Emergency Management Program Manager
Polk County FL
FL, United States · Posted October 26, 2026
Just laid off? Start here: a plan for the first weeks
See every open role at Polk County FL
More in Florida job market · Government & Public Sector · Programs jobs
More roles at Polk County FL
- Planner I, II, III, Senior Planner · Bartow, FL
- Transportation Planner - Career Ladder Group
- IT Infrastructure Engineer · Bartow, FL
- Business Operations Specialist- Career Ladder · Winter Haven, FL
- Accountant I
- Senior Capital Projects Manager · Winter Haven, FL
Similar jobs
- Director of Emergency Services - Sebastian River Hospital · Orlando Health · SEBASTIAN, FL
- Director Emergency Services · UF Health · Gainesville, FL
- Manager, Emergency Preparedness - East Region · Carle Health Medical Group · Urbana, IL
- Director, Communal Antisemitism Response · Spertus College · MD
- Emergency Management Program Specialist · Yale University · New Haven, CT
- Director, Emergency Management · William Marsh Rice University · Houston, TX
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among emergency management directors is little observed so far. Measured exposure for emergency management directors: 0% (little observed).
Share of this job’s tasks that AI is already used for at work, from real usage. It is not a forecast of job loss, and a low number means no use seen yet. Source: Anthropic Economic Index.
Skills this job asks for
Say which you have and which you want to build. We use it to match you to jobs like this one.
About the job
PROGRAM MANAGER Emergency Management Division
*Current BoCC employees: apply via 'Polk One - Me' section.*
PG 21 Exempt $70,158.40 - $105,206.40 ($33.73-$50.58) M-F, 8A-5P
Polk County Emergency Operations Center
1890 Jim Keene Blvd. Winter Haven, FL 33880
Employee Benefits
Direct Deposit, Bi-Weekly Pay Checks
Medical, Dental, Vision
Life Insurance
FRS Retirement
10 Paid Holidays
Paid Time Off
Tuition Reimbursement
Education Incentives
Deferred Compensation Plan
Wellness Incentives
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Free Employee Gym
Free Employee Health Clinic
This position also serves as the Emergency Operation Center Director during emergency activation. Must have the physical, developmental and mental ability to perform job tasks, work efforts, responsibilities and duties of the job illustrated below:
MAJOR FUNCTION Management position responsible for planning, directing, and managing the operations of the Polk County Emergency Management Program. Oversees Emergency Management Program staff responsible for a wide array of Emergency Management planning, training, and exercise activities. Responsible for readiness, technology systems, and operations of the Polk County Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Manages State and Federal grants including preparing and maintaining budgets, grant compliance and financial reports. Will function as the acting Division Director in the Director’s absence.
ILLUSTRATIVE DUTIES
Performs independently in a varied scope of Emergency Management administrative work related to the countywide Emergency Management Program. Intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed, the list of functions below are not all inclusive and the omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position:
Maintains the Emergency Operations Center in a continuous state of readiness.
Serves as the EOC Director during exercises and emergency situations.
Must work varying work schedules prior to, during and following EOC activations, or when required.
Ability to efficiently perform duties under varying, and possibly extreme, stress and weather conditions including nights and weekends along with 12-hour shifts during an EOC activation.
Prepare and maintain required county and state budgetary records, grant deliverables, and other compliance documentation for State and Federal Emergency Management grants.
Responsible for the maintenance and review of the county’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP). The CEMP is the document that guides the numerous local agencies that together guide the planning, response, recovery, and mitigation countywide.
Serves as Emergency Management liaison with local, state, and federal governmental departments and agencies, utilities and industry personnel as assigned.
Serves as chairman of the Polk County Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group (LMSWG) with representatives of county agencies, municipalities, and other eligible organizations to facilitate their individual input to the countywide multi-jurisdictional Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) .
Functions as Division’s representative on various Emergency Management groups, task forces, committees and organizations to include the Local Emergency Planning Committee, Regional Domestic Security Task Force, and the Florida Division of Emergency Management, etc.
Serves as the designated Chairperson of the Emergency Preparedness Advisory Council, (EPAC) which is a monthly forum for all municipal, county, public and private agencies to coordinate planning, training and response activities.
Directs the Division’s Municipal Liaison Program, which annually updates the emergency preparedness and response coordination efforts with City Managers, Police and Fire Chiefs from every municipality in the County.
Responsible for planning, conducting and directing the annual Emergency Management Readiness Exercise and the County’s participation in the annual FDEM Statewide Exercise.
Oversee staff to conduct various other training and exercises throughout the year.
Available and prepared to respond to any emergency/disaster or potential emergency seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Travel as necessary to on-site locations within the County.
Deploys to remote disaster locations statewide as a member of the State Emergency Response Team.
Performs related duties as required.
KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND SKILLS
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with all Emergency Management stakeholders including BoCC staff, senior and elected officials, and the public.
Skilled in the use of personal computers and related software applications including word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and other related software.
Ability to collect, compile and prepare statistical reports.
Ability to effectively communicate oral and written instructions/directions.
Skillful in research, reporting, writing, communications, public speaking and presentations.
Ability to concentrate on detail and sequential work tasks. Ability to see, sit for long periods, bend, stoop and drive from worksite to worksite.
Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
Ability to complete and maintain accurate records, reports and files.
Ability to think and react calmly and responsibly in emergency situations. Ability to work in all weather conditions.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Graduate from an accredited university or college with a Bachelor’s Degree in Emergency Management, Public Administration, or related emergency management field.
A minimum of five years of progressively responsible full-time employment in Emergency Management including supervision of employees.
Must have completed FEMA ICS100, ICS200, ICS300, ICS400, IS700 and IS800 training courses.
Equivalent combinations of certifications and experience may be considered in lieu of the bachelor’s degree.
Must possess a valid driver’s license and be able to secure a valid Florida Driver's license at time of employment.
Must achieve as a condition of employment certification as a Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) within four years of hire.
SPECIAL PREFERENCES
Current Florida Emergency Preparedness Association (FEPA) Florida Professional Emergency Manager (FPEM) or International Association of Emergency Managers Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) certification.
Experience overseeing and coordinating multi-agency operations during exercises, special events, and emergency situations.
Experience with technology including communication systems and audio-visual systems.
Experience coordinating and maintaining positive working relationships with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders including public safety agencies, volunteer & faith-based organizations, and private sector stakeholders.
Experience developing and managing budgets to include grants.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENT
This position will be required to report for work when a declaration of emergency has been declared in Polk County.