Emergency Manager with Underfill

Project County of Burleigh•Bismarck, ND

About The Position

Burleigh County is hiring an Emergency Manager to direct the County’s Emergency Management program under the County Administrator’s supervision and in accordance with North Dakota Century Code 37-17.1. The role works to reduce community vulnerability to injuries, fatalities, property damage, and losses caused by natural, technological, manmade, or adversarial disasters. The Emergency Manager leads coordination efforts and ensures the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is operational and ready. If no candidates meet the Emergency Manager requirements, the position may be underfilled with an Emergency Management Specialist. The Emergency Manager organizes the County Office of Emergency Management and leads preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and mitigation activities. The position coordinates with local and state agencies, County departments, incorporated cities, private and nonprofit stakeholders, and the public. It maintains emergency plans, manages preparedness campaigns and training, oversees grants and budgets, supports the Local Emergency Planning Committee, and maintains EOC readiness. The role requires professional communication, strong multitasking and organizational skills, and technical proficiency with Microsoft Office and Adobe software. The full-time, exempt Emergency Manager position offers full benefits. Salary depends on the start date: $77,147.20–$85,612.80 annually for starts before December 20, 2026, or $79,456.00–$88,171.20 annually for starts on or after that date. The application deadline is November 16, 2026, at 4:30 PM. The underfill role, Emergency Management Specialist, supports daily County Emergency Management operations and compliance with North Dakota Century Code § 37-17.1-07. It assists with plan maintenance, operational readiness, training logistics, grants, agency coordination, and records. This full-time, non-exempt position also offers full benefits. Its stated hourly salary is $25.18–$27.95 for starts before December 20, 2026, or $25.94–$28.79 for starts on or after that date. The application deadline is November 16, 2026, at 4:30 PM. Candidates must already be authorized to work permanently in the United States; visa sponsorship is unavailable. Unofficial transcripts, if any, are required and should be uploaded in the application’s “Upload Additional Documents” section. The employer is an equal opportunity employer and states that it does not discriminate on the listed protected bases in employment or service provision.

Requirements

Emergency Manager: Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public or Business Administration, or a related field, and three to five years of direct Emergency Management program coordination experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Emergency Manager: Must be a National or North Dakota Certified Emergency Manager, or be able to obtain North Dakota State Certification within five years of employment.
Emergency Manager: Thorough knowledge of County policies and local, state (including North Dakota Century Code 37-17-1), and federal laws, ordinances, statutes, and regulations governing emergency management.
Emergency Manager: Demonstrated experience preparing and administering budgets and grants, managing personnel, and researching methods and procedures.
Emergency Manager: Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel for budgeting, data analysis, and tracking; Word for document and plan development; and Teams for collaboration and coordination; proficiency with Adobe software for PDF and document management and creation.
Emergency Manager: Strong public-information skills, including crisis communication and media relations, and the ability to communicate clearly and effectively with diverse stakeholders, the public, and County Administration.
Emergency Manager: Ability to multitask in high-pressure, dynamic situations, maintain attention to detail, and prioritize tasks.
Emergency Manager: Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record; must pass civil, criminal, credit, and driver’s-license background checks.
Emergency Manager: Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and decision-making skills, and proficiency with computers and technology used in Emergency Management.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Associate’s degree with major coursework in Business or Public Administration, Emergency Management, or a closely related field, or 60 semester hours of college credit in a related field, and two years of experience providing emergency-management activities.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, ordinances, statutes, and regulations governing emergency management.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Experience with grants, researching methods and procedures, and associated recordkeeping.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record; must pass civil, criminal, and driver’s-license background checks.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Demonstrated skill researching, preparing, writing, and editing official communications, proposals, and plans.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Ability to independently prioritize workload, work under pressure with tight timelines and changing priorities, and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Demonstrated skill in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint, as well as typing and spelling.
Emergency Management Specialist underfill: Excellent interpersonal, organizational, communication, analytical, and decision-making skills, and proficiency with computers, related technology, and social media.
All candidates must already be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis; visa sponsorship is unavailable.
Submit unofficial transcripts, if any.

Responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership and coordinate County preparedness for natural, adversarial, and technological emergencies with agencies and whole-community stakeholders.
Lead the coordination, development, and execution of public awareness campaigns and hazard-specific initiatives, including severe weather preparedness and National Preparedness Month.
Maintain liaison relationships with private and nonprofit stakeholders, local governments, and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.
Prepare the annual budget, monitor expenditures, and research and apply for public safety grants for local government, first responders, and regional partners.
Organize and manage the County Office of Emergency Management and maintain a comprehensive all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan covering preparedness, planning, response, recovery, and mitigation.
Maintain the FEMA-approved Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and review and update it every five years for formal approval.
Develop and submit the Emergency Management Performance Grant application, including budgets and work plans; complete work-plan requirements and submit quarterly progress reports and reimbursement requests with supporting documentation.
Maintain a Three-Year Integrated Preparedness Plan in accordance with North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and FEMA National Training Program guidelines, and complete required training and exercises.
Lead support for the Local Emergency Planning Committee under SARA Title III; engage community stakeholders; ensure annual review of the Hazardous Materials Response Plan; maintain access to Tier II data; and submit the annual Section 304 notice.
Promote emergency preparedness through awareness and education programs, monitor community needs, conduct training for officials and citizens, and complete required reports.
Serve as a liaison for County officials, coordinate services with staff and departments, prepare and submit reports, and represent the department in meetings with officials, community leaders, agencies, and the public.
Maintain 24/7 readiness of the Emergency Operations Center, including staffing, equipment, supplies, and procedures; activate and manage the EOC as needed and maintain resource lists.
Conduct initial emergency assessments with Incident/Unified Command, notify NDDES through WebEOC when disasters are imminent or occurring, submit situation reports, and ensure local agencies are briefed and updated.
Manage emergency-management and disaster-grant phases, including research, application assistance, and disaster reimbursement processing, while maintaining financial records for audits.
For the Emergency Management Specialist underfill: assist with preparedness functions, program administration, plan writing, research, updates, and document accuracy.
For the Specialist underfill: coordinate logistics, scheduling, promotion, and materials for emergency training and education programs for local government personnel, first responders, and volunteers.
For the Specialist underfill: research and track grant opportunities, coordinate program information and documentation with agencies, and maintain records through accurate filing and tracking.
For the Specialist underfill: assist with reports, technical assistance, exercise design and facilitation, HSEEP-compliant after-action reports, preparedness communications, grant reporting, agendas, and meeting minutes.
Perform other duties as assigned or required.