How to hire an emergency planning and response manager

How to hire an emergency planning and response manager, step by step

Here's a step-by-step emergency planning and response manager 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 planning and response manager job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new emergency planning and response manager
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the emergency planning and response manager you need to hire. Certain emergency planning and response manager 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 planning and response manager 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.

   This list shows salaries for various types of emergency planning and response managers.

   Type of Emergency Planning And Response Manager	Description	Hourly rate
   Emergency Planning And Response Manager	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.	$12-59
   Emergency Preparedness Coordinator	Emergency Preparedness Coordinators work diligently to prepare for, prevent, and somehow lessen a community's hardships if and when they face emergencies. Most residents don't always understand the hard work that goes into maintaining the safety of a community... Show more	$15-55
   Emergency Management Coordinator	An Emergency Management Coordinator is responsible for strategizing techniques and facilitating programs to respond to emergencies and natural threats. They evaluate the effect of hazards and develop comprehensive plans to minimize or mitigate emerging risks to the community... Show more	$15-54

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • USCG
   • DOT
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Hazardous Waste
   • Response Plan
   • Emergency Management
   • EPA
   • OSHA
   • Emergency Operations
   • Osro
   • ICS
   • Emergency Situations

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage regulatory compliance for PHMSA, OPA90, and EPA (FRP/SPCC) emergency response plans for pipeline systems and facilities.
   • Double TOS copay collections by educating staff about insurance eligibility, copay interpretation and patients about their responsibility.
   • Coordinate logistics and operational response teams.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, emergency planning and response managers' average salary in nebraska is 54% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level emergency planning and response managers earn 78% less than senior-level emergency planning and response managers.
   • Certifications. An emergency planning and response manager 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 planning and response manager's salary.

   Average emergency planning and response manager salary

   $57,879yearly

   $27.83 hourly rate

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   Entry-level emergency planning and response manager salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing an emergency planning and response manager job description

   A job description for an emergency planning and response manager 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 planning and response manager job description:

   Emergency planning and response manager job description example

   *POSITION: Emergency Response Manager*
   
   *JOB DUTIES: *
   * Lead, oversee and coordinate emergency service activities including developing, implementing, and maintaining HMSS's emergency preparedness and disaster relief programs; advise HMSS leadership during critical events, crises, and disasters.
   * Recommend and assist in the implementation of goals and objectives; establish schedules and methods for providing emergency preparedness services; implement policies and procedures.
   * Develop relations with outside organizations; maintain close working relationships to ensure rapid and coherent response in emergency situations.
   * Coordinate, research, locate and administer a variety of grants including Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grants.
   * Respond to and coordinate significant emergency situations; provide emergency planning consulting services to various departments, local businesses, and other agencies.
   * Promote and coordinate specific activities within the emergency services program; prepare program event and facility marketing materials including news releases, flyers, schedules of events, pamphlets, and brochures.
   * Maintain records and develop reports concerning new or ongoing programs and program effectiveness; maintain records for disaster relief programs; maintain and file emergency preparedness reports; prepare statistical reports as required.
   * Maintain awareness of new developments in the field of emergency preparedness and disaster relief; incorporate new developments as appropriate into programs.
   * Perform related duties as required.
   
   *QUALIFICATIONS: *
   
   *Knowledge of: *
   * Operations, services and activities of an emergency services and disaster relief program.
   * Principles and practices of supervision and training.
   * Public safety response and coordination.
   * Disaster management and recovery.
   * Principles and practices of emergency service program development and implementation.
   * Concepts of emergency activities at various levels of government.
   * Recent developments, current literature and information related to emergency preparedness and disaster relief.
   * Modern office equipment including computers and applicable software applications.
   * Pertinent federal, state, and local laws, codes, and safety regulations.
   
   *Ability to: *
   * Develop, manage, and coordinate emergency preparedness and disaster relief programs.
   * Supervise and monitor the work of assigned staff. Recommend and implement goals and objectives for providing emergency services and training.
   * Respond to field emergencies and coordinate the response of City resources in significant emergency operations.
   * Write and revise emergency plans.
   * Operate office equipment including computers and supporting word processing and spreadsheet applications.
   * Work independently in the absence of supervision.
   * Respond to requests and inquiries from the public.
   * Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.
   * Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
   
   *Education/Training: *
   * Equivalent to a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in public administration or a related field.
   
   *Experience: *
   * Three years of increasingly responsible experience coordinating emergency services.
   
   *License or Certificate: *
   * Possession of, or ability to obtain, an appropriate, valid driver's license.
   
   *PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORKING ENVIRONMENT: * . Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions.
   
   *Environment: *
   * Office and field environment; travel from site to site.
   
   *Physical: *
   * Sufficient physical ability to work in an office setting and operate office equipment; to perform light to moderate lifting and carrying.
   * Standing, walking, or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
   * Mobility to operate an Emergency Operations Center, operating motorized vehicles.
   
   Job Type: Full-time
   
   Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year
   
   Benefits:
   * 401(k)
   * 401(k) matching
   * Dental insurance
   * Health insurance
   * Life insurance
   * Vision insurance
   Schedule:
   * 8 hour shift
   * Monday to Friday
   * On call
   
   Ability to commute/relocate:
   * Pasadena, TX 77506: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)
   
   Experience:
   * Writing skills: 3 years (Preferred)
   * Microsoft Office: 3 years (Preferred)
   * Customer service: 3 years (Preferred)
   * Environmental Remediation: 4 years (Preferred)
   
   License/Certification:
   * Driver's License (Preferred)
   
   Work Location: One location

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right emergency planning and response manager for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting emergency planning and response managers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   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 planning and response manager

   Once you've decided on a perfect emergency planning and response manager 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.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new emergency planning and response manager. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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