REACT Center Director

Make a statewide impact by leading one of Wisconsin’s premier emergency management training centers. As the REACT Center Director, you will guide program direction, staff leadership, and critical response preparedness efforts.

The State of Wisconsin, Department of Military Affairs (DMA), Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) is hiring a REACT Center Director (Emergency Management Program Supervisor). This position is located at the REACT Center and is based on Camp Williams, Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.

The DMA provides essential, effective, and responsive military and emergency management capability for the citizens of our state and nation. During emergencies, no single organization can handle the response. The DMA consists of several organizations working together to plan, prepare, coordinate, and respond effectively when our communities and neighbors need us the most.

The REACT Center — Wisconsin’s premier Regional Emergency All-Climate Training Center — is a year‑round, world-class facility, dedicated to preparing military and civilian responders for natural and human-made disasters. Located on a 15‑acre campus in Camp Douglas, it features realistic, purpose-built collapse structures, rubble piles, and specialized stations for technical rescue, urban search and rescue, hazardous materials, law enforcement entry, and more. Accredited by The Pro Board and aligned with NFPA standards, the Center also supports HSEEP‑compliant exercises, Department of Defense (DoD) and civilian training programs, and serves as the home of Wisconsin Task Force 1 (WI-TF1).

This position is required to work a majority of time in the office with very limited remote work opportunities. The DMA offers flexible schedules and great life/work balance. We offer an opportunity to engage with a team of dedicated professionals, with a truly worthwhile mission.

In addition to meaningful and rewarding work, we offer a competitive benefits package featuring:

• Substantial leave time including at least 3.5 weeks of vacation to start, 9 paid holidays, and ample accrued sick time that rolls over each year.

• Excellent and affordable health, vision, and dental benefits (health plan options start at just $45/month for single plans and $111/month for family plans after two months of employment).

• A casual atmosphere and flexible work schedules, depending on the position's requirements.

• An exceptional pension plan with employer match and lifetime retirement payment, plus an optional tax advantaged 457 retirement savings plan.

• Well Wisconsin Wellness Program: A free and confidential employee assistance program that offers employees and their immediate family dependents a variety of tools, resources, and professional consultation services to support their health, goals, and overall wellbeing.

• Working for Wisconsin State Government may make you eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program

The REACT Center Director is responsible for the oversight, promotion, supervision, guidance, and continuing development of all training and exercise programs of the REACT Center. The REACT Center Director leads, organizes, and manages strategic planning, program development, and instructional schedules in accordance with the REACT Center’s mission, goals, objectives, and accreditation. This position oversees all financial activities of the REACT Center and Wisconsin Urban Search & WI-TF1, including budget, procurement, contracting, accounts payable, accounts receivable and other related fiscal activities. This position provides supervision, leadership and direction for all personnel assigned to the REACT Center and WI-TF1.

Starting pay is between $42.00 and $46.59 per hour (between $87,360 and $96,907 annually). For current permanent state employees, pay will be set in accordance with the State Compensation Plan.

This position is in the 81/03 pay schedule/range. A 12-month probation will be required. 

To learn more about the complete compensation package, please visit the Total Rewards Calculator.

In order to gain access to the military facilities and to determine whether the circumstances of any conviction may be related to the job being filled, DMA will conduct a comprehensive background check. 

In addition, the position requires a Common Access Card (CAC). A CAC requires successful completion of a DoD investigation which is an additional more in-depth federal background check, for gaining access to federal computer systems, restricted locations, or classified information.

Due to the emergency responsibilities of WEM, all employees may be required to work overtime, evenings, and weekends with little or no notice in support of necessary training, exercising and/or emergency functions.

Must possess or be eligible to obtain and maintain a valid driver’s license as a condition of continued employment. 

The DMA does not sponsor work visas at the time of hire or anytime during employment. All persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required Employment Eligibility Form I-9.

This is a State of Wisconsin Civil Service position. The DMA does not require current or previous military experience. 

All new permanent, project, and limited term employees will be required to report to Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) in Madison on the Monday of their first week of employment for the New Employee Orientation (NEO) program. Additional information will be sent to the new employees and their supervisors on the Tuesday prior to NEO.

Candidates who meet minimum qualifications will have experience with:

• Leading or managing training or instructional program delivery.

• Managing financial operations such as budgets, grants, procurement, contracting, accounts payable/receivable.

• Supervising staff (hiring, performance evaluation, discipline, scheduling, etc.).

• Collaborating with external organizations (public, private, federal, military, or local government).

In addition to the minimum qualifications, well-qualified candidates will also have the following experience in the following preferred qualifications:

• Operating a training center or educational facility or leading training program development.

• Managing or supporting emergency response or urban search and rescue programs.

• Administering federal grants.

• Working in emergency response, disaster operations, or participating in emergency exercises.

Your resume and letter of qualification are very important parts of your application. In these materials, you should clearly describe your education, training, and experience as they relate to the bulleted items listed above. 

Your qualifications should be addressed in your resume and expanded upon in your letter of qualifications. These materials are used during our evaluation process to determine your qualifications as they relate to the job. 

Here are instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials.  The vast majority of applicants are able to outline their background and experience in their resume in 1-3 pages; the same applies to the letter of qualification.

Apply online! 

Click “Apply for Job” to start the application process.  If you have not signed into your account, you will need to sign in before applying.  If you do not have an account, click “Register Now” to register for an account and apply for the job. Follow the steps outlined in the application process and submit your application.  

Helpful Information: 

• You will be able to save your application as many times as needed and make edits up until the point you submit your application. Please note that once you submit your application, you will not be able to make any updates to the application or any materials submitted.
• You will be required to attach your current resume and letter of qualifications in a Word or PDF compatible format. 
• Please monitor your email for communications related to this position. 
• Please consider saving a copy of the job announcement for future reference. 
• For instructions on developing your resume and letter of qualifications and what should be included in these materials, click here.  Submitted materials will be evaluated by a panel of job experts and the most qualified applicants will be invited to participate in the next step of the selection process.

Permanent classified state employees who are eligible for consideration (transfer, voluntary demotion, or reinstatement) should complete the online application process. 

Applications must be submitted through Wisc.Jobs. Failure to submit all required materials will result in an incomplete application and ineligibility for this position.  Application materials will not be accepted if received in an incompatible format, an email, as a hard copy or a fax.

If viewing through an external site, please click here to apply directly at Wisc.Jobs.

The Department of Military Affairs is an equal opportunity employer seeking a diverse and talented workforce. Veterans, women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply. We provide reasonable accommodations to qualified applicants and employees with disabilities.  For complete information on veterans’ hiring programs that may benefit you, please visit the Employment Assistance page on the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs’ website.

Veterans with a 30%-or-greater service-connected disability rating are eligible for consideration for non-competitive appointment to permanent positions in classified civil service under s. 230.275, WI Stats. Please visit the Veterans Employment page for more information about the program and how to apply. Current state employees in permanent positions are not eligible for non-competitive appointment.

For general wisc.jobs user information and technical assistance, please see the wisc.jobs Frequently Asked Questions page. The Wisc.Jobs helpdesk is available Monday-Friday, 7:45am - 4:30pm at 608-267-1012 or [email protected].  Some applicants report better performance when using the Chrome browser.

Questions regarding the application process can be directed to Michele Sorum at [email protected] or 608-242-3149. 

The online application process must be completed by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, October 12, 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.