Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Job Description:

Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Description

Join Missoula County in making a meaningful impact, where your work supports our vibrant community, promotes public service, and contributes to a better future for all.

Job Description:

RATE OF PAY: $27.15 per hour

DEPARTMENT: Health

JOB STATUS: REGULAR, FULL TIME

BARGAINING UNIT: MFPE - Local 8512

CLOSING DATE: JULY 31, 2026

THIS IS A GRANT FUNDED POSITION

TO APPLY: Please include with your completed application a letter of interest. Complete job description available upon request to the Department of Human Resources.

DEFINITION: The Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Coordinator is responsible for planning and directing disaster response or crisis management activities, providing disaster preparedness training, and preparing emergency plans and procedures for public health, natural (e.g., hurricanes, floods, earthquakes), or technological (e.g., nuclear power plant emergencies, hazardous materials spills) disasters. This position also manages and coordinates deliverables for the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant, the planning, development, and implementation of emergency preparedness initiatives for the Missoula Public Health (MPH), and participates in community partner and agency meetings. They work throughout the MPH to build and coordinate all aspects of public health emergency preparedness, including assessing gaps, exploring specific issues; responding to identified needs; developing new programs; and enhancing coordination of existing services.

EXAMPLES OF DUTIES :

Emergency Planning and Coordination :
• Leads the development of a Public Health Emergency Operations Plan that meets the requirements for public health department accreditation including:
• Leads the development of a Continuity of Operations Plan.
• Participates in coordination and communication with local, regional, state, and federal agencies and individuals to prevent, mitigate, respond to, and recover from public health threats and hazards.
• Coordinates the health department’s participation in local periodic emergency preparedness and response disaster drills and exercises.
• Utilizes local, state, and federal regulatory guidelines and requirements to ensure that department plans are integrated with emergency response plans of other agencies.
• Collaborates and works with community health, social service, and emergency response partners to build and maintain relationships that enhance delivery of health and emergency response activities in the county.
• Develops a broad-based coalition of agencies and organizations associated with public health emergency preparedness objectives and concerns.
• Participates in and may initiate and lead public processes, meetings and planning groups. Acts as a facilitator with a variety of groups to accomplish project objectives.
Disaster Response and Recovery
• Assesses gaps, hazards, and risks through a formal assessment and prepares plans to respond to emergencies and disasters in order to minimize risk to people and property.
• Provides disaster preparedness training.
• May provide support for mass casualty and mass fatality response, and other emergency response operations throughout the area, in alignment with the agency's scope of authority and responsibilities.
Resource Management
• Maintains an inventory of equipment and infrastructure that ensures the department’s capacity to respond to emergencies.
• Coordinates and supports the Incident Management Team and develops protocols and procedures for the maintenance and expediting of access to staff and infrastructure for surge capacity.
• Maintains current contact information and resource listings for individuals, equipment, and supplies needed for emergency operations.
• Works with leadership to ensure that there is a process for expedited administrative procedures for use during an emergency event.
• Inspects equipment and facilities to determine their operational and functional capabilities.
Communication
• Ensures the maintenance and implementation of a Risk Communication Plan for communicating with the public during a public health crisis or emergency.
• Ensures that a process is in place for urgent 24/7 communications with response partners.
• Collaborates in the development of a local strategy to ensure access to needed health care and social services during service disruptions.
• Assists the communication officer by maintaining and updating community partner listserves and contacts, including the Montana Public Health Directory.
Leadership
• Advises Health Department leadership on procedures and practices to ensure maximal resource and personnel utilization during emergencies, and assists in developing and implementing department emergency preparedness policies.
• Prepares staff and volunteers for emergency roles, supports the development of policies and protocols for emergency staffing and redeployments for public health and other staff.
• Ensures that exercises and after-action reports are used to improve preparedness and response.
• Administers grants including preparing competitive proposals, establishing and maintaining accurate records; preparing periodic financial and performance reports; ensuring compliance with all applicable rules and regulations; and monitoring project/program progress; writes project summaries for reporting requirements; ensures PHEP deliverables are completed and reported on time.
Training
• Coordinates department emergency preparedness training
• Schedules and ensures receipt of training by department staff engaged in emergency responses, including just-in-time training for responders.
• Create customized training plans for and manage training activities for the department and the Incident Management Team; organizes emergency response training for staff, volunteers, and other responders.
• Facilitates presentations to the partners and community and establishes and maintains positive relationships with the community partners and the public.
• Manages carrying out drills and exercises, including but not limited to call down drills and emergency preparedness exercises and activities.
Documentation and Reporting
• Maintains public health emergency response plans, manuals, and standard operating procedures.
• Completes and maintains preparedness and response documents including policies, plans, and manuals.
• Prepares, reports, and maintains activities and data related to grants through applicable software applications.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Requires a bachelor's degree. Degrees best suited to this position include public health, community health, social work, public administration, or related field. Master’s degree desired. Requires two years of experience in public health or public administration related work, including public education, grants administration and emergency response system development, OR an equivalent combination of training and experience. Experience working with a local, state or federal government agency with a focus on public health, community education, public administration, emergency preparedness or community intervention is preferred. Experience with public health emergency preparedness and planning, including strategic and long-term planning is desirable.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : New employees will be asked to volunteer vaccination status and communicable disease testing for required vaccines upon hire and will be offered assistance during hiring to receive necessary immunizations. Employees who have not received the vaccines required for their positions or who are unwilling to voluntarily provide vaccination status for required vaccines will receive a reasonable accommodation where such accommodation does not require an undue hardship or endanger the health or safety of any person. Requires a current MT driver’s license.

PHYSICAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS : Works primarily in an office setting. Requires occasional medium lifting up to 25 lbs (ex: audio visual equipment, written materials). May require attending meetings outside of normal business hours including during training exercises or an incident which may require work in the field. Requires availability for occasional evening and weekend work assignments and the ability to travel.

Additional Job Description:

TO APPLY: Please include with your completed application a letter of interest. Complete job description available upon request to the Department of Human Resources.

As a Missoula County employee, you will be a part of a team that is committed to positively impacting the community.

Missoula County is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, or military status