Emergency Manager

Emergency Manager

The City of Gresham is seeking a visionary and highly skilled Emergency Manager to lead and oversee citywide emergency management operations and preparedness initiatives. This is a unique opportunity to serve as the City's subject matter expert, developing innovative strategies to safeguard our community and enhance our resilience against disasters and emergencies.

As Oregon's fourth-largest city, Gresham is a welcoming community of hard-working people where tradition and heritage meet innovation and opportunity. Gresham is a dynamic and rapidly growing city where families and businesses have a mutual desire and drive to thrive. City of Gresham employees care deeply about the community they serve and go 'one step beyond' to deliver services in collaborative, inventive, practical, and nimble ways. Our work is challenging, fast-paced and rewarding. We believe that to deliver the highest level of service to all Gresham community members, it is crucial we employ a diverse workforce, foster an inclusive working environment, and ensure our policies and systems result in equitable outcomes. The City seeks candidates who will support these values by continuously incorporating equity in their daily work and actively contributing to a workplace culture that respects unique viewpoints, life experiences and cultural perspectives.

Come build the future with us.

Position Description

What you will get to do :

• Plan, organize, manage, and administer the Emergency Management Program (as defined by FEMA Emergency Management Standards)
• Develop and implement program and strategic planning
• Implement and assist in the development of program policies, procedures, and business practices
• Evaluate goals, objectives, priorities, and activities to improve performance and outcomes
• Recommend and establish administrative controls and improvements
• Recommend emergency response and procedures to implement new and / or changing regulatory requirements.
• Develop and oversee the City's Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• Develop citywide Continuity of Operations Plans(s) (COOP)
• Research, develop, revise, and maintain EOP annexes for use during emergency or disaster events
• Integrate emergency preparedness and response activities and plans, including recovery efforts
• Coordinate and maintain emergency contact and resource information.
• Design, develop, implement, and evaluate exercises and test plans to prepare staff for effective response to major emergencies
• Test the response systems and recommend improvements
• Define roles and expectations during various types of incidents
• Prepare reports on operations and activities.
• Foster strong collaborative inter-departmental cooperation among City Departments in the development and maintenance of department specific emergency plans as well as National Incident Management System (NIMS) compliance
• Activate the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) as directed by the City Manager or designee, including coordinating and facilitating activities
• Monitor developing conditions or incidents that may involve or affect the City
• Provide emergency response support during actual emergencies.
• Develop, administer, and monitor the budget
• Develop justifications for budgetary recommendations and / or adjustments
• Participate in forecasting additional funds for resources
• Identify, obtain, and manage funding from grants and community partners
• Ensure compliance with grant reporting requirements
• Participate in the interpretation, negotiation, management, and enforcement of contracts.
• Provide expert guidance to other departments, the general public, and / or outside agencies regarding emergency preparedness policies, practices, and processes
• Represent the City to the public, elected officials, other agencies, governments, and organizations including making presentations and participating in meetings
• Act as a representative on national, regional, and state committees regarding emergency management issues
• Lead various multi-disciplinary and / or multi-agency workgroups to prepare for effective emergency and disaster response
• Foster collaboration and relationships with local, county, and state emergency management partners
• Conduct outreach and training for community and business preparedness
• Identify and recruit community leaders to engage and mobilize in support of preparedness efforts
• Develop informational materials for dissemination through social media, web site, events, and city channels
• Oversee Emergency Preparedness Task Force volunteers.
• Analyze and review federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to ensure NIMS compliance
• Conduct analysis on best practices and trends, and formulate and implement recommendations
• Interpret and provide advice regarding emergency planning policies and procedures to Executive Leaders, the City Manager, and City Council
• Provide complex staff support on matters pertaining to emergency preparedness.
• Work with CityGIS staff to integrate emergency preparedness information and Fire Department data into the GIS system as appropriate.
• Collaborate with GIS staff developing mapping capabilities for use during emergency events, damage assessment, and for recovery efforts.
• Work with City GIS and technology teams to develop and maintain GIS-based emergency maps, damage assessments, evacuation plans, and resource overlays.
• Support digital situational awareness tools and integrate Fire and Police data for real-time use during emergencies.
• Lead the development and implementation of After-Action Reports (AARs) and Improvement Plans (IPs) after drills, exercises, and real events.
• Track progress and ensure closure of identified corrective actions.
• Establish and maintain a continuous improvement process across all program areas.
• Coordinate efforts related to climate resilience, including extreme weather response, heat mitigation planning, wildfire risk reduction, and long-term hazard mitigation strategies.
• Collaborates with internal and regional partners to incorporate sustainability and resilience into emergency management planning.
• Integrate accessibility into all preparedness, response, and recovery plans.
• Ensure emergency communications, materials, and response protocols are inclusive, multilingual, and accessible to all communities, including people with disabilities, seniors, and historically underserved populations.

The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, effective communicator, and collaborative leader with a strong background in emergency management. They are comfortable making decisions under pressure, building relationships across sectors, and guiding the community through crisis with confidence and compassion.

Work Schedule / Environment : This position works in the office and out in the field with a standard Monday through Friday schedule. The Emergency Manager is currently required to be on-site 4 days per week with additional flexibility. Some evening and weekend work may be required.

Qualifications

Knowledge of :

Ability to :

Minimum Qualifications :