Deputy Director, UW Emergency Management

About the role

The Deputy Director position within UW Emergency Management (UWEM) is responsible for the operational readiness of the university’s enterprise-wide emergency management program. Reporting to the Director of Emergency Management, this role 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.

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

• 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.

About the Team

The UW Emergency Management (UWEM) team 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.