Director, Emergency Management

About the role

Rice University seeks a visionary and community-oriented leader to serve as the next Director of Emergency Management. The position is not merely about enforcement; it is about building a broad, collaborative umbrella of protection that integrates traditional emergency management with policing and emergency medical services, all while reflecting the "culture of care" that uniquely defines the Rice community.

Responsibilities

• Provides strategic leadership to the university-wide emergency management team
• Plans, coordinates, and manages the activities of the Emergency Management Team (EMT)
• Maintains the physical and virtual Incident Command Center (ICC) in a constant state of operational readiness; manages ICC activations and coordinates the Emergency Management Team
• Proactively identifies, reports, and leads the resolution of high-impact risks, gaps, and corrective action plans
• Ensures institutional alignment with FEMA, NIMS, Clery Act mandates (specifically emergency notifications and timely warnings), and Texas state safety standards
• Regularly reviews the university’s emergency response and business continuity plans
• Conducts periodic reviews of emergency notification processes and tools
• Leads governance of the university’s crisis management plans through the university’s incident response teams and overarching crisis communication plan
• Reviews the university’s effectiveness in responding to emergency situations and evaluates response plans and processes
• Designs and executes campus-wide tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises and drills compliant with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) standards for senior leadership, staff, and students
• Collaborates with incident response team leads to present, resolve, and implement potential emergency management issues to ensure a unified approach to mitigation and resilience
• Designs and develops operating procedures for incident command centers, including locations, standards, equipment, and processes
• Serves within a dynamic, NIMS-aligned command structure where the Chief of Police leads tactical and life-safety incidents, while Executive Leadership directs high-level policy and institutional emergencies
• During major activations, this role transitions to Incident Command Center (ICC) Director to focus on resource coordination, logistics, and long-term recovery rather than front-line command
• Identifies university-wide business continuity and other vulnerabilities
• Creates and documents business continuity activation processes
• Edits and educates the university about business continuity issues and assists business areas in addressing these issues effectively
• Leads After-Action Review (AAR) processes following exercises or real-world events, drafting formal Improvement Plans (IPs) to systematically improve institutional resilience
• Serves as the primary university representative to local, regional, state, and federal emergency management agencies (e.g., City of Houston Office of Emergency Management, Harris County OHSEM, Texas Division of Emergency Management, FEMA)

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• 4+ years of progressively responsible professional experience in emergency management, public safety, or emergency coordination
• Advanced ICS training (ICS 300 and ICS 400) preferred
• Prior emergency management experience at a higher-education research university, with a demonstrated understanding of safeguarding sensitive laboratory research and navigating a residential campus culture

Qualifications

• Deep operational knowledge of safety and disaster/recovery procedures, the Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Response Framework (NRF) structures (ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications required upon hire)
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven track record of building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups (faculty, students, staff, law enforcement, and civil officials)
• Strong leadership and executive presence
• Action-oriented with the ability to make decisions and function effectively in stressful situations
• Ability to distill complex, fluid situations into clear, actionable, and empathetic messaging for executive leadership and the public under intense pressure
• Knowledge of IT operations and familiarity with disaster/recovery operations
• Proficiency with emergency notification software (e.g., Everbridge), business continuity planning software, and standard EOC management platforms (e.g., WebEOC)

Skills

• Deep operational knowledge of safety and disaster/recovery procedures, the Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and National Response Framework (NRF) structures (ICS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications required upon hire)
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with a proven track record of building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups (faculty, students, staff, law enforcement, and civil officials)
• Strong leadership and executive presence
• Action-oriented with the ability to make decisions and function effectively in stressful situations
• Ability to distill complex, fluid situations into clear, actionable, and empathetic messaging for executive leadership and the public under intense pressure
• Knowledge of IT operations and familiarity with disaster/recovery operations
• Proficiency with emergency notification software (e.g., Everbridge), business continuity planning software, and standard EOC management platforms (e.g., WebEOC)

Benefits

Rice University HR | Benefits

Pay

$122,496 - $140,000 annually Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Schedule

This position is classified as an Essential On-Campus Position, requiring on-site presence to effectively carry out its vital functions. During emergencies or crises, the Emergency Management Director is required to report to campus as directed to ensure continuity of critical operations and must remain accessible to leadership to fulfill responsibilities necessary for maintaining institutional functions. The schedule may vary to fit the needs of the department and/or campus, including holidays, nights, and weekends. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.