Emerg. Response Training and Exercise Specialist

Job Description:
Under the supervision of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Public Health Region 1 (PHR 1), Preparedness and Response Section Manager, the Training and Exercise Coordinator works closely with other PHR 1 Preparedness and Response Program (PAR) team members to develop and maintain public health preparedness, response and recovery capabilities in the region. This position:
Serves as the lead public health preparedness training and exercise coordinator for PHR 1, responsible for assigning program staff roles/responsibilities relates to PHR 1-provided training and exercise events in the region.
Researches, plans, develops, coordinates, and provides highly technical preparedness training to PHR 1 staff (internal), to response/recovery partners in the region (external), and to the general public. Provided training is for the purpose of developing/enhancing knowledge, skills, and plans for preparing and responding to disasters and to build resilience to endure and recover from disasters.
In coordination and collaboration with program staff and external public health preparedness partners, plans, develops, implements, analyzes, and documents Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant public health preparedness exercises to build/improve public health-related capabilities for preparedness and response to disasters.
Markets training and exercises in the community by working with governmental officials, state and local agencies, volunteer and faith-based organizations, and the general public to develop/enhance public health preparedness, response and recovery capacity in the region.
Provides the program manager training/exercise-related cost analysis, expenditure requests and reporting for developing/monitoring the program’s budget.
Serves as a public health liaison to assigned counties in the region.
Assists in development of standard operational guidelines, technical and reference documents, to guide/support the PHR 1’s preparedness and response activities in accordance to public health emergency preparedness cooperative agreement (grant) requirements.
Serves as a member of the PHR 1 Incident Management Team (IMT) in the Regional Health and Medical Operations Center (RHMOC) during emergency response and recovery operations. May serve as Public Health Liaison to federal, state, local agencies during emergency response operations. Performs related work as assigned.
Duties are performed under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions:
Training (30%) Manages, implements, and reviews training and special initiative projects of the Preparedness and Response program, partnering with internal and external stakeholders. Internal stakeholders include all DSHS PHR 1 programs. External stakeholders include federal/state agencies, local officials, emergency management coordinators, local public health jurisdictions, healthcare providers, first responders, volunteer and faith-based groups, community service organizations, and the public. Depending on the target audience, training will vary from basic to highly technical complexity. This position:
•In coordination with the Preparedness and Response Program Manager, develops and implements a public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery training program in the region.
•Establishes and reviews program’s guidelines and protocols related to training.
•Coordinates and facilitates emergency response training opportunities in the region with other state/local governmental agencies.
•Conducts training needs assessments, workshops, and meetings, working with internal and external stakeholders to develop/enhance public health-related preparedness, response, and recovery capacity.
•Plans and develops specialized training to address specific needs of internal and external stakeholders.
•Plans, designs, and develops training learning objectives, course outlines, and curricula,
•Selects or develops modern, adult instructional training techniques, training aids, manuals, and other materials.
•As appropriate, analyzes training content for accessibility and recommends changes to remediate accessibility issues.
•Markets and delivers in-person and/or virtual preparedness and response-related training to internal and external stakeholders.
•Plans and develops methods to assess program-developed/delivered training for effectiveness. Revises training/courses as necessary for improvement.
•Compiles, analyzes, and reports program-related training data. As applicable, reports are shared with the program manager, other program staff, and external stakeholders.
•Develops/maintains regional master calendar of training class, exercises, and events, including distance learning, and will secure/ manage training sites.
•Maintains PHR 1 training opportunities on TX-TRAIN. Assists, monitors DSHS PHR 1 staffs’ access and completion of assigned training in TX-TRAIN.
•Establishes incident management team position-appropriate core competencies for regional health department staff.
•Performs cost analysis for program-provided training, prepares/proposes budgets for training.
•May manage routine to complex contracts for training services.
Exercise (25%) Manages PHR 1 PAR’s preparedness and response exercises provided to DSHS PHR 1 staff and external public health stakeholders. Exercises are for the purpose of evaluating public health capacity (knowledge, skills, functions, and resources) applicable to preparedness, response, and recovery to a disaster.
•In coordination with the Preparedness and Response Program Manager, develops and implements policies and procedures for a public health emergency preparedness, response, and recovery exercise program in the region.
•effectiveness
•Works closely and effectively with DSHS PHR 1 program managers and supervisors, and other public health stakeholders to ensure an integrated exercise program is in place that effectively evaluates public health emergency response systems and results in meaningful outcomes that enhance integrated health and medical response and recovery capabilities at all jurisdictional levels.
•Works with local governmental authorities to establish exercise objectives and participants.
•Facilitates pre-exercise planning meetings, workshops, and other events with exercise stakeholders.
•Researches, plans, develops, prepares, target audience-appropriate, Department of Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)-compliant exercises specifically designed to identify regional gaps in preparedness and response capabilities.
•Ensures and verifies exercises are in compliance with policies, protocols, and grant requirements.
•Assigns participant roles and responsibilities for participation, control, and evaluation of exercises.
•Markets and conducts exercises.
•Coordinates and conducts exercise hotwashes with exercise participants and local governmental authorities to evaluate results of exercises, compiles generated data and produces After-Action Reports (AARs).
•In coordination/collaboration with internal and external stakeholders, develops internal/regional improvement plans to address gaps identified in AARs.
•Plans, designs, and develops methods for the assessment and evaluation of program-provided exercises.
•Perform cost analyses reports for proposed exercises. Prepare and propose exercise-related budgets, for presentation to the program manager.
•May manage contracts for exercise services including development of scope of work, locating a vendor, tracking contractor progress.
PUBLIC HEALTH LIAISON (15%) Works with assigned counties serving as a liaison between the Department of State Health Services Preparedness and Response (PAR) Program.
•Advises local city and county elected officials and other key contacts in assigned counties in development and implementation local disaster response plans, with a particular focus on issues related to public health and medical issues.
•Works with assigned counties and communities to prepare residents to respond in a natural or man-made disaster.
•Provides/facilitates public health services within assigned counties and other counties/jurisdictions in the region as needed/directed.
Markets the DSHS PHR 1 Preparedness and Response program’s services within assigned counties.
•Guides/aids other PAR staff in their assigned counties as requested and/or needed.
ADMINISTRATIVE (15%) In coordination and collaboration with the DSHS PHR 1 Preparedness and Response Planner, the DSHS PHR 1 Medical Counter Measures Coordinator, and the DSHS Preparedness and Response Manager, performs advanced administrative and technical work within the program and region. This position:
•Assists in evaluation of the program’s operational guidelines and procedures to ensure the program is meeting regulations, policies and grant requirements.
•Assists in research, preparation, conducting and evaluating public health assessments within the region.
•Makes presentations to community organizations, other governmental agencies, and professional groups to improve understanding and support for public health.
ALL HAZARDS RESPONSE (10%) Serves within the DSHS Region 1 regional incident command structure (ICS) in the event of a natural or man-made disaster.
•Assumes a General Staff position within the DSHS PHR 1 Regional Medical Operations Center (RHMOC). Role may include, but are not limited to: Planning Chief, Logistics Chief, Operations Chief or Safety Officer.
•May serve/deploy as a DSHS Region 1 representative to the Disaster District Committee (DDC) during disaster response activations.
•May deploy to an affected jurisdiction within the region, or to another public health region to assist with emergency response and recovery efforts.
OTHER DUTIES (5%) Other duties as assigned include, but are not limited to, actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, regulations and practices related to emergency management and public health preparedness and response in Texas
Knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS)
Knowledge of the National Response Plan (NRP)
Knowledge of the Strategic National Stockpile and CHEMPACK programs
Knowledge of curriculum and instructional design principles.
Knowledge of adult education training techniques and presentations.
Knowledge of the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP)
Knowledge of program planning, implementation and evaluation
Knowledge of diverse types of drills and exercises, including tabletop exercises, functional exercises and full-scale exercises
Skill in accurate and effective written and verbal communication
Skill with a personal computer, including Microsoft Office programs.
Skill in problem identification, analysis and resolution.
Skill in process facilitation techniques, team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution.
Skill in managing and tracking multiple projects at different stages of development.
Skill in planning and conducting training and exercises.
Skill in providing technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders.
Skill in instructing others with effective educational results determined by, at minimum, student evaluation and feedback.
Ability to reason and make sound judgements and decisions.
Ability to organize and prioritize one's workload and meet deadlines.
Ability to prepare complex written reports.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relations.
Ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.
Ability to respond to disasters
Ability to travel.

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