HCS Executive Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness

Description

Become part of an inclusive organization with over 40,000 teammates, whose mission is to improve the health and well-being of the unique communities we serve.

Summary:

The HCS Executive Director of Emergency Management and Preparedness provides strategic leadership and oversight for enterprise-wide emergency management, disaster preparedness, and business continuity across all facilities within the UNC Health system. This role ensures readiness and effective response to all hazards-natural, technological, or human-caused-while maintaining full compliance with Joint Commission (TJC), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and state and federal emergency preparedness standards. The Executive Director leads planning, training, and coordination across hospitals, clinics and ancillary locations, while maintaining oversight of division staff, programs, and activities.

Responsibilities:
Statewide Leadership & Program Development: Develop, implement, and continuously improve the UNC Health Emergency Management Program, aligning goals, policies, and procedures across all facilities. Establish systemwide Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) and Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs) ensuring standardization and local adaptability. Serve as the system emergency management liaison with federal, state, and local emergency management and public health agencies. Advise executive leadership on emergency management strategy, risk reduction, and regulatory compliance. Lead the System Emergency Management Committee and ensure representation from all entities.
Preparedness, Training, and Exercises: Design and implement a systemwide training and exercise program to ensure all entities meet Joint Commission and CMS requirements. Coordinate and evaluate drills, functional exercises, and real-world incident responses, ensuring after-action reviews and improvement plans are completed. Support facility emergency managers and command center personnel in maintaining Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) readiness. Ensure all facilities achieve compliance with FEMA NIMS/ICS standards and related preparedness benchmarks.
Response & Recovery Coordination: Activate and lead the System Command Center during large-scale or multi-facility incidents. Provide strategic direction and resource coordination for impacted hospitals and clinics. Oversee systemwide incident reporting, situational awareness, and communication with leadership. Manage recovery planning and post-incident evaluation to strengthen future response capabilities.
Risk Assessment & Mitigation:Conduct and maintain a Systemwide Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA) to identify and prioritize risks across the health system. Collaborate with Facilities, Security, Infection Prevention, and IT/Continuity teams to integrate mitigation strategies into infrastructure and operations. Coordinate with Supply Chain, Pharmacy, and Clinical Operations to ensure readiness of critical resources and supply caches.
Collaboration & External Partnerships:Represent the health system in regional and state healthcare coalitions and emergency management networks. Build and maintain collaborative relationships with public health agencies, EMS, law enforcement, and emergency management partners. Serve as the primary system contact for government and community emergency coordination during disasters.
Administrative & Regulatory Oversight:Ensure compliance with Joint Commission Emergency Management standards, CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule, and state licensing requirements. Oversee emergency management documentation, policies, and accreditation materials. Manage the emergency management operating budget, grant programs, and resource allocations. Provide periodic reports and program updates to system leadership, as requested.

Other information:
Education Requirements:
* Bachelor's Degree in business, health administration, emergency management or related field required. Master's Degree preferred.
Licensure/Certification Requirements:
* Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional (CHEP) or Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) preferred.
* FEMA ICS 100-400, IS-700, and IS-800 preferred.
* HICS and NIMS compliance preferred.
* Basic Life Support (BLS) certification preferred.
Professional Experience Requirements:
* Requires ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience and seven (7) years of management experience.
Knowledge/Skills/and Abilities Requirements:
* Solves complex problems that may have a long-term impact on the business function/line of business.
* Develops innovative ideas and solutions with significance to the organization's future.
* Identifies problem areas and skill gaps proactively and addresses them appropriately.
* Excellent project management and change management skills for designing and implementing Entity, Triangle, or System initiatives in a complex environment.
* Must display outstanding interpersonal, negotiation, verbal and written communication skills.
* Possesses the ability to build consensus among key stakeholders, including providers, employees, and leaders within affiliated health systems is essential.
* Demonstrates the ability to build and lead a high functioning team is required.
* Requires flexibility and responsiveness to adapt decision-making activities in frequently changing situations.
* Possesses solid business acumen and analytical skills.
* Has a high tolerance for complex, ambiguous, and constantly changing environment.

Legal Employer: NCHEALTH

Entity: Shared Services

Organization Unit: System Security Operations

Work Type: Full Time

Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00

Pay offers are determined by experience and internal equity

Work Assignment Type: Onsite

Work Schedule: Day Job

Location of Job: US:NC:Chapel Hill

Exempt From Overtime: Exempt: Yes

This position is employed by NC Health (Rex Healthcare, Inc., d/b/a NC Health), a private, fully-owned subsidiary of UNC Health Care System, in a department that provides shared services to operations across UNC Health Care; except that, if you are currently a UNCHCS State employee already working in a designated shared services department, you may remain a UNCHCS State employee if selected for this job.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran or political affiliation.

UNC Health makes reasonable accommodations for applicants' and employees' religious practices and beliefs, as well as applicants and employees with disabilities. All interested applicants are invited to apply for career opportunities. Please email applicant.accommodations@unchealth.unc.edu if you need a reasonable accommodation to search and/or to apply for a career opportunity.