotation.

Essential Job Functions

Procedures (5%)

• Ensure established Department guidelines, procedures and policies are current and applicable to staff and all volunteer community members.
  
• Provides daily oversight, direction, assignment of tasks and supervision of direct report employees and volunteers.
  
• Ability to work on a rotating basis and responsive to being on call when applicable.

DSP administrative support (10%)

• Provide administrative support for DSP, including reviewing and approving reports, distributing them to relevant stakeholders, assisting with Clery reporting requirements, and supporting additional administrative functions as needed.
  

Technical support (10%) 

• Provide a degree of assistance when needed for support systems (mass communications systems, fire and life safety systems, access control systems etc.)
  

Participation (5%)

• Maintains a continuous and ongoing relationship with university volunteer groups.
  
• Provides technical and administrative direction, participates in addressing issues and problems within assigned area. 
  
• Coordinates the solution of personnel, fiscal and administrative problems through daily monitoring of emergent situations requiring prompt action or special solutions.
  

Drills and Exercises (20%)

• For community exercises, ensures compliance with the exercise evaluation program including, but not limited to, the development and review of after-action reports and corrective action plans.
  
• Assure identified improvement actions are assigned and implemented as appropriate.
  

Emergency Management (20%) 

• Ensure the readiness of the Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) or Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and assume the role of manager during emergencies or disasters when activated.
  
• Assures the maintenance of all owned equipment to a high level of readiness to respond immediately to all requests.
  
• Manage emergency operations budget line.
  

Materials (5%) 

• Assure that all Department originated publications are accurate, concise and complete, ensuring fulfillment of local, state and federal requirements as appropriate.
  

Education (10%) 

• Establish and assure the maintenance of goals for community education, individual community member disaster preparedness and community participation.
  
• Work in partnership with cohorts and information outlet at the University to ensure wide dissemination of these goals.
  

Collaboration (10%) 

• Unify efforts of local emergency response agencies, volunteer organizations, business and industry and surrounding Washington State Homeland Security jurisdictions and others to develop, maintain and provide emergency management and incident response coordination through university planning efforts.
  

Annual Report (5%)   

• As directed by the Executive Director, develops for review the departmental program report.

 Additional Work Performed: 

• Other duties as assigned. 
  
  

Qualifications

Knowledge of:

• Public Safety management policies and practices include legal, technical, organizational aspects as well as sources of current information of the field.
  
• Department procedures, pertinent Public Safety and administrative regulations.
  
• Public Safety work and operations, facilities and equipment, community infrastructure, neighborhoods, institutions, and oversight agencies.
  

Skills Required:

• Demonstrated strong management abilities, including leadership and supervisory skills, problem analysis and decision-making, consensus-building, planning and organization, interpersonal sensitivity, management oversight, adaptability, stress tolerance, and time management.
  
• Proven ability to effectively supervise and coordinate subordinate staff during both routine operations and emergency situations.
  
• Expertise in project and program planning, development, and implementation.
  
• Exceptional oral communication skills for engaging with diverse personnel, public officials, and community members.
  
• Strong written communication skills for preparing comprehensive reports and correspondence for staff and the public.
  
• Proficiency in utilizing information systems, communication tools, and computer technology applications relevant to public safety and office operations.
  
• Ability to read, interpret, and apply laws, regulations, and policies governing emergency management, preparedness, and departmental operations.
  
• Skilled in building and maintaining effective working relationships with elected officials, colleagues, subordinates, external agencies, community members, and the public.

Ability to:

• Consistently conduct oneself in an ethical, professional, and respectful manner.
  
• Build and maintain collaborative and effective working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders, including community members and partners.
  
  

Working Environment:

Work is primarily conducted in an office environment, involving prolonged periods at a computer workstation. The role also requires frequent site visits to various university facilities, community locations, and emergency scenes as needed. These visits may occur during or outside of the standard workweek, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, depending on operational demands or emergent situations. The position may involve exposure to potentially stressful or hazardous conditions during emergency response activities, requiring adaptability and the ability to perform effectively under pressure.

Application Instructions

Please attach a cover letter with your resume when applying. Job postings are open until filled, unless otherwise specified. 

Compensation at a Glance

Salary Range: $72,000 - $78,000

Seattle University has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate, departmental budget availability, internal salary equity considerations, and available market information, and not based on a candidate’s gender or any other protected status.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. Seattle University provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your total compensation package.

Benefits at a Glance

Consistent with its fundamental Jesuit values, Seattle University offers a wide range of benefits designed to care for the whole person. Choose from three different medical plans, a dental, and vision insurance programs. Protect your income with life, short & long-term disability coverage. Plan for your future with up to a 10% employer contribution for retirement benefits, comprised of a 5% nonelective employer contribution and an additional dollar-for-dollar match of your voluntary contributions up to a maximum of 5%. You may also take advantage of 100% paid tuition benefits for the employee and dependents, a subsidized transportation benefit, a wellness program with free access to an onsite fitness facility, and a wide variety of campus events. Enjoy a generous holiday schedule, including a paid Holiday break closure in December, vacation and paid sick leave, and paid community service leave. For more information explore the Benefits website at: https://www.seattleu.edu/hr/benefits/ 

Hybrid Eligible

This position may be eligible for a hybrid schedule after successful completion of an introductory work period of 3-6 months. This may mean that a hybrid eligible role will begin on-campus initially and then will transition to hybrid format following onboarding and training. Flexible work plans are subject to periodic review and may be changed or terminated at any time for any reason at the university’s discretion.