Emergency Management Director, Guilford County, NC
Emergency Management Director, Guilford County, NC
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USD 100 - 100
1 Vacancy
Job Description
About Us
Emergency Management Division Director Sought
Guilford County one of the most populous counties in the state and a regional hub for commerce education and culture seeks a dynamic and forward-thinking Emergency Management Division Director to lead the accredited Emergency Management Division during a time of significant transition. The next Director is someone who can effectively manage both external emergenciessuch as severe weather hazardous materials incidents and mass shelteringand internal crises within county departments bringing a strategic level of emergency preparedness across the entire government organization. The new Division Director must serve as a visible and trusted leader before during and after emergenciesbuilding credibility communicating clearly and aligning various interests.
The ideal candidate will have significant prior experience in emergency management and/or public safety and will be a strong collaborator capable of focusing and growing the internal EM team while also strengthening partnerships with municipal governments including both large cities and smaller towns. Guilford County is a prominent hub for higher education making engagement with its colleges and universities a critical priority. The next Division Director must have experience working closely with higher education institutions as well as public and private K-12 schools and be skilled at fostering and sustaining complex partnerships across multiple agencies.
About the Community:
Guilford County with a population of over 541000 is NCs 3rd most populous county. Among ten municipalities Greensboro (county seat) and High Point are the largest within Guilford County is a growing and vibrant community with a diverse population and over 100 languages spoken. Demographically the county is 47.23% Caucasian 33.15% African American 9.63% Hispanic of any race and 5.31% Asian.
With a median age of 37 among its residents Guilford County continues to work hard to develop and promote quality of life choices for all ages with focused efforts in K-12 schools job training economic development employment and recreation. Guilford County has many higher educational institutions including UNC Greensboro Greensboro College Elon University School of Law Bennett College NC Agricultural and Technical State University Guilford College Guilford Technical Community College and High Point University.
Guilford County recently approved a historic $2B school bond investment that has already resulted in 6 new school construction projects. Construction of additional schools and school improvements are also underway. GCS is the 3rd largest school district in NC and is one of the 50thlargest school districts in the US. GCS which serves 70000 students pre-K 12th grade and offers 258 Career-Technical Education programs in 49 schools boasts a 91.8% high school graduation rate (2022) above the national average and higher than all the largest NC school districts.
From a variety of restaurantsmuseums and educational and art centers such as theSteven Tanger Center for Performing ArtsInternational Civil Rights Center and Museum and theGreensboro Science Centerto Broadway performances and live music Guilford County offers something for everyone. Outdoor recreation opportunities in the county include various hiking trails mountain biking trails greenways parks and lakes. Guilford County is also home to thesemi-annualHigh Point Market the largest wholesale finished goods home furnishings market in the world.
Though the furniture and textile industries helped build Guilford County the local landscape also includes technology healthcare and service industries with five of the top 60 Fortune 500 companies having a presence in Guilford County resulting in a vibrant economy. Guilford County has recently attracted new businesses. Toyota Battery is investing over $8B and bringing in over 3000 jobs to the area. BOOM Supersonic is building a 62-acre campus at Piedmont Triad International Airport and will bring over 2000 jobs to the area.
About the Organization:
Guilford County is governed by a nine-member Board of Commissioners elected by district and at-large to serve four-year terms. The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible stable and well-managed government with sound budget and fiscal management and a strong fund balance (net assets). The County has a recommendedbudget for FY2025-26of approximately $842 million a property tax rate of 73.05 cents per $100 of assessed value and nearly 3000 full-time employees in over 30 departments and agencies. These entities are organized into strategic service areas to promote efficiency effectiveness and equity throughout county services. Learn more about Guilford Countyhere.
Duties/Responsibilities
About the Department Division and Position:
The Guilford County Emergency Services Department provides paramedic level emergency medical care fire department support operations fire code building inspections fire investigations and emergency management and planning services across four divisions. The Emergency Management (GCEM) Division oversees a range of programs including emergency preparedness hazard mitigation and coordinated response efforts.
Ensuring the County is prepared for and resilient to a wide range of threats and emergencies the Emergency Management Director oversees the planning implementation and maintenance of a comprehensive emergency management program aligned with the National Preparedness Goal focusing on five mission areas: Prevention Protection Mitigation Response and Recoveryas identified in the Divisions2024 Annual Report. Currently the division is in year three of a five-year accreditation program. The next director will be a leader in the reaccreditation process.
This position reports to the Emergency Services Director and leads a division of five full-time employees two part-time employees and seasonal interns who coordinate nearly 120 partner agencies in a comprehensive emergency management program using evidence-based best practices. The Division Director will manage an annual budget of approximately $850K. More information about the Guilford County Emergency Management Division can be foundhere.
Staff are available 24/7 to support local response agencies and can be activated through Guilford Metro 9-1-1 Communications. GCEM also supports public education through community presentations and outreach. Additionally the Guilford County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) a registered 501(c)(3) plays a key role in fostering collaboration between public and private partners to enhance emergency planning and coordination countywide.
Key Position Priorities:
- Lead the transformation and modernization of Guilford Countys Emergency Management Division including team development and potential expansion along with rebuilding internal operations following the strain of large-scale events such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Provide strategic guidance and operational coordination during emergenciesboth external and internal to county government. This includes reviewing and facilitating the update of thedivision strategic plan and Guilford Countys internal Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
- Build and maintain strong working relationships with all municipal partners including Greensboro High Point and the countys smaller towns.
- Engage closely with the regions many colleges universities and K-12 educational partners to align emergency planning with the unique needs of higher education institutions.
- Foster a collaborative culture and maintain robust relationships across multiple levels of government public safety agencies nonprofits and community stakeholders.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
- Masters degree and a minimum of one year of experience in emergency services including training in hazardous materials emergency management and incident command OR a four-year degree and a minimum of three years of experience in emergency services including training in hazardous materials emergency management and incident command.
- Three years of supervisory experience.
- Must have the ability to teach Emergency Management Programs and obtain FEMA EOC Mgt. Training within one year and subject to course availability.
- Valid North Carolina vehicle operators license.
- On call position and subject to emergency recall. Must live within 5 miles or 10 minutes of the Guilford County line.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to acquire an NCEM or IAEM credential.
- Masters degree in public administration business emergency preparedness or similar field.
- Five-seven years of supervisory/management experience.
- Public Safety agency experience in law enforcement Fire EMS or 911.
The Successful Candidate is:
- knowledgeable with application experiencein the five mission areas (prevention protection mitigation response and recovery) of Emergency Management;
- experienced in multi-agency coordination;
- an experienced leader with a passion for public service known for building strong relationships and promoting a culture of preparedness accountability and innovation throughout a diverse and changing county;
- a strong collaborator with the ability to build consensus and trust with 200 organizations and agencies;
- skilled at building and maintaining strong relationships across all sectors (e.g. schools higher-education campuses Coliseum Furniture Market);
- knowledgeable about emerging trends in emergency management including AIs impact on emergency management;
- experienced in coordinating communication involving key stakeholders and elected officials;
- effective in crisis communications with officials public safety and the public using modern technology;
- an excellent problem-solver especially in navigating evolving federal and state EM programs;
- an innovative and creative problem solver with a track record of navigating challenges proactively;
- committed to rebuilding mentoring and empowering staff while fostering innovation and accountability; and
- forward-thinking with the ability to anticipate emerging threats and guide the County in proactive planning.
Additional Information
Salary and Benefits:The hiring range for this position is $85904-109532. Starting salary is dependent on qualifications and experience. Guilford County offers a comprehensive benefits package which can be foundhere. Residency within five miles or 10 minutes of the county line is required within a negotiated time frame.
To applyplease visit click on the Emergency Management Division Director Guilford County NC title.
- All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) NOT the organizations employment application portal or any other external website.
- Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
- Applicants should apply byJuly 3 2025.
- The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to virtual interviews and skill evaluations on August 12-13 2025. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
Guilford County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates LLC manages the recruitment and selection process.
The recruitment and selection process is being managed by Developmental Associates LLC.
Required Experience:
Director
Employment Type
Full-Time
