Emergency Manager

Lead, Innovate, and Impact Lives - Join Lane County in Shaping a Safer Tomorrow!

Application Review Date: February 2nd, 2026

Interviews Scheduled for: Week of February 9th, 2026

Lane County is seeking an experienced Emergency Program Manager to lead the County’s Office of Emergency Management during a time of increasing complexity, risk, and community need.

This role operates in a highly collaborative environment, working closely with the County Administrator, Policy Director, Sheriff, County departments, other jurisdictions, and a complex network of public, private, and non‑profit partners.

This senior manager-level leadership role is responsible for the County’s comprehensive emergency management and disaster preparedness program—spanning mitigation, preparedness, and response. The Emergency Manager serves as the County’s primary emergency management authority, acts as Emergency Operations Center (EOC) Manager and may assume designated leadership roles within the Incident Command System, consistent with County authority and interagency agreements.

The successful candidate will bring demonstrated emergency management expertise, proven people leadership, and the ability to operate calmly and decisively in high‑stress, high‑visibility environments. Success in this role requires leading complex teams through ambiguity, building trust across departments, jurisdictions, and partner organizations, and taking accountability for outcomes.

The Emergency Manager is expected to model mature judgment, transparent communication, and partnership‑based leadership in both steady‑state operations and crisis environments.

We are looking for a seasoned emergency management professional who:

• Has nine (9) years of progressively responsible education and/or experience in emergency management and disaster preparedness, including at least three (3) years in a supervisory, management, or leadership role
• Has led all‑hazards emergency management programs, including planning, training, exercises, response coordination, and recovery
• Is an experienced people leader who can supervise, develop, coach, and hold staff accountable
• Can confidently make decisions under pressure, manage competing priorities, and communicate clearly with leadership, partners, and the public
• Understands the role of culture, equity, and trust in emergency response and community resilience
• Exercises independent judgment while maintaining close coordination and communication with County leadership.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing accountable, collaborative leadership across County departments, other jurisdictions, and public, private, non‑profit, and governmental partners, including proactively addressing challenges, resolving conflicts, and ensuring alignment with County priorities
• Directing and budgeting countywide emergency management programs and initiatives
• Leading the development, maintenance, and implementation of critical plans (Emergency Operations Plan, Community Wildfire Protection Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan)
• Coordinating training, exercises, and readiness activities for County staff and partners
• Overseeing emergency alerting and communications systems
• Serving as EOC Manager or Incident Commander during emergencies
• Supervising emergency management staff, including hiring, performance management, training, and corrective action
• Representing Lane County on regional, state, and intergovernmental committees
• Advising County leadership and the Board of Commissioners on risk, preparedness, and emergency management strategy
• Managing grants, budgets, reimbursements, and disaster cost recovery
• Monitoring and responding to regulatory, legal, and policy changes impacting emergency management

Emergency management in Lane County is complex, collaborative, and consequential. Lane County serves more than 380,000 residents across urban, rural, and wildfire‑prone communities, encompassing multiple municipalities, school districts, higher education institutions, and special districts. Effective emergency management here directly affects the safety, stability, and recovery of diverse…