Emergency Preparedness Specialist

Job Description UW Tacoma’s Campus Safety & Security unit has an outstanding opportunity for an Emergency Preparedness Specialist to join their team!

About this Opportunity Reporting to the Director of Emergency Preparedness & Campus Safety, this position enhances the UWT campus’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies by developing and refining protocols, procedures, and training materials as well as contributing to policy development, business continuity planning, and process improvement initiatives that advance a culture of safety and preparedness across UWT.

Key Responsibilities Emergency Preparedness and Response (50%):

Create and implement emergency preparedness assessment frameworks to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of existing campus emergency plans and activities. Develop high-level directives and procedures and present recommendations to campus leadership for review and approval. Work closely with appropriate organizational units, community groups, and state, county, and city agencies to gain broad-based support and assistance as needed.

Assist department administrators in the development of department-level preparedness and mitigation plans aligned with campus-level plans. Schedule and conduct training, drills, and exercises to test emergency response plans at all organizational levels. Routinely collaborate with key groups, including lab managers and principal investigators (PIs), Health & Safety Committee, Building Coordinators, departmental administrators and related student organizations to evaluate safety and compliance concerns and recommend improvements to policies, procedures, and standard operating procedures (SOPs).Coordinate

with campus partners and UW Emergency Management (UWEM) in Seattle to ensure alignment with University-wide standards. Advise UWT leadership of actionable efficiencies to develop between campus and enterprise operations in various emergency scenarios. In collaboration with the Public Information Officer, develop and maintain clearly documented communication procedures and standards for use before, during, and after a variety of emergency event types.

Partner with the Public Information Officer to ensure coordinated messaging during emergencies.

Prepare and maintain accurate records, forms, logs, and documentation related to emergency preparedness activities, training sessions, and compliance requirements, including phone trees, vendor and community partner contacts. Organize and maintain shared collaboration tools.

Serve as a liaison with Tacoma Fire Department inspectors performing inspections of the campus. Collaborate with UWT Facilities on relevant work orders. Serve as Incident Commander when appropriate during emergency situations. Conduct in-depth after-action reviews with appropriate individuals and organizations to identify areas for improvement and inform future planning.

Provide guidance on emergency preparedness budgets and procurement of supplies and materials. Support annual Clery Act training sessions and reporting. Conduct emergency preparedness outreach activities such as presentations, campus tabling, orientation sessions, and development of online resources to promote awareness among students, faculty, and staff.

Communicate updates and procedures effectively across campus using multiple channels. Create visual aids such as flowcharts and checklists to support understanding and implementation of policies. Maintain and update emergency preparedness content on the UWT website. Serve as a liaison with institutional oversight groups, including UW Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S) and UWEM.Business Continuity and Recovery (25%):

Collaborate with institutional stakeholders to identify critical functions and services…