Emergency Services Director

Town of Fort Myers Beach Florida • Fort Myers Beach, FL

10d

About The Position

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is seeking an experienced and strategic Emergency Services Director to lead the Town's emergency management, preparedness, response, and recovery efforts. This executive-level role is responsible for ensuring the safety and resilience of the community through effective emergency operations, while also providing leadership and oversight of Code Compliance, Neighborhood Services Rangers, and municipal parking operations.
The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, sound judgment, and extensive experience in emergency management and public safety operations. This position works closely with local, state, and federal partners to coordinate emergency preparedness initiatives, disaster response, and recovery efforts, while ensuring efficient, compliant, and community-focused day-to-day operations.
The Emergency Services Director provides executive-level leadership and strategic direction for the Town's Emergency Services operations, including Code Compliance, Neighborhood Services Rangers, and municipal parking operations. This position oversees regulatory enforcement, public safety coordination, emergency preparedness, response and recovery planning, and the security of Town facilities and public spaces. The Director is responsible for ensuring effective enforcement of local codes, parking regulations, and community standards while maintaining a high level of customer service and community engagement.
The Director manages department personnel, oversees the departmental budget, works closely with Human Resources on staffing and training, and serves as the Town's liaison to intergovernmental agencies such as the County Sheriff's Office, Fire Department, FEMA, and other regional and state-level partners.
Responsibilities and Reporting During an Emergency Situation:
If assigned, employees in this classification will be required to report and carry out duties as directed for the duration of an emergency. Depending on the nature of the emergency, this may require working around the clock for several days on short notice.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, Public Safety, Criminal Justice, or a closely related field required. Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in emergency management, public safety, or a related field, including at least four (4) years in a leadership/management role overseeing staff, operations, and programs.
• Demonstrated experience in municipal or local government emergency management operations, including planning, response, recovery, and interagency coordination.
• FEMA ICS/NIMS training and certification required (ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800)
• Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) designation or ability to obtain within a reasonable timeframe.
• Relevant working experience may substitute on a year for year basis for required education.
• Municipal regulatory enforcement operations, including Code Compliance and parking enforcement programs, policies, and best practices
• Principles and practices of emergency management, disaster response, recovery, and hazard mitigation.
• Municipal government structure, operations, budgeting, and interdepartmental coordination.
• Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and standards related to emergency services, public safety, code compliance, and marine operations.
• Incident Command System (ICS), National Incident Management System (NIMS), and FEMA protocols.
• Principles and best practices of personnel management, including performance evaluation, disciplinary procedures, and employee development.
• Security planning and risk management strategies for government facilities and public spaces.
• OSHA, NFPA, and other workplace safety regulations and practices.
• Budget development, financial oversight, and grant funding processes.
• Public meeting processes, public records laws, and government transparency requirements.
• Code enforcement practices and procedures, including legal hearings, inspections, and citation processes.
• Managing public-facing enforcement programs that require balancing regulatory compliance, customer service, and community engagement
• Effectively leading and managing multi-disciplinary teams in a high-stakes and dynamic environment while following federal and state employment laws and Town employment policies.
• Analyzing operational challenges and developing strategic, data-driven solutions.
• Communicating clearly and effectively in writing and orally, including public presentations and legal testimony.
• Conflict resolution, de-escalation, and fostering positive public relations.
• Building collaborative relationships with internal staff, elected officials, outside agencies, and the community.
• Navigating complex regulatory environments and ensuring compliance with applicable standards.
• Using technology tools, including emergency notification systems, GIS, and incident tracking software.
• Develop and implement comprehensive emergency preparedness and safety programs.
• Remain calm and decisive in high-pressure situations, particularly during emergencies.
• Interpret laws, codes, and policies and apply them consistently and fairly.
• Oversee multiple departments/divisions and manage competing priorities.
• Work effectively with human resources to recruit, onboard, train, and retain high-performing staff.
• Represent the Town professionally in public forums, legal proceedings, and interagency collaborations.
• Maintain confidentiality and use discretion in sensitive matters.
• Think strategically and adapt to emerging threats and changes in public safety practices.
• Significant standing, walking, moving, climbing, carrying, bending, and kneeling. Ability to walk and patrol the beach for extended periods, including on sandy terrain.
• Some crawling, reaching, handling, sitting, pushing, and pulling, bending, stooping, and digging.
• Capable of lifting and carrying up to 50 pounds of equipment or beach debris.
• Physical capability to effectively use and operate various related vehicles and machinery associated with job requirements.
• Mobility to navigate beach areas, including uneven surfaces and sand dunes.
• Ability to perform strenuous work in varying and adverse weather conditions including heat, cold, rain and potentially dangerous environments.
• Task requires sound perception and discrimination.
• Task requires visual perception and discrimination.
• Task requires oral communications ability.

Nice To Haves

• Master's degree preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing or overseeing municipal parking operations, including enforcement programs, compliance, revenue considerations, and customer service functions, preferred
• Proven experience working with FEMA Public Assistance (PA), disaster recovery programs, grant administration, and regulatory compliance strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide consistent oversight, strategic leadership, and operational direction to Code Compliance, Neighborhood Services, and municipal parking operations, ensuring enforcement activities, daily operations, and public interactions are aligned with departmental goals, Town objectives, and regulatory standards
• Assist staff with elevated public issues to ensure timely, professional resolution, while fostering a collaborative and solutions focused environment.
• Lead the creation and development of procedures to enhance operations and service delivery within assigned departments; ensure procedures are updated to reflect the current needs of the Town and align with municipal standards, applicable laws and best practices.
• Work with the Town Attorney on matters related to departmental operations, including but not limited to DOAH proceedings, magistrate hearings, and code enforcement cases.
• Serve as a representative of the Town in code-related matters, including participation in legal hearings and proceedings as required by the nature of the position and responsibilities.
• Develop and manage the department's annual budget, monitor expenditures, and seek grant opportunities to support public safety and emergency operations.
• Coordinate with Human Resources on staffing and employee relations to include recruitment, hiring, training, and evaluation of department employees.
• Collaborate with Human Resources to ensure timely and accurate completion of all documentation related to employee relations, performance management, disciplinary actions, and personnel records, in accordance with Town policies and applicable laws.
• Work with Human Resources on the development and application of departmental policies and procedures.
• Oversee and coordinate municipal enforcement programs, including Code Compliance and parking operations, ensuring consistent application of local ordinances, policies, and procedures
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve enforcement strategies, policies, and procedures to enhance compliance, operational efficiency, and customer service across Code Compliance and parking functions
• Monitor and evaluate enforcement activities, including code cases, parking compliance, and community concerns, and implement data-driven improvements to operations and service delivery
• Address and resolve complex or escalated public concerns related to code enforcement, parking operations, and regulatory compliance in a professional and solutions-focused manner
• Coordinate enforcement operations in support of emergency response activities, special events, evacuations, and recovery efforts to ensure public safety and operational continuity
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal safety and emergency management regulations.
• Serve as the Town's Emergency Management Coordinator, responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining emergency preparedness initiatives, including the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP).
• Develop and coordinate emergency drills, simulations, and training sessions with Town departments and external partners.
• Provide on-the-ground leadership and decision-making during emergency incidents, natural disasters, and declared states of emergency.
• Maintains strong, collaborative relationships and ongoing coordination with intergovernmental agencies, including law enforcement, fire/rescue, emergency medical services, FEMA, and county and state emergency management offices; actively represents the Town by attending meetings, briefings, and planning sessions as needed to support mutual aid, preparedness, and response efforts.
• Coordinate the Town's response and recovery efforts during emergencies and oversee after-action reporting and improvement planning.
• Serve as the Town's Safety Program Coordinator, responsible for planning, implementing, and maintaining safety initiatives and goals including the internal safety committee.
• Develop, communicate, and enforce security and safety protocols to ensure employees consistently follow established procedures while performing their daily tasks; promote a culture of safety, accountability, and risk awareness throughout the organization.
• Analyze and develop the Town's security processes and systems to ensure the protection of personnel, facilities, and assets; implement proactive measures to mitigate risks, enhance emergency response capabilities, and maintain a secure environment across all Town operations.
• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the Town's comprehensive Safety Program, including policies, procedures, training, and risk mitigation strategies to ensure a safe working environment for employees and the public, in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations.
• Advise the Town Manager, Town Council, Town Staff and relevant stakeholders on public safety concerns, emergency planning, and interagency coordination.
• Prepare and deliver reports, presentations, and strategic updates to the Town Manager, Town Council and relevant stakeholders regarding departmental operations, ongoing projects, public safety initiatives, emergency preparedness efforts, and interagency coordination.
• Attend assigned meetings and events.
• Participate in emergency response and recovery operations as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Comprehensive health insurance with low deductibles and annual maximums. The Town covers 100% of employee premiums and 50% of dependent premiums. Benefits also include employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability coverage, gym membership reimbursement, and more.
• Employees accrue 16 hours of paid leave monthly, plus 1 sick day and 1 birthday annually. The Town observes 14 paid holidays and offers flexible scheduling options to promote work-life balance.
• Immediate vesting in a 401(a)/457(b) pension plan with employer contributions-employees are vested from day one of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees