Director, Emergency Management and Command Center

Director of Emergency Management & Command Center Operations
 

Position Summary
The Director of Emergency Management & Command Center Operations is responsible for designing, implementing, and leading the organization’s enterprise emergency management and incident command capability. This role oversees the planning, activation, and operation of a centralized command center to manage natural disasters, operational disruptions, technology outages, and other enterprise-level incidents impacting patient care and business continuity.
The Director serves as a key operational leader during crises and ensures the organization is prepared and trained with proven readiness to respond effectively across all facilities and corporate functions.
 

Key Responsibilities
Emergency Management & Incident Command
● Design, implement, and maintain an enterprise emergency management program aligned with HICS/NIMS principles
● Establish and operate a centralized Enterprise Command Center capable of supporting multi-facility incidents
● Serve in a leadership role during activations, including Incident Commander or senior command staff advisor as appropriate

Command Center Operations
● Develop command center activation criteria, governance, and standard operating procedures
● Coordinate real-time situational awareness, decision-making, and executive communications during incidents
● Integrate clinical operations, IT, facilities, supply chain, HR, communications, and external partners into incident response

Preparedness, Planning & Exercises

● Oversee hazard vulnerability analyses (HVAs) and enterprise preparedness planning
● Lead tabletop exercises, functional drills, and full-scale exercises across hospitals and corporate teams
● Ensure after-action reviews and corrective action plans are completed and tracked

Business Continuity & Resilience Integration

● Partner with Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery, Cybersecurity, and Risk Management leaders to align response and recovery strategies
● Support continuity planning for extended disruptions (e.g., EHR downtime, regional disasters, workforce shortages)
● Translate lessons learned into improved policies, playbooks, and training

Leadership & Governance

● Establish clear roles, accountability, and escalation pathways for incident management
● Provide executive briefings during incidents and post-incident reviews
● Represent the organization with regulators, emergency management agencies, and healthcare coalitions as needed

Qualifications
Required
● Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Public Health, Healthcare Administration, or related field
● 5+ years of progressive experience in emergency management, incident command, or healthcare operations
● Demonstrated experience running or supporting an incident command center
● Strong leadership, communication, and decision-making skills under pressure

Preferred
● Healthcare system experience across multiple hospitals or regions
● Familiarity with HICS, NIMS, FEMA ICS, and Joint Commission emergency management standards
● Certifications such as CEM, CHEP, or equivalent

Reporting Relationship
● Reports to Senior Vice President of Risk Management 
● Works closely with Clinical Operations, IT, Facilities, Communications, Security, and Business Continuity leadership