Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director

Virginia Department of Emergency Management; San Antonio (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Virginia Department of Emergency Management is seeking an Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director to oversee disaster and emergency management planning, mitigation, response, and recovery for the regional healthcare system. This role requires collaboration with hospitals, EMS, and local, regional, and state agencies to ensure readiness and effective resource coordination.

The Director will supervise contracts related to Hospital Preparedness, coordinate with ASPR/CDC programs, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required; EMT-Paramedic, RN preferred.
• At least 3 years in managerial/administrative role.
• Knowledge of NIMS, Hospital Incident Command Systems, and HSEEP concepts.

Responsibilities

• Oversee disaster and emergency management planning, mitigation, response, and recovery for the emergency healthcare system.
• Coordinate planning and response resources with hospitals, EMS, and local/state partners.
• Supervise Hospital Preparedness Program contracts and grant spending/status.
• Serve as SME for health and medical issues during disasters and coordinate with regional/national partners.
• Lead partnerships and coordination with local health departments and state agencies.

Skills

Oral and Written Communications

Technology applications

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

EMT-Paramedic / RN preferred

Tools

Incident management software

Mass notification systems

Credentialing systems

Job description

Job Summary

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director is a professional clinician possessing in-depth knowledge and experience in overseeing disaster and emergency management planning, mitigation, response, and recovery needs of the emergency healthcare system within Trauma Service Area P. The Director works closely with hospital and pre-hospital emergency management personnel and local, county, regional, and state emergency management officials to coordinate planning and response resources to ensure optimal readiness of regional healthcare entities. The Director is responsible for building partnerships to collaborate with and support the health and medical needs of other emergency support functions during a disaster. The Director supervises the Hospital Preparedness Program contract, awarded by the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) which is part of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, through the Department of State Health Services. Duties also include serving as the primary point of contact for hospital emergency preparedness programs pertaining to the implementation of programs to improve hospital readiness for bioterrorism and all-hazards threats. The Director participates in State-level planning meetings to coordinate activities with other Regional Advisory Councils (RACs) and the Department of State Health Services, and update contract managers on grant spending and implementation status.

The Emergency Preparedness and Response Division Director is also responsible for planning, preparedness, and deployment of response resources organic to or organized by STRAC during a disaster. The regional Emergency Medical Task Force, Regional Public Health, and Mass-Casualty Trailer Programs, as well as support programs, including power, communications and IMT support developed using Emergency Preparedness funds is overseen by the EP&R Division Director. They will be responsible for the overall readiness of equipment, maintenance of Memorandums of Agreement/Understanding and personnel readiness to ensure a rapid and efficient response to a disaster, locally, regionally, or statewide. The Director supervises personnel tasked with these duties and is responsible to the Chief of Operations and ultimately Chief Executive Officer for maintenance of these programs, as well as other initiatives that involve Hospital Preparedness, Regional Readiness and Emergency Response.

Additionally, the EP&R Division Director works with local health departments, local public health authorities, Regional Health Service Staff (DSHS Region 8) as well as DSHS Central Office to coordinate acute health care preparedness and response to public health crises. The Director supervises the management of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness and County Readiness Initiative contract from DSHS Region 8, as well as additional contracts pertaining to Public Health activities awarded by DSHS, San Antonio Metropolitan Health Department or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The Director also works with the Alamo Area Council of Governments (AACOG) to apply for and manage grant projects, submit quarterly reports, and manage funding in accordance with Department of Homeland Security Grants Requirements.

The EP&R Division Director serves as a subject matter expert for health and medical issues during a disaster, especially as they pertain to hospitals and acute health care systems. As such, the Director routinely serves as a member of the Alamo Incident Management Team and in a Command role in the Regional Medical Operations Center - San Antonio. The Director also oversees and manages personnel assigned to the STRAC Emergency Operations / Rescue Team, maintaining situational awareness of training, response and deployment activities, and maintaining a good working relationship with local Fire and EMS Departments as well as Texas Task Force One (TX-TF1).

Job Qualifications

Competencies
Knowledge:

• Considerable knowledge of emergency management, homeland security and bioterrorism preparedness objectives, requirements and programs.
• Working knowledge of the principles and practices, planning complex and integrated activities with hospitals, local, State and regional jurisdictions requiring critical responses in short time frames.
• Knowledge of effective management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of effective fiscal management principles, according to State and Federal Grant Management regulations.

Skills:

• Oral and Written Communications
• Technology applications, to include web-based incident management solutions, mass notification systems, credentialing and responder authentication, as well as flexibility to comprehend and incorporate new technologies into initiatives and tactics to improve preparedness and response of health and medical resources.

Abilities:

• Serve as a subject matter expert in and for all hazards disaster response planning, and exercise matters to local, regional, State and Federal agencies
• Establish and maintain contacts with counterparts at regional, State and Federal agencies in order to ensure overall coordination
• Create, write, edit and contribute to the preparation of documents for publication.
• Develop and design course, and coordinate training and curriculum development based on programs and initiatives at the Regional and State level
• Address large audiences on subjects related to emergency management
• Apply sound judgment and decision making under a variety of conditions
• Exercise effective leadership, management and team building skills
• Facilitate and serves as principal point of contact for significant regional projects
• Coordinate to maximize participation of EMS / Hospital reps and regional partners
• Assist with the fiscal management of assigned funding contract
• Other duties as assigned

Job Qualifications

General Qualifications (required):

• Bachelor of Arts (BA), Bachelor of Science or equivalent work experience
• Certification as an EMT-Paramedic, Licensed Paramedic Emergency Medical Technician, or Registered Nurse preferred
• At least three years of experience in managerial or administrative position
• Detailed knowledge of NIMS, Hospital Incident Command Systems and NRP
• Knowledge of TDEM structure, CI/KR Program and HSEEP concepts
• Familiarity with Federal ASPR, CDC and Homeland Security Grant Programs
• Completion of IC 100, IC 200