Description
- Only active employees of the Health Department will be considered for this role. *
This position is open until noon on Friday February 6th and is a bargaining unit represented position.
A cover letter and resume are required with your online application in order for your application to be considered complete. Uploading your resume to auto-fill portions of the application does not automatically attach it to your application. Incomplete applications will not be considered for this position.
Teleworking:
The Health Department typically has a hybrid model for most roles; however, it is outlined by the supervisor for the given role based on performance and business needs. When working remotely, employees are expected to maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.
Description:
Under the direction of the Public Health Emergency Prep and Response (PHEPR) Program Manager (or designee), the Lead Emergency Management Specialist (Lead EMS) performs advanced, professional-level work to build, sustain, and improve the Health Department’s readiness and response to public health emergencies. The Lead EMS serves as a leader for the Readiness Team, coordinating day-to-day workflow, providing technical guidance, onboarding and coaching staff, and ensuring the quality, consistency, and completeness of program deliverables. The Lead EMS maintains a portfolio of work (e.g., planning, training/exercises, operations/logistics, medical countermeasures, volunteer management, inventory/supply management) while leading cross-functional projects that advance departmental readiness across the CDC PHEP Capabilities, (Foundational Public Health Services) FPHS definitions, Department of Health (DOH) deliverables, and other grant requirements.
The PHEPR Manager establishes the program’s strategic direction, objectives, and available resources. The Lead EMS plans and carries out assignments, coordinates work with others, resolves conflicts, interprets policy in terms of established objectives, and keeps the supervisor informed of progress, risks, and far - reaching implications. Work is reviewed for feasibility, timeliness, efficiency, and compliance with program standards.
Job Duties
Examples of Work Performed:
- Coordinate daily/weekly team meeting and workflow (e.g., project assignments, equipment checks, training calendars, exercise planning cycles) with manager awareness/acknowledgment as needed.
- Serve as a lead on assigned PHEPR capabilities (e.g., emergency operations coordination/EOC, information management/WebEOC, Medical Countermeasure/Cities Readiness Initiative (MCM/CRI), volunteer management/MRC).
- Lead development, maintenance, and quality control of core program documents and tools (e.g., EOP annexes, COOPs, SOPs, checklists, job aids, Incident Command System(ICS) position guides, resource inventories, contact lists, SharePoint libraries, WebEOC boards/user guides).
- Plan and facilitate training and exercises using Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) methodology; coach staff on ICS/NIMS roles and Emergency Operation Center/Incident Management Teams (EOC/IMT) operations.
- Coordinate the annual Integrated Preparedness Plan (IPP), the Threat & Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment / Stakeholder Preparedness Review (THIRA/SPR), HVA, readiness assessments, After-Action Reports/Improvement Plans(AAR/IPs), and assists with corrective-action tracking as needed.
- Provide QA/QI review of staff work (plans, AAR/IPs, trainings and exercises, inventories) for accuracy, completeness, and alignment with standards and grant deliverables.
- Prepare concise briefings and reports for the program manager; develop and deliver internal/external trainings and presentations; facilitate meetings as needed.
- Support the tracking and reporting of grant-funded deliverables (PHEP/CRI/FPHS/DOH), drafting scopes/schedules, and monitoring milestones.
- Support onboarding for new EMS staff. Develop role-specific curricula, drills, and competency checks. Maintain training matrices and credentialing/verification (e.g., ICS/NIMS, HSEEP, fit-testing, vaccine competencies as applicable). May provide input to performance evaluations and hiring processes; does not make hiring/promotion or evaluation determinations.
- Integrate equity, accessibility, and community engagement best practices into planning, communications, volunteer management, POD/site operations, and all response activities,and provide guidance to colleagues on applying these principles in their work.
- Coordinate WebEOC access, training, and board usability with the Department of Emergency Management) DEM; ensure staff receive notifications (WA Secures) and complete required drills.
- Oversee MCM/CRI operational readiness tasks (site files, POD staffing models, inventory/equipment upkeep, trailer readiness, security/chain-of-custody planning, dispensing/closed-POD MOUs) in collaboration with the team.
- Maintain public-facing preparedness information for accuracy and currency in collaboration with Communications. Participate in and support emergency preparedness and response activities for the division, agency, and community.
- During incidents, fulfill advanced or required ICS roles. May be required to respond to EOCs/IMTs during activations and may be required to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
- Perform all duties of an Emergency Management Specialist as required.
Associated Duties:
- Perform other duties as assigned.
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 Public Health, Emergency Management, or a closely related field.
- Three (3) years of Public Health, Emergency Management, or healthcare experience, with at least one (1) year of experience in Public Health.
Licenses, Certifications, and Other Information:
- Master’s degree from an accredited institution in Public Health, Emergency Management, or a 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; ICS 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 that meets the requirements of Snohomish County’s insurance carrier.
- Successful completion of a background check pursuant to RCW 43.43.830.
Additional Information
If you have any questions regarding this opportunity, please reach out to SHD.HR@co.snohomish.wa.us.
Job Offers are contingent on successful completion of reference and background checks. Snohomish County will not sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa for this opportunity. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States.
Snohomish County offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees that receive a regular appointment who work at least 20 hours a week.
County Benefits
Visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/Benefits to learn more about the following benefits.
- Medical Insurance
- Vision Insurance
- Dental Insurance
- Retirement
- Basic Group Term Life Insurance/ Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Long Term Disability (LTD)
- Commuting Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Partners for Health Employee Wellness Program
- Leave & Holidays
Voluntary Benefits
- Deferred Compensation 457(b)
- Supplemental Group Term Life Insurance
- Additional Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance (AD&D)
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Supplemental Individual Insurance Policies
Healthcare Premiums
- Regular full-time employees: If you work 35 or more hours per week, you will pay these monthly premiums for medical insurance. The County pays the monthly premiums for vision, dental, and basic life insurance.
- Regular part-time employees: If you work between 20 and 34 hours per week, you will pay pro-rated monthly premiums for medical, dental, vision, and basic life insurance. The County's contribution toward the premium for an employee in a regular part-time appointment will be pro-rated in an amount equal to the F.T.E. percentage the employee is assigned.
Note: Temporary employees, seasonal employees and paid interns may be eligible for medical insurance benefits. R
eview the County's ACA Employer Shared Responsibility Guide
to learn more.
01
Do you have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in Public Health, Emergency Management, or a closely related field?
02
Do you have three (3) years of Public Health, Emergency Management, or healthcare experience, with at least one (1) year of experience in Public Health?
03
Describe a complex project or portfolio of work you currently own or have owned (e.g., plans, trainings, exercises, inventories, deliverables, assessments, etc.). How do you organize the work, track progress, and ensure deadlines and quality standards are met - especially when multiple people or dependencies are involved?
04
In this role, small gaps can have large downstream impacts. What specific practices do you use to prevent important tasks, deliverables, or risks from falling through the cracks? Please include an example.
05
This position provides coordination and technical leadership without direct supervisory authority. Describe how you would work with peers to maintain professionalism, address conflict or performance concerns, and keep the team aligned - particularly under stress or tight timelines.
06
How do you decide when to handle an issue independently versus when to elevate it to your manager? Please describe a situation where you made that judgment and what informed your decision.
