Director of Emergency Planning and Resiliency

Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences•Yakima, WA

7d•$102,700 - $174,600•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Emergency Planning and Resiliency provides strategic and operational leadership for all aspects of emergency preparedness, campus safety, and physical security at PNWU. This role develops and sustains a comprehensive emergency preparedness and safety program that supports a secure, resilient, and welcoming environment for students, faculty, staff, and visitors. The Director serves as the University’s senior authority on campus emergency, safety and risk mitigation, overseeing security services, emergency preparedness, threat assessment processes, regulatory compliance, and coordination with external public safety partners. The Director serves as PNWU's primary liaison to local law enforcement, fire departments, and emergency management agencies, and ensures the University's readiness to respond effectively to a broad range of safety and emergency scenarios. The role requires availability to respond in person to campus emergencies and after-hours calls, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, and regular presence across campus outside of standard business hours as needed. The Director reports to the Vice President of Operations, serves as the senior security authority on campus, and advises executive leadership on risk mitigation, emergency and safety strategy, and operational readiness. The Director works collaboratively across the institution, supporting PNWU's commitment to a campus culture where every member of the community feels safe, respected, and cared for.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in criminal justice, public safety, emergency management, public administration, or closely related field
Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, campus safety, law enforcement, or institutional security with at least three years in supervisory or leadership role
Experience participating in threat assessment, behavioral intervention or multidisciplinary safety teams
Demonstrated leadership, independent decision-making, and sound judgment in complex and high-pressure situations
Demonstrated experience building, significantly restructuring, or leading substantial change within a safety, security and or emergency planning function
Knowledge of Clery Act reporting requirements and campus emergency management frameworks
Working knowledge of the Clery Act, NIMS/ICS frameworks, and higher education safety standards
Familiarity with behavioral threat assessment models such as NABITA or equivalent
Strong skills in managing personnel, schedules, and day-to-day security operations
Experience with security technology systems including CCTV, access control, alarms, and emergency notification platforms
Ability to remain calm, professional, and decisive in emergency and high-stress situations
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including report writing, executive briefings, and campus communications
Demonstrated relationship-building skills with law enforcement, fire, and emergency management partners
Ability to coordinate effectively across academic, clinical, operational, and student-facing departments
Knowledge of risk management, incident investigation, and after-action review practices
Strong organizational, problem-solving, and situational awareness skills
Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States at the time of hire and for the duration of their employment with PNWU.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience conducting emergency management and personal safety training
Prior experience in a higher education or health sciences environment
FEMA Professional Development Series certification or equivalent emergency management credential
Experience managing a transition from contracted to in-house security operations
Familiarity with behavioral threat assessment models such as NABITA

Responsibilities

Oversee daily campus emergency and safety operations including patrols, access control, monitoring, incident response, visible campus presence, and supervision of security personnel and vendor performance while serving as the primary point of contact for security matters, including after-hours coordination; manage campus security technology systems such as CCTV, alarms, badge and key control, and emergency notification platforms (e.g., Rave Mobile Safety); and conduct regular safety assessments and audits, ensuring timely review of incident reports, trend monitoring, and appropriate follow-up, escalation, and mitigation strategies. Foster a campus safety culture grounded in care, dignity, and trust through an accessible, engaged presence with students, faculty, and staff, modeling values-based leadership that reflects PNWU's mission of service and commitment to an inclusive community.
Provide strategic leadership for campus emergency response, safety, and security by setting long-range direction and developing, implementing, and maintaining training, policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines that reflect best practices in higher education safety and align with PNWU's institutional values; align programs and policies with institutional priorities, accreditation standards, and best practices, while establishing performance metrics to drive continuous improvement and overseeing the safety budget, contracted services, and investments in safety and security technology and infrastructure.
Serve as PNWU's emergency planning lead: develop, maintain, and annually update the Emergency Operations Plan and continuity procedures in alignment with FEMA guidance and the National Incident Management System; coordinate campus-wide emergency drills, tabletop exercises, and preparedness activities (including earthquake, hostile intruder, fire, and other all-hazards scenarios); and serve as the primary operational coordinator during critical incidents in collaboration with the President's Cabinet and Emergency Response Team.
Collaborate with Facilities to address environmental and physical security needs including access control, lighting, and infrastructure enhancements while providing safety and security input for campus planning, construction, and renovation projects, and serving as the primary liaison with local law enforcement, fire, medical, and emergency management agencies.
Ensure institutional compliance with applicable local, state, and federal safety regulations and standards including the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, completing all Daily Crime Log, Annual Security Report, emergency notifications, and required disclosures. Oversee security reporting, policy updates, and audit readiness.
Design and deliver a comprehensive campus training and education program for students, faculty, and staff covering de-escalation techniques, hostile intruder/active threat response, earthquake and other natural disaster preparedness, fire and evacuation procedures, and general emergency response protocols; develop training materials, schedules, and tracking systems, and regularly evaluate and update curriculum to reflect current best practices and emerging threats.
Advice the Vice President of Operations and senior leadership on emerging safety trends, shifts in the risk landscape, and institutional needs.
Assist with budget planning, resource allocation, purchasing, and vendor oversight related to safety and security operations.
Performs other related duties as assigned and based on departmental need.