Emergency Preparedness Manager

The Emergency Preparedness Manager – Community Outreach and Engagement is responsible for planning, developing, managing, and evaluating CEMA's community outreach, public preparedness, volunteer engagement, and community partnership programs. The position is responsible for developing and sustaining relationships with residents, businesses, educational institutions, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, volunteer groups, and government partners to strengthen countywide preparedness, response, recovery, and resilience.

This position manages CEMA's community outreach program while supporting public information initiatives, emergency planning, and operational readiness. Public information responsibilities include managing CEMA's digital presence, assisting with media relations, and developing public education campaigns in coordination with the Director.

The Emergency Preparedness Manager is a fully capable Emergency Management professional who participates in emergency planning, training, exercises, and disaster operations. The incumbent serves as a member of CEMA's Duty Officer Program and is expected to support Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activations, field operations, and other emergency management assignments before, during, and after disasters.

The Manager exercises considerable independent judgement in administering assigned programs and recommending improvements that strengthen community preparedness and organizational resilience.

Community Outreach and Public Engagement (Primary Focus)

• Serve as CEMA's liaison to residents, neighborhood associations, businesses, schools, civic organizations, and community groups. 
• Develop, manage, and evaluate public preparedness and community outreach programs. 
• Plan and staff preparedness expos, workshops, public meetings, and educational events. 
• Develop and deliver presentations promoting disaster preparedness, evacuation planning, severe weather safety, and other emergency management initiatives. 
• Promote preparedness among vulnerable, underserved, and hard-to-reach populations. 
• Develop annual outreach objectives and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Represent CEMA and the Director at community meetings, conferences, and public events. 
• Gather community feedback and identify opportunities to improve preparedness programs.
• Develop performance measures, monitor program effectiveness, and prepare reports recommending improvements to assigned program areas.

Public Information and Digital Communications (Primary Focus)

• Manage CEMA's social media platforms and maintain a consistent public presence. 
• Oversee website content updates in partnership with Chatham County Information Communications Systems (ICS) Department and the Chatham County Public Information Office. 
• Develop newsletters, brochures, preparedness guides, presentations, and other educational materials. 
• Develop public information materials and support the Director in media relations, public messaging and crisis communications. 
• Develop graphics, photography, video, and other multimedia supporting outreach and preparedness initiatives. 
• Monitor social media during emergency incidents and coordinate messaging with the Director to promote timely, accurate, and consistent public information. 

Nonprofit, Faith-Based, and Community Partner Coordination

• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with nonprofit organizations, volunteer organizations, faith-based organizations, private-sector partners, educational institutions, healthcare organizations, and government agencies. 
• Lead CEMA's participation in community preparedness initiatives and collaborative partnerships. 
• Support and coordinate activities associated with the Disaster Faith Network. 
• Promote communication and coordination among community partners before, during, and after disasters. 
• Represent CEMA and the Director at regional meetings, workgroups, and stakeholder forums. 
• Identify opportunities to strengthen community partnerships and improve disaster resilience. 

Volunteer Program Management

• Develop, manage and continuously improve CEMA’s volunteer management program, including recruitment, training, credentialing, deployment and retention. 
• Maintain volunteer records, certifications, and deployment readiness. 
• Lead volunteer participation during outreach events, exercises, and emergency operations. 
• Establish volunteer recognition and retention initiatives. 
• Direct the management of spontaneous and unaffiliated volunteers during disasters. 

• Develop procedures to ensure volunteers are trained, equipped, and prepared to support emergency operations safely and effectively.
• Integrate volunteer resources into emergency planning and preparedness initiatives. 

Emergency Planning and Program Support

• Lead assigned planning efforts related to program initiatives. 
• Integrate volunteer resources and community partners into emergency plans. 
• Develop and support training, exercises, after-action reviews, and improvement plans. 
• Research emerging emergency management trends and recommend program improvements. 
• Manage assigned preparedness initiatives, strategic projects, and grant-funded programs. 

Emergency Operations

• Serve as a member of CEMA's Duty Officer Program and respond to incidents on a rotating on-call basis. 
• Serve in assigned Emergency Operations Center positions during activations. 
• Participate in disaster response, recovery, and damage assessment activities. 
• Support field operations and incident coordination activities as necessary.
• Lead volunteer and community partner support during emergencies. 
• Maintain operational readiness of assigned equipment, outreach materials, and emergency response resources. 
• Operate the Mobile Emergency Operations Center and other assigned emergency response vehicles after obtaining the required Georgia Class F driver's license. 
• Perform other emergency management duties as assigned. 

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Communications, Public Relations or a closely related field (equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered). 
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, community outreach, volunteer coordination, public information, communications, public relations, or a related field. 
• Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking skills. 
• Demonstrate ability to build collaborative relationships across diverse organizations and stakeholders.
• Experience developing presentations and educational materials. 
• Experience managing organizational social media platforms. 
• Valid Georgia driver's license. 
• Ability to obtain a Georgia Class F driver's license within six (6) months of employment. 
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during emergency operations. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Georgia Certified Emergency Manager (GA-CEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM). 
• Experience in local government or emergency management. 
• Experience coordinating volunteers or nonprofit organizations. 
• Experience with public information, media relations, or crisis communications. 
• Experience using graphic design, photography, video editing software, website content management, and social media management applications. 
• Bilingual communication skills. 

Working Conditions

• Primarily office-based with frequent travel throughout Chatham County. 
• Regular attendance at community meetings, outreach events, and public presentations. 
• Required participation in training exercises, planned events, and emergency activations. 
• Required participation in CEMA's Duty Officer Program. 
• Required to report for extended or irregular hours during emergencies and disasters. 
• Work may be performed in office, field, or incident environments under adverse weather conditions. 
• Must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull equipment and supplies weighing up to 50 pounds. 
• Must maintain the physical ability to safely operate emergency response vehicles and equipment, including the Mobile Emergency Operations Center.
• Must be capable of working in physically and emotionally demanding emergency environments.

Application Requirements

This position requires exceptional communication, professionalism, and attention to detail. As part of the selection process, the Hiring Manager requests that applicants submit the following:

• Completed employment application 
• Current résumé 
• A one-page cover letter