How to hire an emergency management coordinator

How to hire an emergency management coordinator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency management coordinator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an emergency management coordinator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency management coordinator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an emergency management coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the emergency management coordinator you need to hire. Certain emergency management coordinator roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect emergency management coordinator also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of emergency management coordinator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Emergency Management Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Management Coordinator	Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies, often in coordination with public safety officials, elected officials, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.	$15-54
   Coordinator	Coordinators are responsible for liaising between the department they are assigned to and any other external party. They oversee projects or agreements... Show more	$12-29
   Emergency Planner	As an emergency planner, it is their responsibility to assess risks, write and implement safety development plans and reports, organize safety exercises, and train people for emergency response operations in case of a crisis, natural calamities, and accidents may arise. By anticipating these unfortunate events, they could help avoid or lessen the damage that may cost the company's fortune... Show more	$15-52

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • FEMA
   • Emergency Preparedness
   • Incident Management
   • Emergency Response
   • Public Safety
   • Incident Command System
   • Emergency Management
   • Public Health
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Nims
   • EMS
   • EOC
   • OSHA
   • Emergency Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Identify facilities and personnel resources within the state to achieve rapid effective dispensing of SNS.
   • Implement the FEMA NIMS compliance program, provide training and maintain records of completion for require employees.
   • Report to EOC or emergency scene as needed.
   • Keep a record of staff certifications to be NIMS compliant.
   • Ensure adherence of outside contractors to the OSHA standards during construction projects.
   • Correct fall hazards and OSHA violations by installation of permanent ladders and personnel safety devices.

   More emergency management coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your emergency management coordinator job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. An emergency management coordinator salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, emergency management coordinators' average salary in nebraska is 46% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level emergency management coordinators earn 71% less than senior-level emergency management coordinators.
   • Certifications. An emergency management coordinator with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in an emergency management coordinator's salary.

   Average emergency management coordinator salary

   $61,574yearly

   $29.60 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level emergency management coordinator salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average emergency management coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$83,558	$40
   2	New York	$83,247	$40
   3	Massachusetts	$81,698	$39
   4	Connecticut	$81,084	$39
   5	Pennsylvania	$71,059	$34
   6	Virginia	$70,535	$34
   7	Michigan	$69,643	$33
   8	Texas	$67,358	$32
   9	Oregon	$65,561	$32
   10	Illinois	$62,694	$30
   11	Minnesota	$62,302	$30
   12	North Carolina	$61,489	$30
   13	Montana	$60,616	$29
   14	Washington	$59,173	$28
   15	Arkansas	$55,367	$27
   16	Utah	$54,782	$26
   17	Idaho	$54,669	$26
   18	Indiana	$53,799	$26
   19	Kansas	$53,763	$26
   20	Florida	$53,421	$26

   Average emergency management coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Sanford Health	$109,062	$52.43	60
   2	Avera Health	$98,905	$47.55	11
   3	Highmark	$95,247	$45.79	122
   4	Children's Hospital Colorado	$94,463	$45.41	1
   5	Kootenai Health	$93,406	$44.91	1
   6	U.S. Bank	$92,458	$44.45	133
   7	Broward Health	$91,909	$44.19	7
   8	Mayo Clinic	$91,866	$44.17	52
   9	University of California-Berkeley	$90,613	$43.56	1
   10	QED Group	$90,443	$43.48
   11	ICF	$83,126	$39.96	8
   12	TidalHealth	$82,735	$39.78	4
   13	JPS Health Network	$81,301	$39.09	2
   14	PSEA	$81,288	$39.08
   15	Tenet Healthcare	$77,641	$37.33	65
   16	Sound Physicians	$73,746	$35.45	15
   17	New York State Restaurant Association	$71,993	$34.61
   18	University of Colorado Boulder	$71,508	$34.38
   19	Yukon Kuskokwim Health	$70,493	$33.89
   20	Wayne Community College	$70,208	$33.75

4. Writing an emergency management coordinator job description

   A job description for an emergency management coordinator role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's an emergency management coordinator job description:

   Emergency management coordinator job description example

   Emergency Management Coordinator
   Salary: $20.92 - $30.33 Per Hour / DOQ
   Position Type: Full-Time
   Close Date: Until Filled
   
   General Description: The purpose of this job within the organization is to coordinate homeland security efforts, Citywide safety efforts and to support emergency management programs while working as a designated liaison with regional, city, state, and national emergency management coordinators and staff. This job works under general supervision, independently developing work methods and sequences.
   Note: This position requires responding and reporting to work before, during, and after emergency incidents, which may involve working in inclement weather conditions and outside of normal business hours.
   
   Minimum Training and Experience:
   
   Requires an Associate's Degree in Emergency Services, Homeland Security, Public Safety, or related field. Requires two years or more of progressively responsible experience utilizing ICS, NIMS and EOC systems, organizing events involving public safety and crowd management. The equivalent combination of education and related work experience may be considered. Special Certifications and Licenses: Valid Driver's License 30 Hour OSHA Certification FEMA 100b, 200b, 700a, 701a, 703a, 704a, 800b Intermediate ICS for Expanding Incidents - ICS-300 Advanced ICS - ICS-400 Desirable Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Knowledge of emergency management/disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response efforts. Knowledge of emergency response exercises and training. Some knowledge of Homeland Security directives and FEMA requirements. Proficient skill in the use of a computer, and electronic equipment and software applications to perform essential job functions. Skill in monitoring and maintaining compliance with regulations governing emergency management activities. Ability to coordinate and execute emergency management/disaster mitigation, preparedness, and response efforts involving multiple departments and agencies. Ability to respond before, during, and after emergency incidents, which may involve working in inclement weather conditions. Ability to effectively communicate verbally with all levels of staff, works independently and in a team environment to effectively manage emergencies and disasters along with safety needs as necessary, to be relied upon in the critical time. Ability to deal with people beyond giving and receiving instructions. Must be adaptable to performing under stress when confronted with emergency situations or tight deadlines. Ability to maintain positive customer-focused relationships with co-workers, supervisors, agencies, the general public, and all other internal and external customers. Personally demonstrates appropriate customer service skills. Work is performed onsite. The incumbent must be present at work to perform the essential functions of this job. Essential Job Functions:
   1. Provides consultation to city staff and organizers for special events to ensure secure and safe events. Consults with city staff and public safety agencies for high profile events; researches similar past events and arranges in coordination with City event coordinators for logistical and resource support for a safe event. 2. Oversees the infrastructure safety of the city; reviews safety planning and develops new recommendations as warranted; reviews, updates and maintains security plans as needed and at least annually. 3. Assists the Risk Management function by assessing safety and liability risks through visits to work sites and evaluates potential safety hazards and offers recommendations for safer work stations and practices. Assists in investigating liability claims. 4. Develops lesson plans and delivers safety training to the departments; fosters a safety culture by generating new ideas and changes vital to employee safety and involvement. 5. Assists with developing, revising, and implementing various emergency management related plans, to include Emergency Operations Plans and Annexes, Hazard Mitigation Plans and Continuity of Operations Plan to ensure compliance with local, state, and federal requirements. 6. Serves as staff liaison to develop and maintain effective relationships with support agencies including local, regional, state, and federal emergency management agencies. 7. Assists with disaster response or crisis management activities, provides preparedness training and develops emergency procedures for emergency incidents. 8. Maintains database of instructional requirements for applicable personnel in the areas of continuity and emergency management / preparedness. 9. Assists PIO and appropriate city staff to disseminate emergency preparedness information and activities utilizing city website, social media platforms, newsletters, and pamphlets, including participation in community outreach programs and other activities. 10. Responds to and supports departments during emergencies; provides nourishment, refreshment, shelter and safe work area for the safe completion of the tasks for the staff and victims. 11. Performs all other duties as may be assigned to meet organizational needs. This Notice is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required to do the job. This is intended only to describe the general nature of the job. A more comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities and essential job functions is available on the job description. The City of Rock Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, political affiliation, disability, national origin, genetic information, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), or age.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find emergency management coordinators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your emergency management coordinator job on Zippia to find and recruit emergency management coordinator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit emergency management coordinators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency management coordinator

   Once you've decided on a perfect emergency management coordinator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new emergency management coordinator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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