An Emergency Management Coordinator is responsible for technical and administrative duties that help with Emergency Management Programs for institutions such as municipalities, private companies, government agencies, and more. Emergency Management coordinators must lay out plans and provide services such as training and management to prepare for potential emergencies at a variety of different types of institutions. These potential emergencies could come in the form of natural disasters, aggression from exterior parties, and technological malfunctions.

Those who work as emergency management coordinators must exhibit a wide range of skills abilities. They must be able to build relationships with departments, municipalities, and either types of entities in order to create a plausible plan to handle emergencies that come up in the operation of their organization. Also, they must be capable of coming up with preparedness plans that will minimize damages and complications in the event of an emergency. The skills that an emergency management coordinator needs include organization, management skills, communications skills, and a thorough attention to detail that can help him or her to create detailed plans that minimize the frustrations of emergencies caused by natural disasters or other unexpected events.

Below are some of the major everyday work activities that emergency management coordinators encounter on a daily basis:

  • Communicating with others on both the inside and outside of the organization for which they work. Emergency management coordinators must communicate with colleagues, subordinates, supervisors, members of the public, and more.
  • Researching and compiling information relevant to emergency procedures.
  • Using computer equipment to conduct research, organize presentations, and more.
  • Training others on emergency preparedness and emergency procedures.

Education needed to become an Emergency Management Coordinator

There are a variety of different college majors that can lead one to a career in Emergency Management Coordination. Those interested in pursuing an academic course that could lead them to a career as an emergency management coordinator could possibly major in crisis/disaster management or critical infrastructure protection. They could also consider a college curriculum with heavy coursework in subjects related to counter-terrorism, homeland security, and protective services operations.

Job outlook and salary expectations

As of 2010, there were approximately 12,000 people employed as Emergency Management Coordinators. On average, these Emergency Management Coordinators made an hourly wage of about $30 and enjoyed a yearly salary of just over $60,000. According to the American Job Center opportunities for those working in emergency management are expected to grow at a rate of between 8 percent and 14 percent through the year 2022, and there are expected to be about 2,200 job openings in this area between the years 2012 and 2022.

Related Resource: Emergency Management Specialist

Careers in Emergency Management Coordination offer qualified professionals great opportunities to make important differences in the operations of the institutions that they serve, and those who fulfill positions as Emergency Management Coordinators can even save lives when the services they provide are needed in the event of emergencies and natural disasters. The career of an Emergency Management Coordinator is both challenging and rewarding.