HD Program Specialist IV

Williamson County and Cities Health District•Round Rock, TX

12h•Hybrid

About The Position

This position performs complex Emergency Preparedness work in support of the Public Health and Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Cooperative Agreement. The Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) Specialist works under the supervision of the EPR Team Lead and leads development, facilitation, execution, oversight, and evaluation of emergency preparedness exercises and drills. This position will develop and conduct training and education to prepare the agency, partner agencies, organizations, and the public to respond during an emergency. The EPR Specialist participates in planning and developing a process for ensuring agency readiness and preparedness for all hazards incidents. They also assist with the development, writing and maintenance of public health emergency response plans, manuals, standard operating procedures, and standard operating guidelines. The EPR Specialist performs duties as Planning Chief or Operations Chief when in Incident Command System (ICS) structure, and will also support all aspects of emergency preparedness, as needed. This position works under limited supervision with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in a field related to public health, healthcare, or emergency management is required.
Equivalent professional experience in public health preparedness, emergency management, epidemiology or program management may substitute for education.
FEMA ICS training: IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800 required.
Complete IS-300 and IS-400 within first six months of employment required.
CPR certified or willingness to obtain.
Valid Texas driver’s license and access to reliable transportation to all assigned work locations.
Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience, and ability to explain and demonstrate, without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed without posing a direct threat to health or safety of themselves or others.
Knowledge of public health essential service and emergency preparedness and response activities.
Knowledge of National Incident Management Systems and Incident Command System.
Knowledge of systems utilized in tracking, monitoring, and evaluating during a public health emergency.
Knowledge of POD standards.
Knowledge of different methods of Emergency Public Health Information Dissemination.
Knowledge of Public Health Law and the Texas Health and Safety Code.
Knowledge of WebEOC, Everbridge and/or other emergency notification systems.
Knowledge of bioterrorism agents.
Skill in public speaking.
Skill in the use of WebEOC and/or emergency notification systems.
Skill in developing an Incident Action Plan.
Skill in using a computer, including but not limited to Microsoft Office Professional.
Ability to model leadership during an Emergency Operation.
Ability to communicate and manage information.
Ability to design, execute, and evaluate education and training programs.
Ability to prepare reports and briefings.
Ability to facilitate and present.
Ability to author technical documents.
Ability to work in a collaborative manner.
Ability to establish goals and objectives, policies, and procedures that support a strategic plan.
Ability to prioritize activities and manage multiple responsibilities, time management.

Responsibilities

Develops and analyzes Emergency Management/ Public Health assessments.
Prepares and maintains a variety of Emergency Preparedness documents and reports.
Maintains ethical principles in accessing, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information.
Identifies the Disability, Access and Functional Needs (DAFN ) vulnerable populations and addresses needs in the preparedness plans and in the development of exercises.
Promotes public awareness of emergency preparedness, organizes, and presents public awareness campaigns; prepares and conducts meetings and presentations for community groups, neighborhood associations, business and industry, schools, etc.
Assists in creating public information plans.
Responds to all major/critical incidents and/or disasters, implements emergency response and disaster recovery plans; and ensures utilization of proper methods to ensure the safety of the public and emergency personnel.
Facilitates communication of employees, citizens, volunteers, local government agencies, etc.
Responsible for and maintains inventory of emergency preparedness resources.
Checks and maintains stock of equipment and supplies; re-loads equipment and apparatus following response.
Contributes to the updates of the District’s All Hazards Plan, Continuity of Operations Plan, and related appendices.
Creates new and updates existing policies, Standard Operating Guidelines, and Standard Operating Procedures pertaining to the EPR Team.
Contributes to internal and external partners training plans.
Contributes to development of program goals and objectives.
Contributes to implementation of organizational strategic plan.
Contributes to the Multi-Year Training and Exercise Plan.
Assists in the creation and nurturing of a culture of Quality Improvement within the program and division.
Communicates in writing and orally with linguistic and cultural proficiency.
Conveys data and information to professionals and public using a variety of approaches such as reports, presentations, email, letters.
Administers training sessions requiring public speaking and presentations for staff, agency partners, and the general public as lead overseer.
Maintains external partnerships with community partners and attends required meetings, training sessions, and conferences pertaining to emergency preparedness and or PHEP.
Acts as a liaison with external Emergency Management Programs within the community and the DSHS Region.
Represents the Health district to outside agencies and within the community.
Suggests and supports relationships that may be needed to improve the health in a community.
Provides input for developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services.
Provides information for development of contracts and other agreements for program and services.
Assist Team Lead with grant management, including budget, reports, and deliverables.
Develops and submits all required reports within an established timeframe.
Makes recommendations for purchases of equipment needed to maintain agency emergency preparedness.
Incorporates ethical standards of practice such as the Public Health Code of Ethics into all interactions with individuals, organizations, and communities.
Participates in professional development opportunities.
Identifies internal and external facilitators and barriers that may affect the delivery of the Ten Essential Public Health Services.
Prepares and submits all performance measures within an established timeframe.
Addresses the diversity of individuals and populations when implementing policies, programs, and services that affect the health of the community.
May participate on a WCCHD committee or task force.
In the event of a public health emergency, employees may be called upon to support WCCHD’s response in ways that are outside the usual scope of their job responsibilities. This may involve working hours that are outside the employee’s usual work hours. Employees will not be required to perform duties that are outside of their competence or professional licensure.