Emergency Management Specialist - Risk Communications

Snohomish County Health Department; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Snohomish County Health Department is seeking a Risk Communications Specialist to strengthen public health emergency communications through message development, partner coordination, and integration into preparedness planning, training, and response operations. This role collaborates with staff department‑wide and external partners to build readiness and drive improvements through after‑action processes.

The position focuses on turning complex health information into clear, accurate messages

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management or closely related field.
• Two (2) years of Public Health, Emergency Management or closely related field, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead risk communication during emergencies and activations.
• Coordinate with Communications team and Public Information Officer.
• Embed equity, access, and inclusion principles into plans, trainings, and exercises.
• Maintain documentation and records in shared repositories; ensure grant compliance.
• Coordinate with regional partners on cross‑jurisdiction topics and priorities.
• Support information management and situational awareness during responses.

Skills

Excellent written and verbal comms

Public health communications

Emergency management coordination

Equity and inclusion awareness

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management or related field

Two years of relevant field experience

Tools

WebEOC

Power BI

NIMS/ICS familiarity

Job description

Only applications submitted on the Snohomish County Career Opportunities website will be considered.

We are recruiting a Risk Communications Specialist to strengthen public health emergency communications through message development, partner coordination, and the integration of risk communication into preparedness planning, training, and response operations. This role works closely with staff across the department and with external partners to build operational readiness, support emergency activations and responses, and drive continuous improvement through after-action processes.

Description

Snohomish County Health Department is recruiting a Risk Communications Specialist to join our Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) team in the Office of the Director. This role leads the program’s risk communication work, from preparedness messaging during steady-state periods to real-time support during emergency activations.

The Risk Communications Specialist develops pre-scripted and incident-specific messages, coordinates with the department’s Communications team and Public Information Officer, and builds risk communication into our emergency plans, trainings, and exercises. During responses, the specialist supports public information operations and partner coordination. After exercises and incidents, the specialist leads communication-focused after-action work and carries improvements back into plans and training.

We are looking for someone who can turn complex, evolving health information into clear, accurate, culturally responsive messages under time pressure. The right candidate builds strong working relationships with partners, has great communication skills, and is comfortable working in dynamic environments.

Examples of Work Performed:

• Prepare and respond to public health emergencies using skills, training, and procedures as a member of the PHEPR Program. Participate in and support emergency responses in assigned *ICS* roles and tasks.
• Contribute to annual Integrated Preparedness Plans (IPP), AARs/IPs, risk/capability assessments (e.g., THIRA/SPR, HVA), readiness assessments, and corrective-action tracking work.
• Embed and integrate equity, access, and inclusion principles into all work—including planning, training, exercises, outreach, volunteer management, partner engagement, and response operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation (plans, SOPs, checklists, job aids, rosters, inventories) . and accurate records (training completions, inventories, volunteer rosters, MOUs, AARs/IPs, assessments) in shared repositories, ensuring consistency with grant and program requirements.
• Coordinate with Region 1 and Puget Sound partners on cross‑jurisdiction topics, projects, and priorities (e.g., ESF‑8, fatality management, surge planning, alternate care, etc.). Build and sustain the relationships needed for effective emergency preparedness and response.
• Support risk communication, information management, and situational awareness processes; keep public‑facing preparedness information current and accurate.
• Participate in required public health or emergency management trainings/drills/exercises; maintain role‑appropriate credentials.
• Collaborate with Health Department staff to support effective emergency preparedness and response functions.
• Maintain working knowledge of IC S/NIMS and fulfilling assigned Emergency Operations Center or Incident Management Team roles during trainings, exercises, and responses.
• Coordinate with local, regional, and state partners (DEM, NWHRN, EMS Council, mortuary services, healthcare facilities, DHS BioWatch, UASI workgroups, etc.) to share resources, lessons learned, and best practices.
• Support WebEOC needs for the health department, collaborate with external partners as needed; ensure staff have access to emergency notifications, complete all required WA Secures drills.
• Support staff and volunteer readiness, departmental logistics and operations, and resource management (through tasks such as WAServ rosters, MCM inventories/trailers, Power BI trackers, readiness assessments, etc.) consistent with program needs and requirements.
• Assist with the tracking of grant‑funded deliverables (PHEP/CRI/FPHS/NACCHO/UASI), prepare succinct status reports, and contribute to relevant workplans/strategic plans.
• Coordinate the preparation and delivery of trainings, accurate briefings, and partner presentations; facilitate meetings and communities of practice; maintain SCHD preparedness and response resources (e.g., SCHD Emergency Response Toolkit, internal/external preparedness page, etc.).

Associated Duties:

• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Respond, as requested, to Emergency Operations Centers during a public health/health care emergency activation.
• May be required to work extended workdays during a response, including weekends.
• Participate in local, regional, and state related meetings and communities of practice related to public health preparedness.

Minimum Qualifications

Skills for the position may be gained through education, certification, relevant job experience or a combination, such as:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Emergency Management or closely related field
• Two (2) years of Public Health, Emergency Management or closely related field, preferred.

Licenses, Certifications, and Other Information:

• Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Emergency Management or closely related field preferred.
• Completion of relevant emergency management courses such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Independent Study Series and appropriate National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident command System (ICS) courses; IIS 100 and 700 to be completed within two weeks of employment.
• Completion of Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP), preferred
• Valid Washington State Driver’s license or ability to obtain one within thirty (30) days of hire and a driving record which meets the requirements of Snohomish County’s insurance carrier.
• Successful completion of a background check pursuant to RCW 43.43.830.