MANAGER OF PLANNING

Cook County Government; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Coverage

Pension Plan

Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time

PSLF Eligibility

Job summary

Cook County Government is seeking a Manager of Planning in the Public Health unit to lead development and oversight of agency and community preparedness plans. You will coordinate major preparedness initiatives, align activities with state/federal guidance, and supervise staff to ensure measurable outcomes in emergency planning and response.

The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and collaboration with officials and community partners to strengthen public health preparedness

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 5 years of relevant experience or Master’s with 2 years in health/emergency fields.
• NIMS courses IS 100, 200, 700, 800 completed within six months.
• Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program trainings within a year.
• Valid driver’s license and insured vehicle or reliable transport for travel.
• On-call availability and successful writing exercise at interview.

Responsibilities

• Collaborates with the Director to align unit strategy with state/federal guidance.
• Oversees planning activities across PHEP domains and capabilities.
• Leads planning staff and ensures metrics are met.
• Coordinates development of regional emergency plans for preparedness and response.
• Maintains agency/community emergency plans, IPPW, training, and improvement planning.
• Evaluates response efforts and updates plans with lessons learned.
• Maintains relationships with officials, health administrators, and community groups.
• Performs strategic planning to identify infrastructure gaps for public health response.
• Develops and maintains sustainable action plans aligned with partnerships.
• Supports CEMP maintenance and provides technical assistance as needed.
• Represents agency on committees and with public/professional groups.

Skills

Strategic planning

Coordination

Communication

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree +5 years public health/related

Master’s degree +2 years public health/related

Job description

Job Description - MANAGER OF PLANNING (00139623)

Job Description

MANAGER OF PLANNING

Job Number: 00139623

Job Posting

Posted: Sep 29, 2026, 4:23:22 PM

Closing Date: Oct 14, 2026, 4:59:00 AM

Full-time Shift Start Time: 8:30 A.M. Shift End Time: 4:30 P.M.

Organization

Health and Hospital Systems

Location: Bridgeview Courthouse

Department: Public Health

Shift: 8:30AM - 4:30PM

Salary is commensurate with years of experience indicated at time of application submittal. Experience not disclosed or documented at the time of application will not be considered for initial step placement.

Job Summary

The Manager of Planning is responsible for assisting with the development of agency, county, and community preparedness plans and policies for the Cook County Health Department of Public Health (CCDPH) Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit. Develops, implements, and administers activities to support the public health response system and will coordinate and lead, as appropriate, activities to respond to public health threats and emergencies. The Manager of Planning will provide leadership and project oversight for major preparedness initiatives supported by the agency and/or its partners.

Typical Duties

• Collaborates with Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response to set unit strategy to ensure operations align with unit strategy as well as state and federal preparedness guidance.
• Oversees planning activities including assigned Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) domains and capabilities.
• Manages and oversees activities of the planning staff to ensure metrics are met. Makes recommendations on how to improve outcomes.
• Coordinates with staff and outside agencies to develop, implement, exercise, and update regional emergency management plans in preparation for and response to public health emergencies.
• Oversees the development and maintenance efforts specific to agency, county, and community-driven comprehensive public health emergency response plans and policy including IPPW, training, exercise, and improvement planning.
• Evaluates response efforts and amends to reflect best practices and lessons learned.
• Maintains communication and cooperation with suburban elected officials, municipal health administrators, regional representatives, community organizations and others.
• Conducts strategic planning processes to assess infrastructure gaps for major public health response issues.
• Develop, implement, and maintain sustainable action plans in alignment with agency and partnership strategies for public health response.
• Oversees Comprehensive Emergency Management Program (CEMP) maintenance activities.
• Assists community preparedness partners with preparedness activities, which may include the provision of technical support, i.e., planning, organizing, and facilitation.
• Develops evaluation and performance management plans for strategic plans, prepares progress reports as required, and evaluates preparedness capabilities on an ongoing basis.
• Develops and maintains coalition and partnership to support preparedness planning activities.
• Assists with preparation for Federal and/or State assessments.
• Represents the agency on public health preparedness planning matters by serving on committees and/or taskforces and addresses both public and professional groups in matters of preparedness, both as needed.
• Promotes communication and cooperation with suburban officials, municipal health administrators, regional representatives, community organizations and others to enhance preparedness capacity.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with five (5) years of experience in public health, environmental health, emergency medical services or healthcare OR Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university with two (2) years of experience in public health, environmental health, emergency medical services or healthcare is required (Must provide proof at the time of interview)
• Completion of the National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) courses to include IS 100, 200, 700, and 800 certifications within six months, and is required
• Completion of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program trainings within a year of employment is required
• Position requires travel for which the employee must possess a valid driver’s license and insured vehicle or otherwise provide an acceptable and reliable means of transportation is required
• Must be available for “on-call” duty, as required is required
• Writing exercise will be administered at the time of interview is required

Preferred Qualifications

• Two (2) years of experience in emergency planning, emergency response or emergency management
• Experience in program management
• Experience plan writing or policy writing

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Other Characteristics

• Demonstrated competency with operations including the implementation and oversight of response activities
• Outstanding partnership development and planning skills, including strategic planning and community-based development theory and methods
• Strong skills and working knowledge with preparedness theory, planning, and principles of training and exercise
• Demonstrated competency to initiate, plan, implement, and evaluate programs with attention to detail
• Superior coordination, facilitation, organizational, and communication (both written and verbal) skills
• Ability to construct written documents in a clear, concise manner
• Ability to consistently exercise discretion and excellent judgment
• Ability to contingency plan, and ability to assure achievement of objectives
• Ability to interact with professional staff, as well as community representatives, the general public and the media

Physical and Environmental Demands

This position is functioning within a healthcare environment. The incumbent is responsible for adherence to all hospital and department specific safety requirements. This includes but is not limited to the following policies and procedures: complying with Personal Protective Equipment requirements, hand washing and sanitizing practices, complying with department specific engineering and work practice controls and any other work area safety precautions as specified by hospital wide policy and departmental procedures.

VETERAN PREFERENCE

When applying for employment with the Cook County Health & Hospitals System, preference is given to honorably discharged Veterans who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States for not less than 6 months of continuous service.

To take advantage of this preference a Veteran must:

Meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

Identify self as a Veteran on the employment application by answering yes to the question by answering yes to the question, “Are you a Military Veteran?”

Attach a copy of their DD 214, DD 215 or NGB 22 (Notice of Separation at time of application filing. Please note: If you have multiple DD214s, 215s, or NGB 22S, Please submit the one with the latest date. Coast Guard must submit a certified copy of the military separation from either the Department of Transportation (Before 9/11) or the Department of Homeland Security (After 9/11).

Discharge papers must list and Honorable Discharge Status. Discharge papers not listing an Honorable Discharge Status are not acceptable

OR

A copy of a valid State ID Card or Driver’s License which identifies the holder of the ID as a Veteran, may also be attached to the application at time of filing.

If items are not attached, you will not be eligible for Veteran Preference

VETERANS MUST PROVIDE ORIGINAL APPLICABLE DISCHARGE PAPERS OR APPLICABLE STATE ID CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE AT TIME OF INTERVIEW.

BENEFITS PACKAGE

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage
• Basic Term Life Insurance
• Pension Plan
• Deferred Compensation Program
• Paid Holidays, Vacation, and Sick Time
• You may also qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF)

Degrees awarded outside of the United States with the exception of those awarded in one of the United States' territories and Canada must be credentialed by an approved U.S. credential evaluation service belonging to the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) or the Association of International Credential Evaluators (AICE). Original credentialing documents must be presented at time of interview.

*Please note all offers of Employment are contingent upon the following conditions: satisfactory professional & employment references, healthcare and criminal background checks, appropriate licensure/certifications and the successful completion of a physical and pre‑employment drug screen.

*CCHHS is strictly prohibited from conditioning, basing or knowingly prejudicing or affecting any term or aspect of County employment or hiring upon or because of any political reason or factor.

COOK COUNTY GOVERNMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER