Emergency Preparedness Educator-Advanced (DOH/PHO #64466)

New Mexico Department of Health; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The New Mexico Department of Health NW Region is seeking an Emergency Preparedness Specialist to lead regional public health and health system emergency operations planning and training initiatives.

You will collaborate with hospitals, first responders, and local authorities to ensure readiness for pandemics, natural disasters, and other emergencies while aligning with state and federal requirements. This role emphasizes data, reporting, and effective written guidance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Health or Education and one year of experience in a health-related field. Any combination of education and/or direct experience totaling five years may substitute for the required education and experience.
• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment.

Responsibilities

• Develop, revise, and maintain regional public health and health system emergency operations plans in alignment with DOH and State All Hazard Emergency Operations Plans.
• Plan, implement, and facilitate training and exercises for staff, health care partners, and community groups.
• Lead and participate in drills and after-action reviews to ensure readiness, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a liaison between DOH and regional partners, including emergency managers, hospitals, first responders, volunteer groups, municipalities, and state/federal agencies.
• Provide technical expertise on public health emergency management and response.
• Support NIMS compliance and ensure integration of federal preparedness requirements at the regional level.
• Assist with continuity of operations planning, medical surge, mass prophylaxis, shelter-in-place, volunteer management, fatality management, and communications interoperability.
• Prepare professional reports, programmatic guidelines, and grant-related documentation.
• Represent the Department of Health in local and regional emergency preparedness coalitions and task forces.

Skills

Emergency operations planning

NIMS/all-hazard planning

Communication & collaboration

Professional writing

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Health or Education

Job description

Posting Details

THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE.

Salary

$24.88 - $37.32 Hourly

$51,755 - $77,633 Annually

This position is a Pay Band C6

Posting Details

THIS POSTING WILL BE USED FOR ONGOING RECRUITMENT AND MAY CLOSE AT ANY TIME. APPLICANT LISTS MAY BE SCREENED MORE THAN ONCE. The Northwest Region of the New Mexico Department of Health encompasses seven counties: San Juan, McKinley, Cibola, Sandoval, Valencia, Torrance, and Bernalillo. This region includes a dynamic mix of urban, rural, frontier, and tribal communities, offering a unique and rewarding environment for public health professionals committed to equity, service, and innovation.

Working in the Northwest Region means joining a collaborative, mission-driven team focused on improving health outcomes, advancing health equity, and strengthening partnerships across some of the most culturally rich and diverse areas in New Mexico.

Why does the job exist?

This position exists to ensure the New Mexico Department of Health is prepared to prevent, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies in the West Region. The Emergency Preparedness Specialist provides critical leadership in aligning regional planning with state and federal emergency preparedness requirements. The role ensures that communities, hospitals, and health systems have the resources, training, and coordinated plans necessary to respond to emergencies such as pandemics, bio-terrorism events, natural disasters, and mass casualty incidents. By supporting compliance with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and federal preparedness guidelines, this position safeguards the health and safety of New Mexicans and strengthens the resiliency of the region¿s public health infrastructure.

How does it get done?

• Develop, revise, and maintain regional public health and health system emergency operations plans in alignment with DOH and State All Hazard Emergency Operations Plans.
• Plan, implement, and facilitate training and exercises for staff, health care partners, and community groups.
• Lead and participate in drills and after-action reviews to ensure readiness, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a liaison between DOH and regional partners, including emergency managers, hospitals, first responders, volunteer groups, municipalities, and state/federal agencies.
• Provide technical expertise on public health emergency management and response.
• Support NIMS compliance and ensure integration of federal preparedness requirements at the regional level.
• Assist with continuity of operations planning, medical surge, mass prophylaxis, shelter-in-place, volunteer management, fatality management, and communications interoperability.
• Prepare professional reports, programmatic guidelines, and grant-related documentation.
• Represent the Department of Health in local and regional emergency preparedness coalitions and task forces.
• Ensuring the Regions public health offices are up to date and trained on region safety plans.

Who are the customers?

• New Mexico residents who rely on a prepared and resilient public health system during emergencies.
• Regional healthcare systems, hospitals, and clinics that depend on coordinated response planning and training.
• Local municipalities, emergency managers, and first responders who require strong partnerships with public health for an integrated response.
• The New Mexico Department of Health and Bureau of Health Emergency Management, ensuring state and federal compliance and alignment with strategic priorities.
• The NW Region Public Health Offices- ensuring their emergency response plans, and safety plans are current and routinely discussed with staff throughout the NW Region.

Ideal Candidate

• Experienced in designing, evaluating, and participating in exercises of emergency operations plans and procedures.
• Knowledgeable about federal and state emergency preparedness programs, NIMS, and all-hazard planning requirements.
• Strong in communication and collaboration, with the ability to build trusted relationships with diverse partners including hospitals, community organizations, first responders, and volunteers.
• Technically proficient, with experience in professional writing (e.g., guidelines, reports, grants, or academic publications) and comfort with data, evaluation, and reporting.
• Flexible and resilient, able to adapt quickly during fast-paced, high-pressure situations.
• Mission-driven, with a commitment to protecting the health and safety of New Mexicans through effective preparedness and response planning.

Minimum Qualification

Bachelor's Degree in Public Health or Education and one (1) year of experience in a health-related field. Any combination of education from an accredited college or university in a related field and/or direct experience in this occupation totaling five (5) years may substitute for the required education and experience.

Employment Requirements

• Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.
• Must possess and maintain a current Defensive Driving Course Certificate from the State of New Mexico or must pass and receive Defensive Driving Course Certification as a condition of continued employment.

Working Conditions

• Work is performed in an office setting with exposure to Visual/Video Display Terminal (VDT) and extensive personal computer and phone usage. Some travel may be required.
• Services are provided in office, auxiliary, and community site settings across the Northwest Region.
• Frequent use of computers, phones, and video display terminals.
• Requires sitting, standing, bending, and occasional lifting of up to 50 pounds.
• Possible exposure to communicable diseases during emergency or community response activities.
• Regular travel within the region to provide outreach, training, and attend meetings, including occasional overnight stays.
• Position requires availability during emergency activations, which may include extended or irregular hours.

Bargaining Unit Position

This position is covered by a collective bargaining agreement and all terms/conditions of that agreement apply and must be adhered to.