Airport Manager- Emergency Management

Salary range: $80,594-$90,000

Posting expires: October 19, 2026

General Description and Classification Standards


Under general direction of the Hartsfield – Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) Emergency Management Director, the Emergency Management Program Administrator will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Operations Center within the Centralized Command & Control Center. The Emergency Management Program Administrator is overall responsible for the emergency management program within the airport community.
The Emergency Management Airport Manager serves as an advisor to the Airport Executive leadership; works closely with the Director of Emergency Management; local, federal, and state agencies; including the whole airport community stakeholders to collectively prepare, protect, prevent, mitigate, respond to and recover from natural, adversarial and technological emergencies. This Manager is responsible for managing a team, preparing, maintaining, and updating the Airport Emergency Plan, responding to emergency situations, developing, and implementing all emergency preparedness training, exercises and drills acting as a liaison with mutual aid agencies.

Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Direct supervision of the Program Managers, and Emergency Planners with oversight of the day-to-day operations of the EOC.
• Fills positions in the EOC for airport emergencies that require activation of the EOC such as aircraft alerts, snow emergencies, severe weather, irregular operations, security breaches, train system shutdown, medical emergencies, power failures, hazardous materials incidents, and bomb threats or any other terminal/concourse emergencies as well as landside roadway incidents that may impact passenger flow through the facility.
• Develops and manages the emergency management program operating budget.
• Documents causes for disciplinary action and initiates letters of reprimand and makes formal recommendations for disciplinary action. Responds to formal and informal employee grievances and prepares written responses.
• Follows the requirements of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and determines local, state, and federal resources necessary to effectively manage these emergencies. Responsible for the tactical supervision of employees from other airport divisions during emergency and non-routine events.
• Formulates emergency management policies and procedures related to the functioning of emergency services during emergencies.
• Plans, organizes, and coordinates the emergency management activities of operating departments, agencies and other entities for emergency response operations Coordinates planning and organization for the use of divisional resources available to support incident and event management at the airport.
• Maintains a reference file of general emergency preparedness, emergency response, national security (attack preparedness/weapons of mass destruction), and similar emergency management publications as guidance documents.
• Maintains a continuous review of the warning system and warning procedures.
• Develops and maintains a training and exercise program to prepare the Airport for emergency operations.
• Prepares and submits Emergency Management reports to the Emergency Management Director, AGM, and other agencies as required.
• In the absence of the Director, the Emergency Management Manager assumes the overall responsibility for the operation of the Emergency Operating Center (EOC) and for advising the Airport Executive Staff on airport emergency operations, including the execution of (1) appropriate Increased Readiness measures should an international or domestic crisis occur; (2) such emergency and supporting operations plans and procedures as are appropriate for the emergency; and (3) necessary coordination among the operating departments of the airport community.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Examples of Essential Duties

Emergency Management Training: Manage, coordinate, schedule, and maintain all emergency management training programs as well as emergency management committee meetings. Ensure individuals are trained and prepared to fill critical roles outlined in the Airport’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and maintain the appropriate records for all trained individuals.

Emergency Operations: Assists the Director and serves in a management capacity during response to real world incidents, emergencies, disasters, and pre-planned events. Serves in a leadership capacity during activation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

Maintains the Emergency Operations Plan, Annexes, and operating procedures (SOP’s) updated as required by the City of Atlanta, FAA, and TSA.

Emergency Management Exercise Program: Develop and manage the Airport’s emergency management exercise program, to include budgeting, planning, and coordination with external agencies. Ensures airport exercises are compliant with the Homeland Security, FAA, TSA and all other applicable laws and standards. Works with the Director of Emergency Management, Emergency Management Planners, Airport Operations, Fire Department and Law Enforcement Officers to develop and facilitate emergency exercise scenarios and logistics. Develops after action reports and improvement plans following all exercises and actual emergencies.

Emergency Planning: Create, manage, and update emergency management plans, policies, procedures, and associated documents. Develops and implements processes, tools, systems, and metrics to assess the success of existing plans. Supports unit level response and continuity plan development.

Emergency Management Technology: Ensure the operational readiness, future development, and integration of the Airport’s Emergency Notification Network (ENN). Ensures the operational readiness of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Researches and recommends new services and technologies to improve the level of preparedness for the Airport.

Decision Making

Ideal candidate must demonstrate ability to make decisions on non-specific and technical issues, diagnoses, or procedures independent of the Director.

Responsible for decision that help stabilize emergency situations, affect life safety and preservation of property. Assist in the determination of recovery efforts and activities to return the airport back to normal operations.

Anticipates and resolves problems encountered during daily operations and determines appropriate solutions; promotes teamwork. Encourages regular communication, informs staff of relevant business issues and their impact on the organization.

Leadership Provided

• Develops or modifies work plans, methods, and procedures, determines work priorities, and develops work schedules to provide adequate staff coverage. Provides work instruction and assists employees with difficult and/or unusual assignments; encourages innovation. Assigns and distributes work, reviews work for accuracy and completeness and returns assignments with recommendations for proper completion.
• Provides work group leadership, guidance, and/or training to subordinates.
• Provides decisions in the absence of the Director.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities – This is a partial listing of necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities required to perform the job successfully. It is not an exhaustive list.

• Thorough knowledge of emergency readiness, preparedness, situational procedures, applicable laws, rules, and regulations.
• Ability to listen and communicate exceptionally to effectively convey information verbally and in writing.
• Ability to analyze data and maintain situational awareness.
• Ability to operate computers with demonstrated proficiency in a variety of applications and software.
• Ability to implement long-term goals for the department in order to promote effectiveness and efficiency.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and stressful working conditions during heavy workload and emergency related calls.
• Ability to use sound judgement for making decision based on situation and events.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education & Training

• A minimum of three (3) years of increasing management responsibilities in emergency management in an airport, federal or local government.
• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Homeland Security, or related field required.
• Emergency response experience within an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) environment is required.
• The following classes are required: IS100, IS200, IS700, ICS300, and ICS400.

Preferred Education & Experience

Certified Emergency Manager (CEM) credential from the International Association of Emergency Managers (IAEM) is preferred.

Licensures and Certifications

Valid State Issued Driver's License required. Project Management certifications are desirable.

It is the policy of the City of Atlanta (“COA”) that qualified individuals with disabilities are not discriminated against because of their disabilities regarding job application procedures, hiring, and other terms and conditions of employment. It is further the policy of the COA to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in all aspects of the employment process. The COA is prepared to modify or adjust the job application process or the job or work environment to make reasonable accommodations to the known physical or mental limitations of the applicant or employee to enable the applicant or employee to be considered for the position he or she desires, to perform the essential functions of the position in question, or to enjoy equal benefits and privileges of employment as are enjoyed by other similarly situated employees without disabilities, unless the accommodation will impose an undue hardship. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact the Human Resources Director for your department.

The City of Atlanta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, ender identity, marital status, veteran’s status or national origin, or any other basis prohibited by federal, state, or local law. We value and encourage diversity in our workforce.