Emergency Management Planning Manager

Date Opened: Friday, September 12, 2025 12:00 AM

Close Date: Saturday, October 11, 2025 12:00 AM

Department: Fire Department

Public Safety Operations

Salary: $91,736.00 - $114,670.00 Commensurate with Experience

Welcome to the City of Charlotte

Charlotte is America’s Queen City, opening her arms to a diverse and inclusive community of residents, businesses and visitors alike. Here you will find a safe, family-oriented city where people work together to help everyone thrive. The mission of the City of Charlotte is to deliver quality public services and promote the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents.

Our guiding principles include:

• Attracting and retaining a skilled and diverse workforce

• Valuing teamwork, openness, accountability, productivity, and employee development

• Providing all customers with courteous, responsive, accessible, and seamless quality services

• Taking initiative to identify, analyze, and solve problems

• Collaborating with stakeholders to make informed decisions

SUMMARY

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management Office (CMEMO) operates as a quasi-independent agency through a long-standing intragovernmental agreement between Mecklenburg County and the City of Charlotte. CMEMO operates under the authority of North Carolina General Statute 166-A and is responsible for maintaining a comprehensive emergency management system for Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the six additional municipalities within. The total population for Mecklenburg County in 2024 was near or exceeded 1.1 million. The mission of the CMEMO is to provide a comprehensive and integrated program that focuses on an all-hazards approach to emergency management for Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The CMEMO delivers the coordination, support, training, and education necessary to protect the county by integrating all activities required to prevent, prepare for, mitigate, respond to, and recover from natural and human-made disasters.

This position exists to assist the Division Chief (Deputy Director) of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Management in managing CMEMO’s personnel and programs for all activities associated with the emergency management program for Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, and the six additional municipalities in the County. This role is responsible for supervising and directing the work of emergency management coordinators, as well as overseeing assigned coordinators in all four phases of emergency management: mitigation, planning, response, and recovery. The position requires effective communication, coordination, and liaison with a wide array of local, state, and federal agencies, private entities, and key contacts.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Assists in the management of personnel and programs for all activities associated with the CMEMO.  Assists in developing an effective emergency management program and serves as a leader in preparing, developing, planning, coordinating, reviewing, and updating various aspects of CMEMO, including plans, policies, procedures, and training. The position can serve as the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Operations Center Manager when called upon. The position plays a significant role as part of CMEMO and the local governments within Mecklenburg County.

Supervises and directs the work of assigned Emergency Management Coordinators. Coordinates with local, state, federal organizations, and private stakeholders relating to their involvement and participation in all phases of emergency management. The position ensures all personnel have proper training and tools to perform their duties efficiently and effectively. Oversees the professional development of staff to support the CMEMO’s mission and is responsible for conducting performance reviews of assigned staff.  The position participates in the hiring of staff in conjunction with CMEMO’s higher leadership.

Designs, coordinates, documents, guides, and facilitates various exercise scenarios, including Table-Top Exercises (TTXs), Functional and Full-Scale exercises with CMEMO’s partners, including Hot-Washes, After-Action Reports (AARs), and Improvement Plan (IP) process, following the FEMA Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines. Conducts and participates in required emergency response training and exercises related to CMEMO’s mission. Develops, documents, coordinates, and implements comprehensive and cohesive emergency management plans in compliance with applicable local, state, and federal standards.

Assists CMEMO’s Division Chief and Charlotte Fire Department Command Staff with administrative responsibilities and serves as the lead of CMEMO in the absence of senior leadership.

Assists in the development and management of CMEMO’s budget and grant processes, resource requirements, and purchasing.

This role serves as the manager for the Fixed Nuclear Facility (FNF) and Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) program initiatives and radiological equipment caches.

This position maintains direct responsibility for Emergency Support Functions (ESF) 1 (Transportation), 2 (Communications), 3 (Public Works and Engineering), 12 (Energy), 14 (Recovery). It is responsible for overall planning for damage assessment, debris management and flood management programs, as well as dam review plans and the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP).

Coordination of the programs, workload, and activities of the Homeland Security Team to include:

• Cyber Security Program – engage with the Cyber Security Planner to ensure the success of the Cyber Security Program for the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI).

• Threat, Hazard, Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) – engage with the THIRA consultant to ensure compliance with reporting and deadlines associated with the UASI grant program.

Coordinates the activities associated with the Fixed Nuclear Facility (FNF) and Radiological Emergency Preparedness (REP) Program to include basic plans and procedures and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) exercises and drills related to nuclear facilities. Manages, develops, and approves the development of multi-agency emergency response planning documents associated with nuclear facilities. 

Conducts training in associated areas of emergency management to include both natural and technological hazards (specifically radiological and nuclear programs and homeland security functions) with partner agencies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Acts as liaison for local government to the local, state and federal government on disaster regulations and mandates including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, Continuity Guidance Circular (CGC) 1 and 2, Principles of Hazard Mitigation Planning, Robert T. Stafford Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and North Carolina General Statute 166A.

Coordinates with local agencies and jurisdictions to maintain and update the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). This plan involves identifying potential hazard situations that may threaten all eight (8) jurisdictions in Mecklenburg County: Charlotte, Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill, and Pineville.

Facilitates efforts associated with the damage assessment, debris management, and flood management program, and coordinates the receipt and filing of dam review plans.

Performs other emergency management program activities as directed by CMEMO’s Division Chief and Charlotte Fire Department Command Staff.   

Education:

Minimum of a four (4) year degree from an accredited institution and five (5) plus years of experience in Emergency Management program administration and/or related Emergency Operations experience, or the equivalent combination of education and knowledge needed to perform the essential job functions—successful Completion of ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, 800.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Considerable knowledge and experience concerning all aspects of the Emergency Management program and how it interfaces within an intergovernmental framework:

• Considerable knowledge of fixed nuclear facilities and emergency operations.

• Considerable knowledge of the resources available for emergency management plans and programs.

• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.  Demonstrated ability to speak in a public setting, delivering information on emergency management plans, programs, and initiatives.   

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public and private agencies and government officials.

• Demonstrated proficiency with all Microsoft Office programs, Everbridge Notifications, and WebEOC applications.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Qualification of Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) through the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM).

• Completion of the National Emergency Management Basic and Advanced Academies.

• Completion of a master’s degree in emergency management or a related field.

• Experience working in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Emergency Operations Center (EOC) or other EOC during activations.

Special Requirements:

• US Citizenship required.

• Final candidates will be subject to post–offer drug screen and background check.

• Valid North Carolina Class “C” Driver’s License.

• Must live within 45 driving miles of CFD Headquarters within 30 days of hire.

• Must be able to work nights, weekends, special events, and/or on a 24-hour rotating basis for special responses and as requested. The position requires on-call availability on a rotating basis.

• Must be physically able to lift 50 pounds and able to climb stairs and ladders.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.

Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.

Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.

The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, marital status, age, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation or on the basis of actual or perceived gender as expressed through dress, appearance, or behavior.

Our culture is to serve the community honorably.

HOW TO APPLY

Apply online.

Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to apply for a job.

You are welcome to visit the City of Charlotte Human Resources Department lobby, where self-service application kiosks are available. They are located in our office at 700 East 4th Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28202. We are open Monday through Friday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (EST), excluding official City holidays.

For questions about your application or the hiring process, please email Careers@ci.charlotte.nc.us.

The City of Charlotte is committed to making our services and programs accessible to all. Upon request, auxiliary aids, written materials in alternate formats, language access, and other reasonable accommodations or modifications will be provided. To make a request, please fill out the Innovation & Technology ADA request form or call 704.336.4120.

BENEFITS

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees.

Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.

The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.