Emergency Management Specialist (Planning)

Emergency Management Specialist (Planning)

Salary

$56,351.00 - $95,797.00 Annually

Location

New Hanover County, NC

Job Type

Full-Time

Job Number

202600178

Department

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

Opening Date

07/01/2026

Closing Date

7/13/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Information

New Hanover County is seeking an Emergency Management Specialist to join a dedicated, high-performing team committed to strengthening community preparedness and enhancing the Countys ability to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the impacts of natural and human-caused disasters. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by helping build a safer, more resilient community.

New Hanover County Emergency Management (NHC EM) manages New Hanover County's emergency/disaster procedures and strategies by planning, developing and/or coordinating activities for training, drills and exercises of plans and equipment. NHC EM collaborates externally with local, regional, state, and federal agencies, non-government organizations, and the private sector to promote "whole community" planning.

This Emergency Management Specialist position reports to the Senior Emergency Management Specialist (Planner) position and will work with local, regional, state, and federal partners to develop, maintain, and manage several programs, requiring specialized knowledge in each. Under close supervision this position will:

• Assist in and facilitate the development, review, and modification of the County's emergency plans and its annexes.
• Serve as primary project manager for internal and external training, development and support of County exercises. Serving as the liaison to bring critical courses to NHC EOC.
• Serve as primary project manager for the County's annual hurricane exercise, staff EOC training plans, training calendar, and associated job aids.
• Serves as NHC EM liaison for external partner exercise planning and training support.
• Supports development, updating, and tracking of NHC Emergency Management training presentations.
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative relationships with preparedness and response partners internally and external to the County and with outside emergency management agencies.
• Serves as a critical team member under the Planning Section during County EOC activation.
• Attend and represent the department on various committees, work groups, and teams; cooperate with multi-jurisdictional and stakeholder coordination efforts to determine appropriate courses of emergency action, establish, or make recommendations for emergency planning guidelines, and ensure compliance with emergency management mandates.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The successful candidate will possess a comprehensive knowledge of emergency management principles, practices, and methodologies, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Candidates should have a strong understanding of applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies governing emergency management, as well as the roles and responsibilities of County departments and local, state, and federal partner agencies during emergencies and disasters. Experience with the administration of federal, state, and local emergency management grant programs is highly desirable.

This position requires the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders while coordinating complex emergency management initiatives. The ideal candidate will have experience designing, implementing, and evaluating emergency management programs, including training, exercises, and preparedness activities. Exceptional written and verbal communication skills are essential, with the ability to clearly convey technical information to County leadership, partner agencies, elected officials, and the public.

The successful candidate must be able to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision, analyze complex situations, and exercise sound judgment in both routine and emergency situations. The ability to interpret and apply applicable laws, regulations, and policies, develop and deliver training, assist others in emergency planning efforts, and remain calm and effective under stressful conditions is essential. Strong organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills are critical to supporting the Countys emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts.

New Hanover County Government

New Hanover County is dedicated to the recruitment and recognition of a talented and diverse workforce that is committed to public service. Our shared values of professionalism, innovation, equity, integrity, stewardship and accountability guide the way we conduct ourselves and deliver services to our customers. New Hanover County celebrates diversity in our employees' backgrounds, beliefs, identities, and abilities, while supporting growth opportunities for all. Our talented team has a passion for providing care and services that effect change on the everyday lives of the citizens they encounter. The differences that unite us are a reflection of the community we serve. If this sounds like an organization that models the values you uphold, we invite you to join our team at New Hanover County.

Living in New Hanover County, NC

New Hanover County offers an exceptional quality of life with its picturesque coastal location. Enjoy the stunning beaches, water activities, and a variety of recreational opportunities right at your doorstep. Immerse yourself in the vibrant local culture, indulge in diverse dining experiences, and explore historical landmarks. The county is known for its strong sense of community, excellent schools, and a thriving arts scene. With a focus on good governance and a commitment to customer service, New Hanover County provides an ideal environment for both personal and professional growth.

• Hours:

Hours are 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday through Friday. Must be available to work during emergency situations.

Salary Information:

The hiring range for this position is $56,351 - $76,074. Salary will be determined based on qualifications.

New Hanover County offers:

• Employer paid 401k contributions;
• Retirement plan through the NC Retirement system;
• Flex time and telework availability, depending on your position;
• Paid sick and personal leave + 13 paid holidays per year;
• Paid parental leave;
• Paid community services leave to give back to our community;
• Education leave to obtain a degree within your line of work;
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance + many other insurance options;
• Onsite, employer-paid health and wellness center;
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives;
• Opportunities to make a difference in your community;
• And so much more!

Please check out our careers page at www.nhcgov.com/careers for more information on why New Hanover County is a great place to work.

Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree in Emergency Management, or related field, and two (2) years emergency management field and administrative work experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience sufficient to successfully perform the essential duties of the specific position as listed above.

• General knowledge and application of the Incident Command System (ICS) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) to include successful completion of IS 100.c, IS 200.c, IS 700.b and IS 800.d is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current emergency management planning methodology and theory, including hazard mitigation and recovery programming.
• Knowledge and understanding of the concepts of the Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) in exercise planning.
• Project management experience includes the ability to manage multiple projects effectively with demonstrated ability to plan, manage and direct multi-disciplinary, multi-agency projects in collaboration with agencies not under direct supervision.
• Proven interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills. Proven effective presentation and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze, develop and implement policies, procedures, plans and legislative actions; to plan and set objectives to achieve results.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products.
• Availability to workdays, nights, weekends, and non-routine work hours with little or no notice during emergency incidents, planned events, and other disaster situations. Must be able to take rotating on call duties when not in disaster support mode.
• Ability to be in an after hours On Call status rotation to filter emergency management calls and potential response to incidents, supporting the county regarding emergency management operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Completion of the FEMA Emergency Management Basic Academy. Holder of the Associate Emergency Manager (AEM) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential from the International Association of Emergency Managers is preferred.
• Successful completion of ICS 300 and ICS 400 is preferred.
• 3-5 years' experience designing training programs and/or building and conducting exercise programs.

Special Requirements: Selected candidate(s) must successfully pass a fingerprint-based criminal history background check. A record of criminal history does not automatically bar an applicant from consideration. This position requires on-call duties and responsibilities and has the opportunity for travel.

Resources and opportunities will provide the opportunity for the successful applicant to complete:

• Completion of O-305, Type 3 All-Hazards Incident Management Team and the L962: All Hazards Position Specific Planning Section Chief (or comparable) courses when available
• FEMA HSEEP course
• Basic CPR certification
• Hazardous Material Awareness level coursework
• Obtain North Carolina Emergency Management Association Certification commensurate to experience.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid North Carolina Driver's License required by first date of employment with good driving record.
• May require Class A and B driver's license within one year of hire.
• Must obtain within one year of hire: Adult, Child, and Infant CPR certification; Basic First Aid certification; completion of approved Hazardous Materials Awareness course, FEMA IS 236 Introduction to Deliberate Planning course, and Forklift certification.

New Hanover County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

New Hanover County offers a competitive benefits package designed to encourage and support your health, well-being and productivity to include

• Employer paid 401k deferred compensation contributions (5% for sworn law enforcement and 2.5% for all other benefits eligible positions);
• Retirement plan through the NC Retirement system;
• Paid sick and personal leave + 13 paid holidays per year;
• Paid parental leave;
• Paid community services leave to give back to our community;
• Education leave to obtain a degree within your line of work;
• Medical, dental, vision insurance + many other insurance options;
• Employee assistance program;
• 100% employer paid long term disability;
• Onsite, employer-paid health and wellness center which includes a nurse practitioner and physical therapist;
• Professional development trainings & leadership initiatives;
• Opportunities to make a difference in your community;
• And so much more!

Benefit options for eligible positions include medical, dental, elective supplemental insurance options including short-term disability, vision, flexible spending accounts, voluntary term life, cancer, accident, and critical illness policies. Employees who elect medical and dental insurance within the specified timelines provided during on-boarding, will have coverage effective on their date of hire. For more information about New Hanover County benefit options, including our benefit rates, please click here.

Please check out our careers page at www.nhcgov.com/careers for more information on why New Hanover County is a great place to work.

Note: All positions listed as temporary, casual part time, volunteer, and intern are not eligible to receive benefits. Part-time position with fewer than 20 scheduled hours per week will not include benefits.

01

Indicate the level of your degree in Emergency Management, Planning or a related field:

• No degree in Emergency Management, Planning or a related field
• Associates Degree in Emergency Management, Planning or a related field
• Bachelors Degree Emergency Management, Planning or a related field
• Masters Degree or higher in Emergency Management, Planning or a related field

02

Indicate the length of your related work experience in an Emergency Management environment:

• No related work experience
• Less than 1 year of related work experience
• 1 year but fewer than 2 years of related work experience
• 2 years but fewer than 3 years of related work experience
• 3 years but fewer than 5 years of related work experience
• 5 years or more of related work experience

03

Do you understand you must have the availability to work days, nights, weekends, and non-routine work hours with little or no notice during emergency incidents, planned events, and other disaster situations. and must be able to take rotating on call duties when not in disaster support mode?

• Yes
• No

04

Are you eligible to obtain a NC Drivers License?

• Yes
• No
• n/a - already have NC DL

05

Have you had 2 or more driving violation tickets in the previous 12 months or 3 or more in the previous 25 months? *Please note: Answering yes to this question will not automatically disqualify you from consideration for the position.

• Yes
• No

06

Have you had your drivers license suspended or revoked for any reason in the last three years?

• Yes
• No

Required Question

Employer New Hanover County

Address 230 Government Center Drive - Suite 135

Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403

Phone 910-798-7178

910-798-7178

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/nhc