Emergency Manager
Salary
$118,785.08 - $151,603.70 Annually
Location
Metro Regional Center, OR
Job Type
Full Time
Remote Employment
Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number
2026-1410-COO-EM
Department
Council/COO/GAPD
Opening Date
06/11/2026
Closing Date
6/21/2026 11:59 PM Pacific
Position Summary
Hello, we're Metro! Metro is dedicated to shaping a better future for the greater Portland region. The work the people of Metro do every day benefits the lives of the people who live here, today, and tomorrow.
Join Metro's Office of Risk, Readiness, & Resilience (R3) as an Emergency Manager and play a central role in shaping how the organization prepares for, responds to, and recovers from emergencies and operational disruptions. In this position, you'll have the opportunity to lead a high-impact, agency-wide program, collaborate with a wide range of internal teams and regional partners, and drive meaningful improvements in organizational readiness and resilience.
You'll build and strengthen Metro's emergency management capabilities, guide strategic planning efforts, and lead a team dedicated to ensuring continuity across operations, facilities, and services. This role offers the chance to influence long-term resilience strategies, elevate coordination during critical incidents, and make a tangible difference for employees, visitors, and the broader community. Focused on program leadership, planning, and coordination, this position is ideal for someone who wants to lead from a strategic level rather than in a first-response or field-response capacity.
As the Emergency Manager you will:
Lead Metro's emergency management program, including preparedness, response, recovery, and continuous improvement activities.
Supervise emergency management staff and provide coaching, direction, and performance management.
Manage program budgets, contracts, work plans, and operational priorities.
Coordinate development and implementation of Metro's Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP) and Emergency Operations Plan (EPP).
Partner with departments to identify capability gaps, establish preparedness priorities, and strengthen organizational readiness.
Design and deliver emergency management training, exercises, and after-action improvement initiatives.
Coordinate incident management and emergency response activities across Metro departments and regional partners.
Support Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activation, coordination, and operational readiness
Represent Metro in local, regional, state, and federal emergency management coordination efforts.
Build collaborative relationships that advance preparedness, information sharing, and regional resilience.
Attributes for success:
Knowledge of emergency management practices, including how incidents are managed and coordinated across the agency, and the ability to turn that knowledge into clear, usable plans.
Experience working with different teams, departments, or partner organizations to plan, coordinate, and support emergency response efforts.
Ability to build strong working relationships and collaborate effectively, using a people-focused and service-oriented approach.
Skill in turning big-picture strategies into practical actions that can be implemented in real situations.
Experience leading, supervising, or supporting staff and teams, including coaching and helping others grow in their roles.
Ability to handle multiple priorities and work with different stakeholders, staying flexible and effective in complex situations.
Good judgment and decision-making skills, especially when information is limited or situations are changing quickly.
Strong communication skills and the ability to stay calm and clear during high-pressure situations, with experience supporting training, exercises, or emergency operations, and a focus on continuous learning and improvement.
DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION
At Metro, we strive to cultivate diversity, advance equity, and practice inclusion in all of its work. This means attracting and empowering a workforce that is inclusive of a broad range of human qualities. Workplace diversity is both a moral imperative and a business strength, essential to providing quality support and services to our region. Metro's goal is to hire, develop and retain highly skilled and talented individuals across all departments and programs who best reflect the diversity of our community.
Learn more about how Metro is advancing diversity
TO QUALIFY
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific in your application materials on how your background is relevant.
Minimum qualifications
Required:
If this statement is true for you, then you may be ineligible to apply
If you were terminated for cause during any employment with Metro, or resigned in lieu of termination, you may be ineligible for rehire for a minimum of 3 years.
Hybrid Telework
This position is designated as "hybrid telework." You will be required to work onsite and at times have the option to work away from your assigned work location. The specific schedule and balance of onsite and telework will be discussed with the hiring manager at the time of offer. Employees must reside in Oregon or Washington to work at Metro. Please note, the designation of hybrid telework may be subject to change at a future time.
Like to have qualifications
You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider them when identifying the most qualified candidates. Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience, including the military, or life experience that are relevant for this position.
Experience working in local, regional, state, or federal government
Professional certifications related to emergency management
SCREENING AND EVALUATION
The application packet: The application packet consists of the following required documents. Please ensure that you upload these documents in your online application. Make sure your application is complete, missing any part of these items could result in an incomplete application and will not be moved forward in the recruitment.
A complete online application
Responses to supplemental questions
The selection process: We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows. The selection process is subject to change.
COMPENSATION, BENEFITS AND REPRESENTATON
The full-salary range for this position is step 1:$118,785.08 to step 6:$151,603.70 annually. However, unless a candidate's qualifications justify, based on the Oregon Pay Equity Act requirements and Metro's internal equity review process, the appointment will likely be made between step 1:$118,785.08 to the equity range step 3:$130,960.55 annually.
This position is not eligible for overtime and is not represented by a union. It is classified as Manager I.
Classification descriptions are typically written broadly and do not include the specific duties and responsibilities of the positions. View the classification description.
Questions?
Recruiter: Megan Warneke
Email: megan.warneke@oregonmetro.gov
Additional Information
Equal employment opportunity
All qualified persons will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, familial status, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability for which a reasonable accommodation can be made, or any other status protected by law.
Non-discrimination in hiring decisions
Metro is committed to equal employment opportunity and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local civil rights laws. Metro employment decisions - including recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, promotion, compensation, and separation - must not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, veteran status, or any other protected class.
Veterans preference
Under Oregon Law, qualified veterans may be eligible for veterans preference when applying for Metro positions. If you are a veteran and would like to be considered for a veterans preference for this job, please provide qualifying documents as instructed during the application process.
Hybrid Telework
Positions designated as "hybrid telework," meaning you will have the option to work away from the office, although there may be times that coming into the office will be required. The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; Metro cannot support ongoing telework from other locations.
Pay equity at Metro
No matter who you are or where you work at Metro, you deserve to be paid fairly for the work you do. Every worker must get equal pay for equal work regardless of your gender, race, age, or other protected characteristics. Metro has established processes and conducts routine pay equity reviews as part of the hiring process to ensure compliance with the 2017 Oregon Pay Equity Act.
Online applications
Metro accepts job applications online. If you need assistance or accommodation with your application, or access to a computer, please contact the recruiter outlined in the job announcement in advance to request assistance.
How to Apply
For tips on how to apply and more information on what the application process looks like, visit Metro's "How to apply" page.
Government Jobs
For assistance with your account or to reset your password please visit GovernmentJobs "Help and Support" page.
Metro
Led by an elected council, this unique government gives all residents of greater Portland a voice in shaping the future and provides parks, venues, services, and tools at a regional scale. We find solutions for our area's garbage and recycling that protect clean air and water; help plan land use and development to provide jobs and safe transportation; manage local venues that provide a connection to arts and culture and help keep the economy growing; protect 17,000 acres of parks and natural areas, and run the Oregon Zoo, to keep nature close to home.
As part of the Metro family, you play a vital role in serving the people of the greater Portland region.
Family members, including eligible spouses, domestic partners, and children, are covered under most of our benefits programs. Benefits vary depending on position and full-time, part-time, and variable hour status.
This is a budgeted, regular status position with a full-time schedule. The position is eligible for these benefits:
Metro also offers a variety of perks for all employees, including free admission to the Oregon Zoo (including ZooLights!), Oxbow and Blue Lake Regional Parks, membership discount at Lloyd Athletic Club, credit union eligibility and more. Employees also receive access to financial wellness and legal consultation services, as well as first-time home buying and ownership counseling.
Learn more about employee benefits.
Some positions are represented by a union and have additional benefits.
View union contracts here.
01
What is your highest level of education?
02
How many total years of experience do you have managing projects related to emergency management, business continuity, or organizational resilience? Make sure this is reflected in the "Work Experience" section of your application.
03
Please indicate your total years of experience in supervising and managing direct reports, including responsibilities such as performance evaluations and disciplinary actions.
04
Describe a time when you led a preparedness, emergency management, continuity, or operational initiative the required coordination across multiple departments, agencies, or stakeholder groups with differing priorities. What was the situation, what challenges did you encounter, and what steps did you take to build alignment and achieve the desired outcome (response limit: 500 words)?
05
Describe a significant preparedness, resilience, continuity, or emergency management initiative that you helped develop and implement. How did you identify priorities, translate strategy into action, and measure and evaluate progress or success (response limit: 500 words)?
06
Describe a time when you supervised or led a team through a significant change, new initiative, or operational challenge. How did you support staff, maintain progress, address performance or development needs, and achieve the desired outcome (response limit: 500 words)?
Required Question
Employer Oregon Metro
Address 600 NE Grand Ave
Portland, Oregon, 97232
Phone 503-797-1570
Website http://www.oregonmetro.gov