Public Health Emergency Preparedness Specialist

Overview & Benefits

Oakland County is more than just a workplace. It is a place where you can make a real difference. As one of Michigan’s leading public service organizations, we are committed to strengthening communities, delivering essential services, and improving the quality of life for nearly 1.3 million residents.

When you join our team, you become part of a mission-driven workforce guided by integrity, innovation, and a passion for public service. We offer competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and the opportunity to do meaningful work that matters. Apply today and help shape the future of Oakland County, where we are All Ways Moving Forward.

For more information about Oakland County benefits and employee perks, please visit:

https://www.oakgov.com/government/human-resources/benefits/new-hire

General Summary

$76,913 - $103,050
This is a grant funded position
This is a hybrid position

Are you ready to help protect your community by strengthening its ability to respond to public health emergencies? Join Oakland County’s Health Division as a Public Health Emergency Preparedness Specialist, where you’ll develop response protocols, coordinate training, and build partnerships that prepare staff and community partners for infectious disease outbreaks, biological, chemical, and radiological threats, and other public health emergencies. Your work will help ensure a rapid, effective, and coordinated response that protects the health and safety of Oakland County residents.

What You’ll Do
- Develop emergency response protocols to support a rapid, effective, and coordinated response to public health emergencies.
- Prepare Health Division staff to respond to biological, chemical, and radiological threats, infectious disease outbreaks, and other public health emergencies.
- Serve as a key point of contact within the Health Division’s jurisdiction during public health emergencies
- Collaborate with public and private agencies to align public health response efforts with local emergency management activities
- Coordinate and deliver training for health care providers, EMS personnel, hospitals, and first responders on bioterrorism, emergency preparedness, and infectious disease surveillance and control
- Use County and department software to support planning, training, and response activities

Why You’ll Love It Here
- Make a meaningful impact by helping protect the health and safety of Oakland County residents
- Help strengthen community readiness for emerging public health threats
- Build partnerships with public health professionals, health care organizations, and emergency responders
- Apply your planning, training, and communication skills to work with a clear public service purpose
- Support a coordinated response when your community needs it most

Minimum Qualifications

EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

REQUIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

1. Possess a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with a major in Environmental Health, Nursing, Epidemiology, Health Education, Public Health, Public Administration, Business Administration, Criminal Justice, Psychology or a closely related field of study.

2. Have had at least three (3) years of full-time work experience in project administration in emergency management, public health, private health care sectors or a closely related field involving coordination of activities with diverse agencies. 

3. Possess a valid United States motor vehicle operator’s or chauffeur’s license. Out of Country driver’s license holders will be required to obtain the appropriate valid State of Michigan driver’s license before the hire date.  

4. Successfully complete the six month probationary period.

NOTE: A Master’s Degree in the majors listed above or closely related field may be substituted for one (1) year experience.

NOTE: Applicants possessing transcripts from a college or university outside of the United States will be required to provide documentation of degree equivalency from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (http://naces.org/members.html). The degree evaluation will be required for application processing.

ADDITIONAL DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Excellent communication skill, both written and public speaking.
  Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate successfully.
• Considerable experience working in the area of infectious disease control.
• Considerable experience with health education, risk communication or emergency preparedness.
• Considerable ability to use standard software including, MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and Broadcast Fax systems.
• Reasonable knowledge of training, public relations, fiscal and personnel principles as applied to emergency preparedness services.
• Reasonable ability to cope with difficult and/or emergency situations requiring immediate decisions in accordance with departmental policies and objectives.
• Reasonable ability to exercise mature judgement and initiative in analyzing problems and recommending solutions.
• Reasonable ability to compile statistics, decipher pertinent information and present oral and written financial, operational, and other types of departmental reports to officials and other interested groups or individuals.
• Reasonable ability to utilize current word processing, spreadsheet, database, e-mail, and Internet software.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Must maintain a valid United States motor vehicle operator's or chauffeur's license.
• Employees of this class must submit to immunizations as required by the Department of Health & Human Services and submit to a tuberculin skin test or chest x‑ray, at County expense, once a year.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Ensures that local emergency management plans contain a public health component for responding to emergencies throughout jurisdiction.
  Collaborates with other agencies, including but not limited to, local health care providers, EMS, hospitals, mental health agencies, law enforcement, emergency planning committees, and emergency management to
• maintain and update the public health component.
  Participates in local emergency management table-top and functional exercises to test effectiveness of the public health component.
• Develops plan to update Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) emergency contact information (24/7) within local emergency management plans. Identifies positions that have primary and secondary responsibilities for responding (24/7) to specific public health emergencies. Develops process to update and maintain OCHD emergency 24/7 contact information for Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) health alert network.
  Coordinates OCHD protocols for mass distribution of medical and pharmaceutical supplies with local emergency management plans and Metropolitan Medical Response Systems (MMRS) where available.
• Assists in the development and maintenance of protocols to detail activities to be performed in the event of public health emergencies and establishes a chain of command.
• Updates (with assistance of Chief-Medical Services) current protocols for conducting mass prophylaxis clinics in coordination with state and regional Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) activities.
• Assists with the coordination of communication of all public health information, particularly those relevant to public health emergencies, to ensure distribution to local health care providers, EMS, hospitals, law enforcement, mental health agencies, emergency planning committees, and emergency management as appropriate and coordinates OCHD communications to state health department during public health emergencies.
• Coordinates and/or provides training of OCHD staff on their emergency responsibilities. Conducts at least one OCHD tabletop exercise annually in conjunction with Emergency Response and Preparedness (ERP). 
• Develops process to update OCHD emergency response procedures on an annual basis.
• Develops process to coordinate communications of state agency information, particularly those relevant to public health emergencies, to ensure distribution to all OCHD staff in a timely manner.
• Develops or enhances process to coordinate communications of all state agencies, particularly those relevant to public health emergencies, to ensure distribution to local health care providers, EMS, hospitals, law enforcement, mental health agencies, emergency planning committees, and emergency management and related activities.
• May be required to ensure coordination of local response and activities with all regional planners and epidemiologists hired as part of the MDCH/CDC Public Health Preparedness and Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Hospital Planning cooperative agreements.
• Attends bioterrorism and other public health emergency response training offered by MDCH and other state and federal agencies and participates in state and/or federal exercises for public health emergencies.
• Identifies and assesses training needs within public and private health care in proper bio-terrorism response.
  Identifies subject matter experts within OCHD to support training activities.
• Utilizes current Countywide and/or department specific software to complete assignments.
  

ESSENTIAL MENTAL & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to communicate to accurately convey information.
• Ability to operate a motor vehicle and/or be a passenger.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Work is performed in a typical office environment.
• May participate in activities that require driving or being a passenger in an automobile or bus.
  

IMPORTANT NOTE:  The primary purpose of this job description is to set a fair and equitable salary range for this job classification.  Generally, only those key duties necessary for proper job evaluation and/or labor market analysis have been included.  Other duties and responsibilities will be assigned by the supervisor.    

Additional Minimum Qualifications

Union*

BU87 - United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 889: Health & Human Services Non-Supv (UAW)

*If applicable

EEO Statement

We are committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will not discriminate against an applicant or employee on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, veteran or military status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other legally recognized protected basis under federal, state or local laws, regulations or ordinances.

Inclusion Statement

Oakland County is committed to welcoming applicants from all backgrounds, including those with prior convictions, as we believe in providing equal opportunities for all. We value the unique perspectives and experiences each individual brings to our team and are dedicated to fostering an inclusive, supportive workplace. If you have the skills and qualifications for the position, we encourage you to apply. All candidates are evaluated based on their ability to meet the job requirements, legal obligations and thrive in our organization. All ways, MOVING FORWARD.