Preparedness Director (Regional Health Administrator)
- Summary
- Preparedness Director (Regional Health Administrator)
First round interviews are anticipated for the week of December 5th. Second round interviews are anticipated for the week December 12th.
Public Health – Seattle & King County (Public Health) is currently seeking highly qualified candidates for the position of Preparedness Director.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to prepare for and lead Public Health’s response to emergencies and disasters and work with dedicated and talented employees who are committed to ensuring equity and are passionate about serving the community during challenging times.
Reporting to the Deputy Department Director, this position serves an important role in building partnerships, programs, processes, and policies that advance public health preparedness and response. They provide organizational leadership, system evaluation, policy coordination, and staff management.
The successful candidate must be focused on building and fostering collaborative relationships with Public Health divisions, healthcare system partners, local agencies, first responders, private industry, broad community partners, and state and federal agencies to ensure a coordinated approach to public health preparedness and response. They will enjoy developing people and teams and possess strong analytical, equity, and problem-solving skills.
Commitment to Equity and Social Justice
Named after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the most influential civil rights leaders in our nation's history, King County is a vibrant international community with residents that represent countries from around the world. It is a region with increasing diversity that cherishes the traditions of many cultures.
The county government has a deep commitment to equity and social justice and advancing practices, strategies, and policies that promote fairness, justice, and opportunity for all – in our workplaces and our communities. With this commitment, King County has adopted a pro-equity agenda to advance regional change and ensure that residents from all communities are incorporated into our emergency planning and public outreach efforts.
We recognize that structural racism consists of principles and practices that cause and justify an inequitable distribution of rights, opportunities, and experiences across racial groups. Since declaring Racism is a Public Health Crisis in June 2020, King County and Public Health committed to being intentionally anti-racist and accountable to Black, Indigenous and People of Color communities.
To learn more, please visit http://www.kingcounty.gov/elected/executive/equity-social-justice.aspx. - Job Duties
Planning & Program Development
- Provide overall leadership to the Preparedness team, including setting day-to-day and long term, strategic work priorities, establishing work plans, making resource allocation decisions, and continuous quality improvement.
- Ensure alignment and work collaboratively with Public Health leadership, department leaders, and community partners to support, develop, design, and implement various all-hazards preparedness programs, strategies, and initiatives.
- Lead, collaborate, and participate in policy development at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Integrate the principles and practices of the declaration of Racism as a Public Health Crisis.
- Participate in national learning communities to share King County's experience, learn from other communities and jurisdictions, and stay current with relevant research and trends.
- Build effective working relationships across a diverse array of community partners focusing on those most negatively impacted by inequities, and internal stakeholders and programs to create support for and participation in developing and implementing strategies and related opportunities.
- Represent Public Health and King County in internal and external forums and to the public. Resolve politically sensitive issues in consultation with the division and department leaders.
- Provide briefings and reports to the division, department, and County leaders, elected officials, and other leaders.
- Serve as a lead spokesperson and representative for the team and drafting, informing, reviewing, and approving communications and reports for media, the public, and other partners.
- Activate and ensure staffing of the Public Health’s emergency operations and Emergency Support Function (ESF) 8 roles and responsibilities.
- Serve as area commander and/or other command roles during the response.
- Ensure after action reviews are conducted and documented following emergency response activations.
- Directly supervise four and lead a team of fourteen assigned to coordinate and/or implement strategies. Convene and support teams through following results-oriented, equity-focused, collaborative, and transparent approaches.
- Responsible for administrative operations (manage programs in an environment of shifting priorities with time and budget constraints, and multiple stakeholders and troubleshooting operational issues).
- Develop budget recommendations, authorize expenditures, monitor finances, and assure sound financial management and consistency with local, state, and federal requirements.
- Lead and participate in grant seeking and revenue enhancement to sustain and develop programs. Make decisions regarding leveraging grant resources to maximize productivity. Monitor grants and ensure consistency between deliverables and program objectives.
- Serve as signatory authority for agreements or other actions requiring the written approval of the Preparedness Director.
- Experience, Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills
The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following knowledge, skills, and experience:
*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
- Five years or more experience in a large governmental or private/community organization with a well-developed broad range of management skills (including staff supervision, team management and development, and collaborative leadership).
- Five years or more experience responding to public health incidents and emergencies.
- Solid foundation and practical experience implementing racially equitable strategies and programs.
- Excellent skill in problem-solving, decision-making, and meeting facilitation.
- Demonstrated experience embedding equity into organizational policies, programs, and processes.
- Demonstrated expertise developing and maintaining strategic partnerships and engaging diverse stakeholder groups.
- Experience in policy, protocol, or program planning/development.
- Committed to leading, inspiring, and supporting professional staff in their daily work through team and staff development, supervision and mentorship.
- Experience and skill in working with racially diverse populations and cultures and community organization.
- Clear and effective communication and presentation skills, both oral and written, with the ability to communicate with individuals at all levels both internally and externally.
- Experience creating and maintaining an inclusive, respectful, and culturally-responsive workplace.
- Ability to remain flexible, agile, and calm in a continually evolving environment with a variety of stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability and experience to guide and manage teams within complex, diverse, and rapidly changing environments.
- Demonstrated experience with federal grants including proposal development to contract monitoring.
- Experience and skill in using industry standard office automation tools (e.g., Microsoft Office) for communicating with internal teams and partners, managing records and information, and preparing reports and briefings.
- Supplemental Information
Forbes recently named King County as one of Washington State's best employers.
Together, with leadership and our employees, we're changing the way government delivers service and winning national recognition as a model of excellence. Are you ready to make a difference? Come join the team dedicated to serving one of the nation's best places to live, work and play.
Guided by our "True North", we are making King County a welcoming community where every person can thrive. We value diversity, inclusion and belonging in our workplace and workforce. To reach this goal we are committed to workforce equity. Equitable recruiting, support, and retention is how we will obtain the highest quality workforce in our region; a workforce that shares and will help advance our guiding principles--we are one team; we solve problems; we focus on the customer; we drive for results; we are racially just; we respect all people; we lead the way; and we are responsible stewards. We encourage people of all backgrounds and identities to apply, including Native American and people of color, immigrants, refugees, women, LGBTQ+, people living with disabilities, and veterans.
COVID-19 Vaccination Requirement:
King County Executive Branch employees are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. If you are the successful candidate for the position you applied for, the County will send you a conditional offer letter.
As a condition of employment, prior to a final offer of employment, you will be required to:- submit proof of vaccination, or
- have an approved request for medical or religious exemption and an approved accommodation. Philosophical, political, scientific, or sociological objections to vaccination will not be considered for an exemption or accommodation.
The Executive Branch includes employees in the Executive branch, the Assessor's Office, Elections, the King County Sheriff's Office, and the Executive Office.
King County is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Employer
No person is unlawfully excluded from employment opportunities based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity, sexual orientation and pregnancy), age, genetic information, disability, veteran status, or other protected class. Our EEO policy applies to all employment actions, including but not limited to recruitment, hiring, selection for training, promotion, transfer, demotion, layoff, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation.
To Apply
If you are interested in pursuing this position, please follow the application instructions carefully. If you need this announcement in an alternate language or format, would like to request accommodation or assistance in the application or assessment process or if you have questions please contact the recruiter listed on this job announcement.
Who May Apply
This position is open to all qualified internal and external candidates.
Application Process- An electronic application through www.kingcounty.gov/jobs or www.governmentjobs.com (use the "Apply" link) including work history and position duties.
- Responses to Supplemental Questions. Please do not copy and paste your resume or resume sections as responses to Supplemental Questions. Doing so will result in an incomplete application, unless the submitted information completely and directly answers the questions posed.
- The selection process may include but is not limited to: evaluation of application materials and supplemental questions, interviewing, and testing. For more information on our selection process, please refer to www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/jobs/hiring.
- Regular and reliable attendance, effective communication skills, and development of effective working relationships are requirements of all Public Health positions.
- Staff may be required to play an active role in the event of a public health emergency, which may include changes in responsibilities, work location and working hours.
Necessary Special Requirements- The selected candidate will be required to pass a thorough background investigation.
- Employees are required to protect the privacy and security of protected health information as defined in State and Federal Law.
- Employees are required to adhere to OSHA/WISHA guidelines including but not limited to completing required training on time.
Work location
The primary location is Chinook Building, 401 5th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104. Some of the work associated with this position may be performed remotely, as King County embraces the new hybrid work model.
Employees will be provided with a County issued laptop and must maintain a workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Employees must reside in WA state and within a reasonable distance to their King County worksite to respond to workplace reporting requirements. There will be situations where the employee is required to report to a County worksite.
To support employees during this time King County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely. The individual selected for this opportunity will be joining an innovative and progressive team. King County is doing its part to reduce the spread of COVID-19 and remains committed to reducing our carbon footprint.
Work schedule
Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm, however schedule can flexible based on schedule determined in conjunction with supervisor.
Union affiliation
This position is not represented.
Contact
For more information about the application process, please contact Toni Curry, tocurry@kingcounty.gov or (206) 263-4199.
King County offers a highly-competitive compensation and benefits package designed to meet the diverse needs of our employees and support our employees' health and well-being. Eligible positions receive the following benefits and have access to the following programs:
- Medical, dental, and vision coverage: King County pays 100% of the premiums for eligible employees and family members
- Life and disability insurance: employees are provided basic coverage and given the opportunity to purchase additional insurance for both the employee and eligible dependents
- Retirement: King County employees are eligible to participate in a pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems and a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan
- Transportation program and ORCA transit pass
- 10 paid holidays each year (plus 2 personal holidays)
- Generous vacation and paid sick leave
- Paid parental leave, family and medical leaves, and volunteer leave
- Flexible Spending Account
- Wellness programs
- Onsite gyms and activity centers
- Employee giving program
- Employee assistance programs
- Flexible schedules and telecommuting options, depending on position
- Training and career development programs
This is a general description of the benefits offered to eligible King County employees, and every effort has been made to ensure its accuracy. If any information on this document conflicts with the provisions of a collective bargaining agreement (CBA), the CBA prevails. Also, in the event of any incorrect information in this document, applicable laws, policies, rules, CBAs, or official plan documents will prevail.
NOTE: Benefits for Term Limited Temporary (TLT) or Short Term Temporary (STT) positions, including leave eligibility and/or participation in the pension plan through the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems, will vary based upon the terms and details of the position. Short Term Temporary positions are not eligible for an ORCA transit pass.
For inquiries about the specifics of this position, please contact the recruiter identified on this job posting.
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01Do you have experience in public health preparedness and responding to emergencies?
- Yes
- No
02If you answered yes to the previous question, please describe your experience in public health preparedness and responding to emergencies, including your role and types of events. If you answer no, type N/A.03Do you have experience promoting equity and social justice in an organization or the community?- Yes
- No
04If you answered yes to the previous question, please describe how you have promoted equity and racial justice in an organization or community. If you answer no, type N/A.05Are you applying to this position as an eligible current or previous King County Employee Priority Placement Program Participant? Is this position the same or lower percentage of full-time when compared to the position held at the point of the notification of layoff? Do you possess the skills and abilities to qualify for this position?- Yes, I was given a layoff notice from my role at King County and I am within two years of the effective date of my layoff. Additionally, the position I was laid off from was the same or a higher percentage of FT status when compared to this one.
- No.
06If you answered yes to the question above and you are applying for this position as a Priority Placement Participant, to be considered, you must provide the following three pieces of information in the space provided: 1. The title you held when you received your layoff notice 2. The department you worked in 3. The effective date of your layoffRequired Question