Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Planner

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Amarillo, TX

8d • Onsite

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.

Under the supervision of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Public Health Region 1 (PHR1), Manager IV, Preparedness and Response (PAR), the Public Health Emergency Preparedness Planner:

Writes, evaluates, and revises public health emergency response plans in accordance with federal and state guidance, the CDC Public Health Preparedness Capabilities, the National Response Framework and the National Incident Management System.
Collaborates with internal and external public health emergency response partners to coordinate public health emergency response planning in the region.
Provides training and technical assistance to partner public health emergency response planners in the region.
Regularly interacts with public health partners in the region, including county officials.
Conducts regional and county-level public health emergency response-related assessments in the region.
Serves as supervisor for three DSHS PHR 1 Public Health Liaisons (Program Specialist IIIs). Establishes program goals and objectives for the Public Health Liaison positions, developing guidelines, procedures, and policies that direct the work of these positions. As supervisor, develops the schedule of work for the Public Health Liaison positions, establishes work priorities and standards to achieve goals. This position evaluates activities conducted by these positions. This position may provide budgetary input to the Manager IV.
Trains and participate as a member of the Preparedness and Response Team, responding to public health disasters and other incidences requiring Incident Command System (ICS)-structured response.

Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge of principles and practices of emergency management
• Knowledge of principles and practices of public health
• Knowledge of state and local health organizations that offer health services.
• Knowledge of federal health services available to local communities during emergencies and disasters.
• Knowledge of the basic concepts of planning principles and methodologies.
• Skill in developing and implementing complex plans and procedures.
• Skill in problem identification, analysis, and resolution.
• Skill in conducting needs assessments.
• Skill in providing customer service and support.
• Skill in process facilitation techniques, team building negotiation, conflict resolution and vision building.
• Skill in organizing and prioritizing workload and meeting deadlines.
• Skill in developing, writing and implementing, and evaluating public health preparedness and response plans.
• Skill in using computer software, including word processing, databases, spreadsheets and graphic software. (Microsoft Office)
• Skill in making public presentations and providing training.
• Ability to plan and conduct effective meetings.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with persons from diverse cultural, socioeconomic, educational, racial, ethnic and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to participate as a proactive team member within regional and community work group(s).
• Ability to work effectively with managers, co-workers, members of the public and professional groups.
• Ability to manage and coordinate activities and projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing, including preparation of detailed reports and plans.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently with moderate level of initiative and judgement.
• Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver’s license, or equivalent license from another state and able to obtain a Class C Texas driver's license within 60 days.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework related to emergency management or public health or other related field. Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year to year basis.
• Experience in using computer software including word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail (Microsoft Office).
• Experience in developing and implementing complex plans and procedures.

Nice To Haves

• Two years experience in a emergency management-related field and/or two years experience in a public health-related field.
• Experience in direction, supervision and guidance of professional personnel.
• Experience in planning and conducting effective meetings.
• Experience in making public presentations conducting training and exercises.

Responsibilities

• Develops, documents, and maintains PHR 1’s regional emergency response plans, standard operating guidelines, and technical documents relating to public health emergency mitigation, preparedness, and response.
• Develops plans accordance to federal and state guidance, the CDC’s Public Health Preparedness Capabilities, the National Response Framework, and the National Incident Command System.
• Coordinates planning with state agencies, non-profit emergency response organizations, local governmental entities, and community organizations to ensure coordination, harmonization, and integration of DSHS PHR 1 public health emergency preparedness and response components into Essential Support Function 8 (ESF-8) partners’ response plans.
• Coordinates, manages, and facilitates multi-disciplinary planning meetings, workgroups, workshops, conferences, composed of regional public health emergency response planning partners to develop harmonized, integrated regional, local, and organizational plans.
• Periodically update emergency plans based on After Action Review (AAR) results, current risk/threat assessments, changes in overarching or supporting plans/guidance.
• Documents plans using current, standardized planning templates, in accordance with the DSHS Preparedness and Response Document Framework.
• Conducts, assists in conducting, jurisdictional risk/capability assessments to be used in development of emergency response plans.
• Assists in development of drills and exercises to test/validate emergency response plans in the region.
• Assists in development, documentation and maintenance of PHR 1’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), in accordance to current DSHS guidelines.
• Serves as Supervisor for three Program Specialist III positions in the Amarillo and Lubbock office, supervising day-to-day activities of the Public Health Region 1 Preparedness and Response Program Specialist III positions.
• Establishes goals and objectives; develops and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving program deliverables. Develops and implements techniques for evaluation of program activity effectiveness and function.
• Confers with Preparedness and Response Manager to develop strategic plans and goals; identifies areas of needed change and makes recommendations to improve operations.
• Provides direction, supervision and guidance of all program personnel with duties including, but are not limited to: hiring, disciplinary action, assignment of duties, resolution of employee relations problems, staff development and training, preparation of employee performance evaluations and approval of appropriate travel and leave requests.
• Provides input to the Preparedness and Response Manager on budget and programmatic activities.
• Provide technical guidance, when requested by local jurisdictions/organizations, to assist development of local jurisdictional/organizational plans.
• Represents DSHS PHR 1 PAR at meetings with emergency response planning partners and stakeholders, ensuring coordination with public health preparedness and response initiatives.
• Works with community organizations, professional groups, and other governmental agencies to promote public health preparedness. May present preparedness and response-related information, guidance, and training to city/county governmental officials, community leaders, organizations, businesses, and the public.
• Works with assigned counties as a DSHS PHR 1 Public Health Liaison to county officials and other public health partners in the county – being the face of DSHS PHR 1, fostering awareness of public health services.
• Provides technical assistance to county officials in development of public health emergency response and recovery capabilities.
• Serves as member of PHR 1’s Incident Management Team, obtaining mandatory ICS training for DSHS PHR 1 PAR staff (as designated by PAR Manager) as well as IMT position-specific training as available/necessary.
• Participates in Regional Health and Medical Operation Center (RHMOC) drills and exercises.
• During disasters, may be activated to serve in the RHMOC. May deploy to a Texas Department of Emergency Management Disaster District Operations Center (TDEM DDEOC) to serve as an agency representative.
• Responds to public health-related incidents, including but not limited to disaster response and recovery in the state/region, PHR 1 COOP activation, and non-disaster public health responses Such response may require alternate shift pattern assignments/locations.
• Other duties as assigned

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: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1-10 employees