Emergency Management Program Specialist

Job Group:
Professional & Scientific

Required Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 2 years of related experience

Preferred Qualifications:
Familiarity with emergency management programs, departments, and organizations
Experience with or knowledge of disaster-related community organizations—such as Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD), Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and state and federal emergency management protocols
Familiarity with publications related to resilience, disaster, climate, energy, and environment
Experience designing and facilitating strategic planning sessions, such as tabletop exercises, scenario-based drills, and simulations

Job Description:

Do you want to play a vital role in helping communities prepare for, recover, and mitigate natural disasters and other crises? Would you like to work in a role where no two days are the same—and every day brings a new challenge or opportunity?

If so, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is currently seeking applicants for an Emergency Management Program Specialist to join their team! This position will be hired as a Program Specialist II.

What You’ll Do:

• Support manager with logistics for meetings and coordination of groups associated with the Priority Program Initiative (PPI) Adaptive and Sustainable Natural and Built environment as well as the Iowa disaster working group and other initiatives as needed.  
• Strategize opportunities for implementing the Priority Program Initiative (PPI) goals in partnership with supervisor. 
• Identify and seek out external funding related to PPI outcomes and outputs, as well as specific emergency management and disaster related research and implementation.
• Coordinate and develop relationships with ISU Extension and Outreach team members and external emergency management professionals.
• Manage the Iowa Disaster website in partnership with ISU Advancement team; including content creation and coordination.
• Serve as primary point of contact for disaster communication, including participation in relevant meetings and events.
• Create and distribute an internal newsletter focused on emergency management for ISU Extension and Outreach staff.
• Participate in National and Heartland Extension Disaster Education Network and represent ISU Extension and Outreach on relevant local/national boards and committees.
• Identify existing resources that will further the PPI and emergency management efforts.
• Support the manager by conducting research on PPI aimed at promoting sustainable and adaptive natural and built environments, with a focus on disaster and emergency management.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff on research to develop toolkits, programs, and trainings focused on emergency management and resilient community development.
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions for emergency management and develop templates and train-the-trainer materials to support ISU Extension and Outreach faculty and staff.

The successful candidate will be an effective communicator with strong critical thinking skills. This individual will possess strong listening abilities and exceptional conflict resolution skills.

The primary office location for this position will be an extension office in the state of Iowa and the location will be dependent on the successful candidate and office availability.

Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. on an ongoing basis without sponsorship. Immigration sponsorship is not available for this position.

About Disaster and Crisis Recovery with ISU Extension and Outreach:

During times of natural disaster and other crises, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach offers educational resources and technical assistance to prepare, respond, recover and mitigate personal, business and community impact; working in partnership with the local, state and federal agencies. For more information, please visit the link below.

https://www.extension.iastate.edu/disasterrecovery/
Level Guidelines
• Intermediate-level position with solid professional and/or technical skills working under general supervision to achieve goals
• Applies broad, working knowledge of the principles of the field to moderately complex, difficult, and varied problems and issues
• Exercises judgment within defined procedures and practices to determine appropriate action and resolve problems
• Responds to a broad range of inquiries and requests
• May provide training and/or direction to lower-level staff
• May lead projects of moderate scope and complexity
• Provides guidance to students

Appointment Type:
Regular

Number of Months Employed Per Year:
12 Month Work Period

Time Type:
Full time

Pay Grade:
PS807

Application Instructions:
To apply for this position, please click on “Apply” and complete the Employment Application. Please be prepared to enter or attach the following: 1) Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2) Letter of Application/Cover Letter If you have questions regarding this application process, please email employment@iastate.edu or call 515-294-4800 or Toll Free: 1-877-477-7485. Why Choose ISU? Iowa State Employees enjoy comprehensive health and work-life benefits, including medical and dental; as well as: • Retirement benefits including defined benefit and defined contribution plans • Generous vacation, holiday and sick time and leave plans • Onsite childcare (Ames, Iowa) • Life insurance and long-term disability • Flexible Spending Accounts • Various voluntary benefits and discounts • Employee Assistance Program • Wellbeing program • Iowa State offers WorkFlex options for some positions. WorkFlex offers flexibility on when, where, and how you do your work. For more information, please speak with the Hiring Manager.

Original Posting Date:
July 14, 2025

Posting Close Date:
July 27, 2025

Job Requisition Number:
R17374