VP / SVP Disaster Management

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Position Summary:

We are seeking a seasoned Disaster Management Specialist with a demonstrated track record in proactively preventing and successfully managing high-impact disaster events.

The ideal candidate will bring deep expertise in disaster (man-made or natural) risk reduction, crisis response, and business continuity planning, backed by first-hand experience in having successfully prevented and managed a disaster situation. This strategic role is responsible for building organizational resilience, safeguarding life and assets, and ensuring operational continuity across the enterprise.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership:

• Define and drive the enterprise-wide disaster management and business continuity strategy aligned with corporate risk objectives.
• Lead the creation of an integrated framework for disaster risk reduction, crisis response, recovery planning, and resilience building.
• Represent the organization in high-level engagements with government bodies (e.g., NDMA/SDMA), regulatory authorities, and emergency services.

Disaster Prevention & Preparedness:

• Lead multi-disciplinary risk assessments, hazard mapping, and early warning system development across operations.
• Institutionalize SOPs, simulation protocols, evacuation plans, and emergency response mechanisms across business units.
• Oversee structural and non-structural audits to identify vulnerabilities and implement corrective mitigation plans.

Real-World Disaster Experience:

• Successfully led the on-ground response ensuring minimum disruption and full recovery.
• Prevented disaster through foresight and active risk management.

Crisis Response & Recovery:

• Command and control incident response efforts during emergencies, coordinating with internal teams, external agencies, and media.
• Oversee the restoration of business operations post-incident through a structured recovery framework.
• Conduct detailed after-action reviews, root cause analyses, and implement long-term corrective strategies.

Governance, Reporting & Compliance:

• Ensure adherence to national and global frameworks.
• Regularly update the Board and senior leadership on organizational resilience posture and key risk indicators.
• Maintain comprehensive documentation, audits, and compliance trails for inspections, certifications, and insurance purposes.

People Development & Awareness:

• Build and mentor a specialized disaster management team across geographies and business verticals.
• Drive organization-wide awareness, capacity building, and leadership alignment on disaster risk and crisis preparedness.
• Integrate disaster resilience principles into ESG, sustainability, and infrastructure development initiatives.

Key Requirements:

• Master’s degree in Disaster Management, Environmental Risk, Engineering, Safety, or a related field.
• 20+ years of leadership experience in disaster management, safety, or business continuity—preferably in high-risk sectors such as infrastructure, real estate, manufacturing, energy, or logistics.
• Demonstrated leadership in successfully managing at least one major disaster or emergency event end-to-end.
• Strong understanding of regulatory and compliance frameworks, as well as international standards (Sendai Framework, ISO).
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and crisis leadership skills.