Senior Manager, Global Emergency Preparedness & Response

The Walt Disney Company•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Global Emergency Preparedness & Response Department is a global, enterprise-wide function focusing on emergency and crisis planning and training operations for all major security and natural hazard events impacting The Walt Disney Company, and is also comprised of L.A. based fire and L.A./N.Y.C. based medical operations. It sits within the Global Security Division and its mission is to ensure The Walt Disney Company is prepared for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies. The Senior Manager, Global Emergency Preparedness & Response (GEPR) leads the strategy, execution, and continuous advancement of emergency preparedness and response capabilities across U.S. The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) properties. This role is accountable for ensuring all locations maintain mature, compliant, and operationally effective emergency response programs aligned with enterprise standards, regulatory expectations, and evolving industry best practices. Reporting to the Director of GEPR, this role leads multiple Managers and program teams, setting direction, establishing priorities, and driving accountability across core program areas including building emergency response programs, hazard-specific planning, emergency communications, enterprise exercise programs, and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) readiness. The Senior Manager is responsible for translating enterprise strategy into scalable, repeatable operational capabilities, ensuring consistency across the U.S. portfolio while enabling flexibility to meet site-specific risks and business needs. This role owns the U.S. preparedness program strategy and performance, including defining standards, driving adoption, and ensuring measurable outcomes across all properties. The role provides senior-level oversight of program effectiveness through KPI development, executive reporting, and continuous improvement initiatives, and serves as a key leader during incident response and crisis activations. Through strong cross-functional leadership, the Senior Manager partners with Safety, Communications, Risk, People & Culture and business leaders to influence enterprise priorities, align investments, and strengthen organizational resilience. This role plays a critical part in shaping the long-term maturity of TWDC’s preparedness capabilities and ensuring the organization is positioned to effectively respond to and recover from complex incidents.

Requirements

+10 years of experience in emergency preparedness, crisis management, business continuity, security, safety, or operational risk management
Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale preparedness or response programs across complex, global organizations
Proven ability to define strategy and drive execution through multiple layers of leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
Strong leadership experience managing managers and/or high-performing program teams
Ability to integrate programs, systems, and governance into cohesive enterprise solutions
Strong executive communication skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into actionable insights
High attention to detail with strong operational rigor, planning, and follow-through capabilities
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, evolving risk environment
Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Business Administration, Public Safety, or a related field

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting global or regionally distributed operations
Deep familiarity with crisis management platforms, mass notification systems, and enterprise tools
Experience leading enterprise exercises, after-action programs, and continuous improvement initiatives
Experience with regulatory, audit, or compliance frameworks related to preparedness or risk management
Relevant certifications such as CEM, HSEEP, CBCP, MBCP, CSP, ASP, or equivalent
Advanced degree or professional certifications in emergency preparedness, crisis management, or business continuity

Responsibilities

Provide strategic oversight and operational support to ensure all U.S. TWDC properties maintain a mature and sustainable Building Emergency Response Program
Drive implementation of enterprise preparedness programs that enable local teams to effectively respond to emergencies
Ensure alignment of preparedness initiatives across U.S. properties with enterprise standards, frameworks, and risk priorities
Establish and maintain consistency in response procedures, ensuring compliance with internal requirements and evolving industry standards
Lead hazard-specific planning and preparedness initiatives for major U.S. campuses
Develop, maintain, and continuously improve emergency response plans, including: Earthquake preparedness, Active threat response, Mass casualty response, Campus evacuation and sheltering strategies
Plan, facilitate, and evaluate exercises and drills to validate plans and drive continuous improvement
Lead after-action reviews and ensure corrective actions are tracked and implemented
Plan and facilitate enterprise and campus-level emergency response exercise programs, including: Unified Incident Command Team (UICT) trainings and exercises, Building Emergency Response Team (BERT) drills (e.g., fire drills, Great ShakeOut), TWDC CERT Program exercises in partnership with the CERT Program Manager
Ensure exercises are aligned to risk scenarios, operational realities, and enterprise standards
Measure effectiveness of exercises and drive improvements in readiness and response performance
Maintain the Burbank & New York Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in a constant state of readiness
Conduct routine systems testing and validation
Maintain and update activation protocols and documentation
Lead facility and technology enhancements to support effective activations
Provide strategic oversight of the employee emergency communications framework across U.S. properties
Ensure alignment between communication tools, response protocols, and operational needs
Support adoption, optimization, and effectiveness of mass notification systems and communication processes
Define, collect, and analyze KPIs across U.S. properties to measure preparedness maturity and program effectiveness
Develop and deliver executive-level reports and insights to senior leadership
Identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement, and drive corrective actions across programs
Ensure alignment of performance data with enterprise reporting standards and expectations
Oversee the enterprise Emergency Supply Program, including: Routine inspections and inventory management cycles, Evaluation and enhancement of supply capabilities
Ensure supplies are aligned with response plans, hazard profiles, and operational needs
Periodically assess program effectiveness and recommend strategic improvements