Senior Director, Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR)

Discover Your Career at Emory University: Emory University is a leading research university that fosters excellence and attracts world-class talent to innovate today and prepare leaders for the future. We welcome candidates who can contribute to the excellence of our academic community. Description:

Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Critical Event Preparedness and Response (CEPAR), the Senior Director for CEPAR serves as the AVP's deputy and provides strategic and operational leadership for CEPAR. Oversees daily office operations and staff, and at the direction of the AVP, advances enterprise-wide preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities Emergency Preparedness Under direction of the AVP, provides strategic leadership for enterprise-wide emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience in alignment with university priorities, regulatory requirements, and professional standards. 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develops, maintains, and oversees emergency operations, crisis coordination, and recovery plans for a complex, multi-site academic and healthcare environment.
• Leads the university's continuity of operations planning process at the direction of the AVP, including identifying and prioritizing critical functions, establishing recovery objectives and resource dependencies, validating alternate operating strategies, and coordinating the continuity or restoration of essential services.
• May serve as university incident commander when delegated by the AVP, directing tactical operations, resource coordination, communications, and executive decision support during emergencies.
• Leads preparedness training, exercises, readiness assessments, after-action reviews, and corrective action planning to address gaps and strengthen institutional capabilities across the Emory community.
• Coordinates integrated response and recovery efforts with university leaders, public safety and healthcare partners, government agencies, and community organizations.
• Monitors emerging risks, emergency response program performance, and industry practices and advises university leadership and committees on preparedness and resilience priorities.
• Represents CEPAR in university, governmental, professional, and community forums and may chair related committees.

Emory Emergency Medical Services (EEMS) 

• Assists with executive oversight and strategic guidance for Emory Emergency Medical Services (EEMS).
• Supports the Director of EEMS in the development of operational priorities, performance measures, resource plans, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Assists with the coordination of EEMS, CEPAR, and key campus and community partners to address operational challenges, resource needs, and emerging issues.

Threat Assessment Team

• Assists the AVP with support the university's multidisciplinary Threat Assessment Team.
• Assists with the development and maturation of an enterprise-wide Insider Threat Program designed to identify, assess, mitigate, and monitor potential threats to the enterprise's people, operations, information, assets, and reputation.
• Builds partnerships across public safety, human resources, information security/data protection, compliance, student affairs, healthcare, and other relevant functions to support timely response.
• Develops awareness, education, and training initiatives that help university community members recognize and appropriately report concerning behaviors while promoting privacy, and a supportive culture.

Leadership and Operations

• Assists with the development and management office budgets.
• Assists in the development strategic planning for the department and maintenance and development of Emory University policies and procedures associated with emergency preparedness and response.
• Manages implementation of projects.
• Builds university and external agency partnerships.
• Supervises the CEPAR staff.
• Performs other related responsibilities as required. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: 

• A bachelor's degree and ten years of operations management, emergency services and/or clinical care experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
• A master's degree is preferred. A working knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HEICS); and knowledge of federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations applicable to emergency management and homeland security.
• Experience with emergency preparedness for complex multi-site planning.
• FEMA qualified Incident Commander experience preferred.
• Certification as an Emergency Manager (CEM) required.

NOTE: Position tasks are generally required to be performed in-person at an Emory University location.  Remote work from home day options may be granted at department discretion. Emory reserves the right to change remote work status with notice to employee.

Additional Details: Emory is an equal opportunity employer, and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by state or federal law. Emory University does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment, including recruitment, hiring, promotions, transfers, discipline, terminations, wage and salary administration, benefits, and training. Students, faculty, and staff are assured of participation in university programs and in the use of facilities without such discrimination. Emory University complies with Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veteran's Readjustment Assistance Act, and applicable executive orders, federal and state regulations regarding nondiscrimination, equal opportunity, and affirmative action (for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities). Inquiries regarding this policy should be directed to the Emory University Department of Equity and Civil Rights Compliance, 201 Dowman Drive, Administration Building, Atlanta, GA 30322. Telephone: 404-727-9867 (V) | 404-712-2049 (TDD).

Emory University is committed to ensuring equal access and providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to seek a reasonable accommodation, please contact the Department of Accessibility Services at accessibility@emory.edu or call 404-727-9877 (Voice) | 404-712-2049 (TDD). We kindly ask that requests be made at least seven business days in advance to allow adequate time for coordination.