Director for Emergency Management

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Closing Date:

10/25/2025

Type of Position:

Risk ManagementNo

Job Type:

RegularNo

Institution Name:

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Founded in 1871, the University of Arkansas is a land grant institution, classified by the Carnegie Foundation among the nation’s top 2 percent of universities with the highest level of research activity. The University of Arkansas works to advance the state and build a better world through education, research, and outreach by providing transformational opportunities and skills, fostering a welcoming climate, and nurturing creativity, discovery, and the spread of new ideas and innovations.

The University of Arkansas campus is located in Fayetteville, a welcoming community ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S. The growing region surrounding Fayetteville is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s strongest economies. Northwest Arkansas is also quickly gaining a national reputation for its focus on the arts and overall quality of life.

As an employer, the University of Arkansas offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance. The benefits package includes university contributions to health, dental, life and disability insurance, tuition waivers for employees and their families, 12 official holidays, immediate leave accrual, and a choice of retirement programs with university contributions ranging from 5 to 10% of employee salary.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions, you should review before applying for the opening.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process, please submit a request via the Disability Accommodations | OEOC | University of Arkansas (uark.edu) : Request an Accommodation. Appli­cants are required to submit a request for each position of which they have applied.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact Human Resources at 479.575.5351.

Department:

Dean of Students

Summary of Job Duties:

The Director for Emergency & Risk Management for the Division of Student Affairs (DSA) will develop a portfolio of risk and emergency management strategies that enhance the DSA’s preparedness and build resilience for both internal and external stakeholders. This effort will involve directing the DSA and individual units on risk management plans that include, but are not limited to, mitigation, planning, response, recovery and emergency management procedures. The Director will conduct training and simulation exercises and chair the DSA’s emergency risk management committee. The Director will develop and maintain the DSA’s emergency and Continuity of Operations Plans, support DSA departments in creating their own emergency plans, conduct risk prevention audits, and serve as the DSA’s point of contact as it relates to youth protection initiatives. The Director will also lead and serve as the primary point of contact for the DSA during an emergency/crisis event.

This position is also responsible for registering and documenting campus student domestic travel, overseeing risk management for student domestic travel, providing input on student travel policy, and overseeing all services supporting student domestic travel including academic, nonacademic, and official function travel for the university.

The Director will report to the Associate Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students and will partner and collaborate with the University Emergency Manager, the Director of Enterprise Risk Management, and the Department of Risk Management.

Regular, reliable, and non-disruptive attendance is an essential job duty, as is the ability to create and maintain collegial, harmonious working relationships with others.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education

• At least three years of professional experience related to emergency management and/or risk management experience

• Experience with Incident Command System, Continuity of Operations Plans, and/or Emergency Operation Center operations

• Experience in drafting event safety plans, emergency action, plans, or incident action plans

Applicable equivalencies may be considered for the above qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education or emergency management certification (i.e. Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) issued by the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) and/or a state association EM certification such as ARM, CRM, or ERM

• Experience with student information systems and/or travel management systems.

• Emergency/Risk Management experience in Higher Education

• At least six to eight years of progressively responsible experience in risk management, emergency management compliance, or related university operational areas

• Experience in leading risk and emergency management programs and facilitation of operational responses

• Experience coordinating student programming and logistical operations for student activity

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge of local, state and federal regulations, standards and policies related to risk management, emergency management and continuity of operations

• Knowledge of plan review, Incident Command System, and Emergency Operation Center operations

• Knowledge of how to plan and conduct drills/exercises

• Knowledge of campus operational environments and shared governance

• Knowledge and application of FEMA and NIMS

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to lead cross-functional teams

• Ability to learn state and university procurement policies and procedures

• Ability to learn university academic and travel policies

• Ability to develop and implement comprehensive emergency management plans, policies, and procedures aligned with industry best practices and National Incident Management System (NIMS) regulatory requirements

• Ability to work collaboratively with campus and community partners

• Ability to maintain and organize detailed student information within a system/database

• Ability to plan, organize and administer emergency and risk management procedures

• Ability to conduct periodic risk prevention audits make recommendations to AVC/DOS

• Ability to provide advice and guidance on risk management and emergency planning matters aligned with the DSA’s strategic goals

• Ability to promote community understanding of risk management and emergency response programs and policies through presentations to internal and external audiences

• Ability to accumulate & analyze data and adjust risk and emergency efforts as needed

• Ability to develop and manage program budget

• Ability to lead risk and/or safety-related committees

• Ability to lead and mentor staff, fostering professional development and a proactive approach to risk

• Ability to conduct vulnerability assessments and identify areas for programmatic revisions, ensuring that plans are up-to-date and responsive to potential hazards, formulating effective mitigation strategies to minimize risks and enhance campus safety

Additional Information:

$67,909 - $71,000 (Commensurate with education and experience)Cover Letter/Letter of Application, List of five Professional References (name, email, business title), ResumeProof of Veteran StatusGinny Perlman
Executive Assistant to the Dean Students
[email protected]

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS  

Please do not send to listed recruitment contact.

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:

Criminal Background Check, Sex Offender Registry

The University of Arkansas is committed to providing a safe campus community. We conduct background checks for applicants being considered for employment. Background checks include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. For certain positions, there may also be a financial (credit) background check, a Motor Vehicle Registry (MVR) check, and/or drug screening. Required checks are identified in the position listing. A criminal conviction or arrest pending adjudication or adverse financial history information alone shall not disqualify an applicant in the absence of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner consistent with state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas seeks to attract, develop and retain high quality faculty, staff and administrators that consistently display practices and behaviors to advance a culture that embeds equal opportunity, educational excellence and unparalleled access for all.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution. The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military service, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All Application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical Activity:

N/A

Frequent Physical Activity:

N/A

Occasional Physical Activity:

N/A

Benefits Eligible:

Yes