Public Health Emergency Response Specialist

Our Public Health Emergency Response team is looking for a new team member to join us!  In this role, you will be supporting a variety of projects related to the Health Department’s Public Health Emergency Response Program including planning, exercising and community preparedness to enhance public health emergency preparedness and response efforts for the DuPage County Health Department.   Work involves the ability to assist in coordinating activities concurrent with community partners in order to meet grant objectives within established timeframes.   This is a full-time position, Monday through Friday 8:00 am until 4:30 pm generally with the availability to work nights or weekends during an emergency and planned events. The hiring range for this position is $39,000 - $48,000, depending on experience. 

This position is eligible for a full DuPage County comprehensive benefit package to include: 12 paid holidays per year, 3 weeks of paid time off to include, vacation, sick and personal time. Please click on our benefits tab to see a full list of our benefits.  

• Provides support to Manager and Coordinator positions for the development and completion of public health emergency response projects and objectives. 
• Develops and maintains effective relationships between the Health Department and all local, state and federal organizations and public safety agencies.
• Ensures plan compliance with guidelines and regulations; supports and participates in planning activities such as training sessions, drills and tabletop exercises.
• Supports hazard analysis and mitigation planning; reviews and makes recommendations to DuPage County Health Department’s Emergency Response Plans. 
• Supports specialized planning programs (i.e. Continuity of operations, continuity of government planning, medical countermeasure distribution planning, pandemic planning, citizen evacuation and shelter planning, Health Department facility evacuation and shelter planning).
• Assists municipalities with plan development for public health emergency responses.
• Maintains records of employee emergency management training.
• Assist in volunteer coordination and organization activities as needed for public health emergencies.
• Available to respond to clients and/or customers either in person or over the phone during normal business hours; serves in assigned role within Health Department Incident Command when called upon (may require evening or weekend hours)
•  Assists in maintenance of the DCHD emergency response inventory of all supplies such as medical countermeasures, radios, etc. 
• Maintains confidentiality of privileged information and adheres to patient privacy laws.
• Completes required training programs and keeps up to date on Health Department operational policies and procedures.
• Shows sensitivity and understanding of other ethnic groups and cultures. 
• May represent the agency to various groups, community and professional organizations.
• May assist or lead resource teams with objectives around providing appropriate risk communications, conducting epidemiological, environmental health or other public health responses as needed. 

Completion of a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health, Emergency Management, Public Administration, Social Services, Education or related field; and one year of progressively responsible related work experience in emergency preparedness and planning; or, an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. 

This position requires a valid Illinois Driver’s License.   This position requires completion of specialized FEMA and/or emergency management coursework within one year of hire.

Considerable knowledge of applicable Federal, State and local government structures, applicable laws and regulations related to safety and emergency management programs; considerable knowledge of community groups and resources; good knowledge of project management procedures, tools and practices; good knowledge of grant requirements and deliverables. 

Considerable skill in establishing and maintaining effective relationships and cooperation with external organizations in order to carry out program objectives; considerable skill in verbal and written communications, including skill in creating presentation and presenting to a group; considerable skill in analyzing needs, researching recommendations and evaluating effectiveness; working skill directing capability based planning, response and recovery operations; working skill in managing the work of project teams; working skill in preparing and developing specialized written documentation, procedures and policies; working skill in operating a personal computer, applicable software and peripheral equipment.

Salary : $39,000 - $48,000