Grand Canyon University!  One of Arizona’s leading institutions of higher learning. Located in the Valley of Sun in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona, GCU is a regionally accredited, private, nondenominational Christian University. 

Do you want to be part of a growing university where dedicated Public Safety professionals make a positive impact on our campus every day?  If that sounds exciting to you, we want to talk to you.  Apply today!

The Emergency Preparedness Program Manager (EPPM) plays a critical role in enhancing Grand Canyon University’s (GCU) resilience by strengthening emergency preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities across all locations. This position is organizationally aligned as an equivalent peer to the Campus Safety Manager and Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) Supervisor. Together, these three positions form a collaborative management triad within Public Safety. The EPPM is expected to jointly plan, coordinate, and support campus safety operations, critical incident management, and event safety/security measures. This role ensures seamless coordination between preparedness, safety, and real-time operations to safeguard University operations, infrastructure, and campus life. This position leads cross-functional collaboration to develop and implement comprehensive emergency plans, training programs, and response strategies that safeguard the University's operations, infrastructure, campus life, and academic continuity.

Reporting directly to the Director of Emergency Preparedness, the Program Manager is responsible for evaluating long-term emergency management objectives, developing strategic initiatives to enhance institutional preparedness, and overseeing planning and response projects. This role serves as a key coordinator for critical incident management, ensuring seamless communication and coordination across Residence Life, Public Safety, Events, and other University departments.

What you will do:

• Support the management of the university-wide emergency planning, including development, maintenance, and execution of GCU’s Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMIP) and hazard-specific annexes.
• Provide leadership the development and implementation of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for critical incident response and recovery initiatives, ensuring alignment with best practices.
• Lead multidisciplinary teams, influence policies, and improve all phases of emergency management through collaboration and training.
• Collaborate directly with Campus Safety Managers and RTOC Supervisor to integrate preparedness, safety, and real-time response strategies.
• Standardize emergency preparedness procedures and methods to ensure proactive identification of risks and threats.
• Serve as primary preparedness lead, coordinating response and recovery efforts and decision-making in absence of the Director of Emergency Preparedness.
• Adapt Department of Homeland Security and FEMA National Response Framework principles for university operations, ensuring alignment with city, county, and state standards.
• Conduct Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments (THIRA) and Hazard Vulnerability Assessments (HVA).
• Plan, develop, and conduct periodic disaster drills, recovery exercises, and EOC activations in collaboration with Campus Safety Managers and RTOC Supervisor.
• Serve as liaison officer with internal GCU departments and external partners (City of Phoenix, Maricopa County, State of Arizona).
• Support development, maintenance, and training for GCU’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• Manage, operate, and maintain the EOC during activations, coordinate notifications and staffing during incidents and planned events.

What you need:

• Minimum of six (3) years of relevant experience in emergency preparedness, emergency management, disaster response, emergency operations center (EOC)/Incident Management Team (IMT), group collaboration and continuity planning.

• Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree is preferred, in field such as emergency management, public safety, public administration, homeland security, or closely related field.

• Completion of FEMA ICS 100,200, 700, 800, 300 and 400

• Must have valid and current Arizona’s Driver License and clean driving record.

• Must pass a pre-employment background investigation, including fingerprinting.

Why work at GCU:

• Exceptional workplace benefits include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 401K savings plan.

• Generous time off plan and 11 paid holidays

• Paid time off to volunteer in the community or at GCU sponsored events.

• Free covered parking

• We also offer full-time employees, their spouses, and dependent children an Education Tuition Discount Program

• Free on-site gyms on campus