Job Summary

Clark County Public Health’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator leads collaboration among hospitals, public health, emergency management, EMS, and other healthcare partners to strengthen emergency response readiness and response capabilities within the region. This role drives healthcare coalition planning, training, and information sharing to enhance healthcare system resilience during disasters and public health emergencies, develops emergency response plans, trains staff and partners to support Incident Management Team activities and ensures the department and the region is equipped to respond collectively to emergencies that impact healthcare delivery and community health.
Clark County Public Health is seeking an Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator to coordinate, serve as a liaison, coordinate, and strengthen regional healthcare readiness and resilience. This position brings together hospitals, public health, emergency management, EMS, and healthcare partners to enhance the region’s ability to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and public health emergencies.
The Coordinator serves as a key leader in the Healthcare Coalition, advancing planning, training, and information sharing under the ASPR Healthcare Preparedness Program (HPP). The role develops and maintains emergency response plans, coordinates coalition meetings and exercises, supports Incident Management Team (IMT) readiness, and promotes systems and partnerships that ensure the region can respond collectively to healthcare and community health impacts.
This is an hourly position represented by Local LIUNA 335. The position falls within Clark County’s Program Coordinator I job classification, this position provides technical assistance to partners across local, regional, and state levels—including tribal, healthcare, and emergency management organizations. Core responsibilities include developing emergency plans, designing and evaluating exercises, planning and executing federal grant objectives, maintaining situational awareness during emerging threats, and fostering equitable preparedness efforts that meet the needs of diverse communities.
This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and mission-driven professional to strengthen public health and healthcare system resilience in Southwest Washington.
The Emergency Preparedness and Response Coordinator develops, writes, and implements emergency response plans for large-scale and complex public health and healthcare emergencies, including disease outbreaks, pandemics, biological or radiological threats, natural disasters, cyber incidents, and mass casualty events. The position collaborates with local, regional, tribal, and state partners to design, conduct, and evaluate training, drills, and exercises consistent with Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) standards. The Coordinator facilitates regional Healthcare Coalition activities by organizing meetings, maintaining workplans, and supporting communication systems that strengthen coordination and readiness across healthcare and public health partners.
This role provides technical assistance and subject matter expertise to coalition members, department managers, and staff on preparedness systems, tools, and resources; conducts regional radio and communication drills to maintain interoperability and situational awareness; and leads or supports department emergency preparedness trainings. The Coordinator serves assigned roles on the Clark County Public Health Incident Management Team (IMT) during activations and ensures equity and access are integrated into preparedness and response planning to meet the needs of diverse populations. Additional responsibilities include developing reports and documentation for department leadership and regional partners, supporting federal grant deliverables, and advancing projects that align with Clark County Public Health’s goals and national Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) capabilities. Coordinators may also be deployed to assist regional or neighboring jurisdictions during emergency response operations.
All candidates must live in Oregon or Washington and live within 45minutes from the central office located at 1601 East Fourth Plain. It is in the Center for Community Health Building.

Qualifications

• Experience responding to public health emergencies and or serving on an Incident Management Team (IMT)
• Experience serving as a liaison and/or participating in healthcare coalition activities
• Convening cross-jurisdictional partnerships
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and group facilitation skills.
• Strong technical writing and response plan writing
• Developing and facilitating tabletop, functional and full-scale exercise in alignment with National Incident    Management System (NIMS) and Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP) standards.
• Completed National Incident Management System and Incident Command System training. ICS-100, ICS-200, ICS-300, ICS-400, ICS-700, or ICS-800 or the ability to complete the training within the first six months of hire.
• Understanding of federal emergency management standards such as The National Strategy for Health Security and the Administration of Strategic Preparedness and Response and the Healthcare Preparedness Program.
• Project management experience including planning, scheduling, monitoring, and problem solving.
• ABILITY TO:
• Analyze a variety of partner plans and identify the opportunities to develop strategies to develop coordination activities that support healthcare surge and patient movement during complex disasters.
• Develop and write clear reports, memoranda, and effective response plans that support multi-jurisdictional support and coordination.
• Create and maintain relationships with and convene cross-sector and cross-cultural partners to establish shared regional and statewide emergency response plans and build partnerships to develop and implement coordinated systems and actions to address healthcare surge during disasters and complex mass casualty events.
  • cross-sector partners may include, but are not limited to:
  • Local and regional emergency management
  • Tribal nation partners
  • Local and state public health officials and emergency coordinators
  • Washington and Oregon coalition leaders
  • Hospitals
  • Health-related organizations
  • Emergency management systems (transportation)
  • Behavioral health partners
  • Skilled nursing facilities and long-term care partners
  • Supporting agencies such as Red Cross
  • Specialty care partners
  • Incident Management Teams
  • Community based organizations representing community members experiencing disproportionate impacts during disasters and large-scale public health emergencies
• Develop and facilitate agendas to effectively develop plans, exercises and activities that advance effective response coordination and grant requirements and standards.
• Include and incorporate input and knowledge from communities who experience barriers to care, accessibility, language or impacted by exclusion in developing response plans and systems.
• Demonstrate use of good judgment and the knowledge of when to seek additional help.
• Effectively plan and coordinate with others.
• Carry out policy directives in an effective and timely manner.
• Provide support to and serve on the Clark County Public Health Incident Management Team.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, the public, policy makers, other governmental jurisdictions, contractors, community agencies and other County staff.
• Develop and facilitate training, exercises and drills to advance emergency response capabilities and staff preparedness.
• Effectively use a personal computer, Microsoft Office software, e-mail, electronic scheduling, and internet to accomplish job functions and develop systems to manage and maintain response activities.
• Respectfully and effectively work with diverse populations and individuals; and
• Work effectively in stressful and sensitive situations.
• Coordinate within the governmental public health system, healthcare system and with federal agencies and other partners on plans/policies that affect the regions’ ability to respond to and recover from disasters and health surge.
• Utilize personal computers (PC) and various software applications at an advanced level.
• Interpret and explain policies, plans, and procedures.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, other governmental jurisdictions, contractors, and other County staff
• Methods and procedures of grant development and execution.
• Experience developing and implementing continuous system improvement and evaluation practices activities.
• Adept using personal computers and MS programs, as well as Smartsheet’s and other programs to develop, track and maintain data and resources.

Examples of Duties

Salary Grade

M3.200

Salary Range

$33.87 - $47.40- per hour

Close Date

Open Until Filled

Recruiter

Irene Catherine Chrest

Email:

Irene.Chrest@clark.wa.gov

Equal Opportunity Employer

Clark County is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing equal opportunity in employment, access, and delivery of all county services. Clark County’s Equal Employment Opportunity Plan is available at http://www.clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Employee Benefits and additional compensation

Clark County provides regular full-time and part-time employees with a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, vision and dental insurance, paid leave, flexible spending accounts, life insurance and long-term disability, retirement, and deferred compensation.  Some types of employees in some positions and bargaining units might have different benefits and additional compensation.  More specific benefit information for the different bargaining units can be found at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/employee-benefits. Also please refer to the specific bargaining unit contract for additional compensation at https://clark.wa.gov/human-resources/documents.

Retirement Information

All Clark County employees must participate in a WASHINGTON STATE RETIREMENT SYSTEM PLAN (PERS, PSERS or LEOFF).Employee contributions begin the first day of work. Current contribution rates vary by plan but could range from 5% to 15% of gross pay, depending on the plan choice. 
 

For additional information, check out the Department of Retirement Systems' web site here: http://www.drs.wa.gov/

If you are in need of ADA/Section 504 assistance for accommodations, please contact Human Resources at (564) 397-2456; Relay (800) 833-6388.