Emergency Management Directors
Human Advantage 82%
Strongly human-essential role
AI Automation Risk Low Risk
2.2 / 10
This occupation requires complex human judgment, social interaction, and creative problem-solving that are difficult to automate.
Plan and direct disaster response or crisis management activities, provide disaster preparedness training, and prepare emergency plans and procedures for natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), wartime, or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies or hazardous materials spills) disasters or hostage situations.
Also Known As: 911 Communications Manager, Change Management Specialist, Civil Defense Director, Civil Preparedness Officer, Disaster Response Director, Emergency Management Coordinator, Emergency Management Director, Emergency Management Planner +13 more
Core Tasks
- Consult with officials of local and area governments, schools, hospitals, and other institutions to determine their needs and capabilities in the event of a natural disaster or other emergency.
- Develop and maintain liaisons with municipalities, county departments, and similar entities to facilitate plan development, response effort coordination, and exchanges of personnel and equipment.
- Coordinate disaster response or crisis management activities, such as ordering evacuations, opening public shelters, and implementing special needs plans and programs.
- Prepare emergency situation status reports that describe response and recovery efforts, needs, and preliminary damage assessments.
- Maintain and update all resource materials associated with emergency preparedness plans.
- Prepare plans that outline operating procedures to be used in response to disasters or emergencies, such as hurricanes, nuclear accidents, and terrorist attacks, and in recovery from these events.
- Develop and perform tests and evaluations of emergency management plans in accordance with state and federal regulations.
- Collaborate with other officials to prepare and analyze damage assessments following disasters or emergencies.
- Design and administer emergency or disaster preparedness training courses that teach people how to effectively respond to major emergencies and disasters.
- Keep informed of activities or changes that could affect the likelihood of an emergency, response efforts, or plan implementation.
- Inspect facilities and equipment, such as emergency management centers and communications equipment, to determine their operational and functional capabilities in emergency situations.
- Review emergency plans of individual organizations, such as medical facilities, to ensure their adequacy.
- Keep informed of federal, state, and local regulations affecting emergency plans, and ensure that plans adhere to those regulations.
- Conduct surveys to determine the types of emergency-related needs to be addressed in disaster planning, or provide technical support to others conducting such surveys.
- Attend meetings, conferences, and workshops related to emergency management to learn new information and to develop working relationships with other emergency management specialists.
- Propose alteration of emergency response procedures, based on regulatory changes, technological changes, or knowledge gained from outcomes of previous emergency situations.
- Develop instructional materials for the public and make presentations to citizens' groups to provide information on emergency plans and their implementation processes.
- Apply for federal funding for emergency-management-related needs, and administer and report on the progress of such grants.
- Train local groups in the preparation of long-term plans that are compatible with federal and state plans.
- Provide communities with assistance in applying for federal funding for emergency management facilities, radiological instrumentation, and related items.
- Study emergency plans used elsewhere to gather information for plan development.
Supplemental Tasks (2)
- Develop and implement training procedures and strategies for radiological protection, detection, and decontamination.
- Inventory and distribute nuclear, biological, and chemical detection and contamination equipment, providing instruction in its maintenance and use.
Education & Training
Job Zone 4 Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
Education: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Experience: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (24)
Tools & Equipment (12)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Military & National Security Advanced Manufacturing
Emergency Response Public Service & Safety
Zone 2
Telephone Operators 76% match
Zone 4
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