Preparedness Planning Team Lead

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

10d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the direction of the Preparedness Branch Manager in the Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (CHEPR), the Preparedness Planning Team Lead performs highly visible advanced (senior level) technical work requiring specialized knowledge of public health and medical preparedness, response and recovery activities. As Team Lead for the Planning Team, lead, assign, and prioritize the work of Planning Team personnel.
Serves as the technical expert on all preparedness planning requirements and guidelines. Oversees the development, update, and or revision of DSHS Preparedness and Response Framework documents to include the Basic Plan, Annexes, Standard Operating Guides, and Technical Guides. Works in close coordination with the Operations Branch Team Lead on the development, update, and or revision of DSHS Preparedness and Response Framework documents. Oversees the Project Public Health Ready (PPHR) program and provides technical assistance to Local Health Departments throughout the process. Provides technical assistance and coordinates with local health departments, the DSHS Public Health Regions, the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), the Texas Office of Homeland Security (TxOHS), and other state and federal partners to ensure coordinated planning efforts. Coordinates with the DSHS Exercise and Training Teams to ensure alignment of DSHS Preparedness and Response Framework plans to exercises and trainings that are developed.
Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. This position actively participates in the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) or State Operations Center (SOC) during disaster response and/or recovery and completes all training and exercise requirements. CHEPR supports DSHS' mission of providing response support to the SMOC or SOC, requires staff to report onsite within two hours, and the ability to work 12–14-hour shifts. Disaster response activations can require working in-person, 7-days a week, for as long as 2-4 weeks, or more. This position requires the ability to work extended hours including weekends and holidays during health response activation. This position is 100% grant funded and is contingent on grant funding.
Works under limited supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of public health infrastructure for local, state, and federal programs.
• Knowledge of all hazard emergency preparedness and response activities.
• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws, regulations and practices related to emergency management.
• Knowledge of the basic concepts of planning, training and exercising principles and methodologies.
• Knowledge of project management and personnel management techniques.
• Knowledge of strategic planning and performance measures.
• Skill in developing, implementing and evaluating complex emergency management, public health, and healthcare plans and procedures.
• Skill in problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Skill in using computer software including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Skill in accurate and effective written and oral communication.
• Skill in organizing, prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines to accomplish a number of simultaneous tasks.
• Skill in directing the work of others and tracking multiple projects at different stages of development.
• Skill in synthesizing and analyzing complex information for a variety of purposes.
• Skill in providing technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders.
• Skill in systems development, process facilitation techniques, teambuilding, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
• Skill as an effective leader.
• Skill in project management.
• Ability to lead, plan, assign and prioritize workload of self and others to meet deadlines.
• Ability to write complex technical guidance documents, emergency operations plans, and standard operating guides
• Ability to plan and conduct effective meetings.
• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships with managers, co-workers, the public, governmental officials, partners and stakeholders.
• Ability to efficiently develop concise reports and presentations.
• Ability to work independently, exercising sound judgement.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the Planning Team Lead coordinating, assigning, and prioritizing the work of the planning team members.
• Oversees and or develops complex public health and medical preparedness and response framework plans to include the DSHS Basic Plan, Annexes, Standard Operating Guides, Technical Guidance, and others as needed by the Center.
• Coordinates and or oversees coordination with the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) on the development, update, and or revision of DSHS roles and responsibilities in the State of Texas State Emergency Management Plan to include the Basic Plan and any annexes containing public health and medical roles and responsibilities such as the Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8- Public Health and Medical Annex and Radiation Annex.
• Coordinates with the Exercise Team Lead to incorporate responsibilities from DSHS Preparedness and Response Plans into DSHS exercises and evaluate and synthesize all After Action Reports and Improvement Plans to determine corrective actions to implement via plan revisions.
• Actively participates and/or serves in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.

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: 1,001-5,000 employees