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Useful experience for emergency management officers includes:

• work for the police, ambulance services, Fire and Emergency New Zealand or New Zealand Defence Force
• civil defence work
• social work or environmental health officer work
• city council and planning work
• risk management or hazard analysis experience
• volunteer and community development experience
• search and rescue experience.

Many emergency management officers start their career as a volunteer for their local civil defence group.

• Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management website - information about volunteering

Emergency management officers may do some or all of the following:

• develop civil defence emergency management plans
• provide advice and education on emergency preparedness to the community and local businesses
• develop disaster simulations and exercises to test operational plans
• set up and operate emergency operation centres
• liaise with emergency services such as the police
• research hazards that threaten the community
• write reports and operational procedures and policies
• organise and deliver training to staff and volunteers
• speak to the media about emergency management issues.

Limited vacancies for emergency management officers

Opportunities for emergency management officers are average because:

• people tend to stay in the role for a long time, limiting vacancies
• the occupation is relatively small, and the number of people in the job is steady.

According to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, 452 emergency management officers work in New Zealand.

Chances of finding work are best in the main centres of Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch.

Civil defence experience an advantage

Your chances of securing an entry-level emergency management officer job are best if you have good relationship building and management skills, and relevant work experience such as civil defence volunteering.

Roles expected to increase for emergency management officers

Opportunities for emergency management officers are expected to increase due to recent government plans to prepare the public for the negative effects of climate change, health epidemics and natural disasters.

Experienced emergency management officers will also be needed to train and manage volunteers.

Types of employers varied

Emergency management officers may work for:

• local and regional councils
• government departments and non-governmental agencies
• emergency services such as Fire and Emergency New Zealand
• power, transport and telecommunication companies
• large private companies.

Emergency management officers may also be self-employed.

Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management

(04) 817 8555 - MCDEM@dpmc.govt.nz - www.civildefence.govt.nz

Emergency management officers may move into management roles as controllers, or into policy analyst roles.

• Policy analyst job information

With further training, emergency management officers may progress to work in international disaster relief work with organisations such as the United Nations and Red Cross.

Emergency management officers can specialise in a number of roles, including:

Business Continuity Adviser/Emergency Management Adviser

Emergency management advisers gather and analyse information to assist in the planning, development, interpretation and review of policies relating to emergency management.

Lifeline Utility Co-ordinator

Lifeline utility co-ordinators work with the providers of essential services such as electricity, transport and telecommunications to help services function during and after an emergency.

Public Information Manager

Public information managers receive, check, pass on and distribute information about emergency preparedness and emergencies.

Welfare Manager

Welfare managers coordinate and support the delivery of welfare services by community agencies during and after an emergency.

Welfare Centre Supervisor/Temporary Animal Shelter Supervisor

Welfare centre supervisors/Temporary animal shelter supervisors manage welfare centres and animal shelters that house people and animals during and after an emergency.

Emergency management officers need to be:

• calm, decisive and positive during emergencies
• able to work well under pressure
• able to work well with a wide range of people
• able to train and motivate people
• able to process complex information and solve problems quickly
• skilled at oral and written communication
• skilled at project management 
• skilled at relationship management 
• skilled at leadership.