Exercise and Readiness Coordinator

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • San Antonio, TX

2d

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.
Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.

Under the direction of the Preparedness Operations Supervisor and the Preparedness Program Manager, performs senior-level exercise design and training coordination work for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Emergency Support Function 8 (ESF-8). Uses project management skills to develop and implement the regional exercise program, building resilience and response readiness across DSHS Region 8.

Primary work involves leading the exercise program: designing and delivering Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant drills and exercises, co-piloting exercises to test plans in real-world scenarios, and producing After Action Reports and Improvement Plans (AAR/IP). Develops supporting training programs and evaluates the effectiveness of emergency management policies, practices, and programs. Represents the program on county, state, and regional boards, committees, and advisory groups.
Secondary work involves providing technical assistance to local health departments and regional partners on Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) and Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) activities, including deliverables, exercise planning, and grant compliance. Evaluates local and regional ESF-8 plans, including pandemic response, and recommends improvements.

Participates in emergency response and recovery at all levels. Supports the Regional Health and Medical Operations Center (RHMOC) and serves on the Region 8 Incident Management Team during activations.

Works under limited supervision with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment. Must be able to independently travel within the State of Texas and out-of-state to complete essential job functions as needed.

Requirements

• Emergency management fundamentals: how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and public health emergencies
• Planning, developing, and evaluating emergency exercises
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS), including multi-agency coordination in operations centers
• National Response Framework (NRF) and Continuity of Operations (COOP)
• Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines for planning and evaluating exercises
• Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), including medical countermeasure distribution site operations
• Emergency communication tools such as WebEOC, radios, and satellite phones
• Project management principles, including coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication — able to explain complex topics clearly to different audiences, write detailed reports (including AAR/IPs and program documentation), and build effective working relationships with diverse partners
• Active listening — able to understand what stakeholders need and design processes accordingly
• Organization and attention to detail — able to manage multiple projects and deadlines without sacrificing quality
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and willingness to learn new tools
• Presentation and facilitation — comfortable leading meetings, trainings, and exercises with groups of all sizes
• Customer service — responsive and professional when working with partners
• Work independently and as part of a team
• Lead collaborative planning sessions with tact and diplomacy
• Identify problems, determine root causes, and develop practical solutions
• Set clear goals and help the team achieve them
• Encourage creativity and efficiency among team members
• Research and analyze information to draw meaningful conclusions
• Handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Travel throughout Texas and occasionally out-of-state (~30% of the time)
• Work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and during emergencies
• Valid driver’s license (Texas Class C or equivalent)
• Texas Class A Exempt or Commercial driver’s license required within 12 months of hire
• FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, and IS-800 required within 12 months of hire
• Two or more years of experience in public health, healthcare, emergency management or related field OR at least a Bachelors degree from an accredited college or university in public health, healthcare, emergency management, or directly related field of study.
• Experience creating, managing, and or conducting exercises

Nice To Haves

• HSEEP course completion

Responsibilities

• EXERCISE DESIGN AND EXECUTION (50%): Leads the preparedness and response exercise program, including after-action reporting and improvement planning. Coordinates with the Regional Planner and stakeholders to plan, develop, and evaluate emergency preparedness, public safety, and homeland security exercises related to ESF-8. Designs a comprehensive exercise program for Region 8 and local jurisdictions — including orientations, seminars, workshops, tabletops, drills, functional, and full-scale exercises — to test emergency plans, policies, and procedures. Co-pilots exercises for real-world implementation and follows up with AAR/IPs. Develops the regional Integrated Response Plan (IPP). Ensures exercises stay on schedule and comply with HSEEP guidelines. Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, practices, and programs and recommends revisions. Reviews regional and local AAR/IPs and provides guidance. Recruits and coordinates staff for exercises. Represents the program on county, state, and regional boards and advisory groups. Serves as the ESF-8 exercise program subject matter expert.
• TRAINING (20%): Assists with developing and delivering training programs that support exercise objectives and address gaps identified in After Action Reports. Coordinates training sessions for staff and community partners to prepare for exercises and reinforce lessons learned. Maintains the regional training calendar for exercise-related activities. Designs curricula and learning objectives aligned with exercise goals and grant requirements. Coordinates with subject matter experts to deliver targeted training.
• CRI/SNS COORDINATION (15%): Provides technical assistance to local health departments, emergency management offices, and regional partners on Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) and Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) activities. Works with local partners on day-to-day CRI/SNS tasks and deliverables, ensuring grant compliance and adherence to program timelines. Provides consultative support on program goals, strategies, and medical countermeasure distribution planning. Coordinates CRI/SNS-related exercises. Tracks and reports local partner progress to the Preparedness Operations Supervisor. Maintains current knowledge of SNS and CHEMPACK requirements and best practices.
• ESF-8 RESPONSE (10%): Participates in the on-call rotation providing 24/7/365 phone coverage for reporting infectious diseases and public health emergencies. Responds to public health emergencies including natural disasters, bio-terrorism, and disease outbreaks. Participates in local, regional, state, and federal emergency response and recovery activities. Leads engagement with emergency officials and partners during activations. Supports the Regional Health and Medical Operations Center (RHMOC) and assumes an active role in the regional incident command structure. Serves as DSHS Region 8 liaison to the Disaster District Emergency Operations Center (DDEOC). May deploy to affected jurisdictions for response and recovery.
• OTHER DUTIES (5%): Performs other duties as assigned, including supporting the agency’s disaster response, recovery, and/or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. May require alternate shift patterns or locations. Complies with the DSHS Immunization Policy.

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
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees