Emergency Preparedness Strategic National Stockpile Coordinator

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Harlingen, TX

9d • Hybrid

About The Position

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:
DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.
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Under the supervision of the Public Health Preparedness (PHEP) Manager, coordinates the development, implementation, exercise, and evaluation of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) deployment plan for Health Service Region 11. Provides technical assistance and consultative services for Region 11 counties and Local Health Departments in the development of local and regional SNS plans. Works with various DSHS offices to develop a regional SNS plan and ensures coordination and integration with statewide planning efforts. Assists local governmental entities in developing and implementing policies and procedures for plan implementation (including but not limited to development of POD sites and recruitment of SNS volunteers) and for measuring progress towards achieving objectives. Coordinates with local government entities and other community organizations in planning and implementing regularly scheduled exercises relating to SNS preparedness. Serves as liaison with federal, state, and local agencies in matters concerning the deployment of the SNS. Works under limited supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited college or university with major coursework in social services, public health, or a related field--experience and education may be substituted for one another.
• Minimum 2 years of professional experience in public health, emergency management, or logistics/inventory control.
• Experience in MS Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Experience with inventory management software.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

Nice To Haves

• Completion of FEMA National Incident Management System (NIMS) courses (IS-100, IS-700, IS-200, IS-800) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Works with local and regional public health SNS planners to ensure that plans are developed across the region in a coordinated and integrated fashion to ensure that every resident of HSR 11 has access to Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) assets should be deployed.
• Provides consultative services for cities and counties in the Region in developing, implementing, exercising, and evaluating plans for the receiving, storing, and staging of the SNS.
• Provides technical assistance on developing the procedures and protocols necessary for implementation of the distribution and dispensing of the SNS, including memorandum of understanding, mutual aid agreements, contingency contracts, and other agreements to ensure access to human resources, support organizations/agencies, partners, and facilities included in the plans.
• Works to orient, train, and exercise personnel in various SNS preparedness functions.
• Works with county officials in HSR-11 counties to establish dispensing sites and dispensing teams.
• Assists local government entities in developing and implementing policies and procedures for plan implementation and for measuring progress towards achieving objectives.
• Coordinates with local governmental entities and other community organizations in planning and implementing regularly scheduled exercises relating to SNS preparedness.
• Fulfillment of these duties will require travel to meet with local health departments in Health Service Region 11.
• Provides input and assistance to complete the grant applications, work plans, quarterly reports, Service Level Agreements, and related reporting activities for the CDC Public Health Preparedness Grant Program.
• Works with various DSHS offices including the State SNS Coordinator and others in the Community Preparedness Section to develop a regional SNS plan and ensure coordination and integration with statewide planning efforts.
• Coordinates planning efforts across the state to develop an integrated state plan for deployment of the SNS in Texas within the framework of regional bioterrorism plans.
• Works within the state emergency management system to develop plans for meeting needs as they are identified.
• Coordinates with all offices and functional teams involved ensuring that plans are coordinated and fully integrated and that everyone involved understands their roles.
• Ensures that various SNS preparedness functions (request, receipt, staging, storage, etc.) are identified in all plans and the appropriate roles and responsibilities are established as well as a plan developed for providing redundant capacity, distribution, security, and communications.
• Meets with appropriate stakeholders and other entities involved to discuss roles and support functions.
• Serves as liaison with federal, state, and local agencies in matters concerning the deployment of the SNS.
• Develops and delivers presentations to local and regional entities, and other stakeholders to improve understanding and support for local SNS planning using verbal and written communication skills.
• Provides training for regional and local staff on SNS planning methodologies and issues.
• Ensures that regional and local staff are trained and educated on the roles and responsibilities outlined in the plan.
• Prepares detailed and comprehensive reports of findings and recommendations using a variety of computer software, including word processing, spreadsheet, and database software.
• Maintains communication with local planners to keep them informed, interested, and involved in SNS preparedness.
• Coordinates the orientation, training, and retraining necessary to keep all new and continuing members of the SNS preparedness organization current with required knowledge and skills.
• Organizes the development and deployment of various levels of emergency response exercises for the region regarding SNS deployment.
• Coordinates the periodic exercise of the regional SNS preparedness organization with governmental entities such as cities and counties to test, evaluate and modify the ability of these entities to collaborate effectively in a simulated terrorism event.
• Guides the development, execution, and evaluation of exercises.
• Exercises all components of the plan and evaluates exercises to identify gaps and recommended improvement areas.

Benefits

• DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level