Nonprofit Careers for Emergency Management Professionals

  • Emergency Dispatcher
  • Preparedness Specialist
  • Program Administrator
  • Disaster Recovery Manager
  • Emergency Coordinator

When many students think about emergency management jobs, they think about working for the federal or state governments, but there are emergency management jobs in non-profit organizations too. These positions allow them to use the skills that they developed in their degree programs to help a small or large group of people. Many non-profit organizations offer help to communities after a major disaster or event.

Related: Top 10 Doctorate Degrees in Emergency Management Online

1. Emergency Dispatcher

Those who can think quickly on their feet and maintain a clear head may want to work as an emergency dispatcher. Non-profits that offer assistance during and after emergency situations need dispatchers who can handle the phone lines. They accept the calls that come in and get the pertinent information from the caller, which they’ll pass along to those who go into the field. Dispatchers also need to have knowledge of the emergency codes that professionals in the field use.

2. Preparedness Specialist

A preparedness specialist is someone who helps an organization create a plan for an emergency. They often work with non-profits that provide free assistance to others in need. A specialist might go to a local community center and help that center create a plan that shows locals what to do if a hurricane hits or a terrorist attack occurs. They can offer training to anyone who will be on hand during that situation. Specialists often return to the same spots year after year to make sure that employees can handle any type of emergency.

3. Program Administrator

One of the emergency management jobs available in non-profit organizations is a program administrator. Unlike a specialist who helps set up a program, an administrator is responsible for running that program and handling all the daily tasks. An organization might offer assistance after natural disasters, including tornadoes and hurricanes. Administrators must make sure that the organization has all the funds needed to run that program. They also hire people to work at the first sign of an emergency situation and both during the situation and after the emergency passes.

4. Disaster Recovery Manager

Disasters can range from a wildfire that spreads through a community to a terrorist attack. Disaster recovery managers are the ones who manage workers and volunteers during that event. They need to have good problem solving and critical thinking skills because they are the ones who decide how to allocate resources and get help to the site. Managers are also responsible for managing the relief efforts after the emergency ends. They may need to decide what to do with the clothing and food that arrives and how to help people who lost their homes.

5. Emergency Coordinator

A similar job in emergency management is that of an emergency coordinator. According to Payscale, coordinators make an average salary of more than $52,000 a year. Non-profit organizations hire coordinators to work in the field. When an emergency occurs, they go right to the site and coordinate the relief efforts. They may find volunteers who can help in the coming days and work with local companies to source food and water for locals in need. Coordinators often remain on-site for several weeks and may remain in the area for months or more.

Emergency management jobs are available in a number of government agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security. Students who graduate from those programs can also work at the state or community level. Coordinators and specialists are just some of the emergency management jobs available in non-profit organizations.