Associate Director - Emergency Operations (Office of Public Health Preparedness) - Boston Public Health Commission

Join our team at the Office of Public Health Preparedness (OPHP)! We are a program of the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), whose mission is to enhance community, public health, and healthcare system resilience in order to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies that impact the health of the public. We serve as the lead entity on behalf of BPHC for coordinating the public health and healthcare response during emergencies, together with our external public health and healthcare partners, to protect, preserve, and promote the health and well-being of all Bostonians.

DUTIES:

The Associate Director (AD), Emergency Operations is a member of the OPHP Leadership Team, who engages in comprehensive strategy and planning efforts with OPHP leadership, BPHC executive leadership, and numerous internal and external stakeholders within the City of Boston to meet resident needs during and after emergencies. This role requires people-centered, inclusive planning across partners, especially for those groups and organizations representing priority populations. The selected candidate will report to the Director, and provide leadership for the following areas:



Stephen M. Lawlor Medical Intelligence Center (MIC) Operations:


* Maintains and strengthens the overall readiness of the Medical Intelligence Center to ensure emergency response operations can be immediately stood up
* Develops and implements a training and exercise strategy to support staff and partner knowledge and skills to fulfill response and recovery operations
* Ensures that emergency operations strategies and plans are people-centered and support the direct needs of our residents
* Leads activations of the MIC during planned events and emergencies affecting public health and healthcare Serves as a Duty Officer for the MIC to ensure 24/7 coverage, after participating in required trainings

Emergency Response and Recovery Planning:


* Oversees the completion of annual grant deliverables through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) and Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including annual operational assessments
* Oversees the development and revision of all major response plans, including Continuity of Operations (COOP), Emergency Dispensing Sites (EDS), and the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). S/he will also oversee the integration of external planning efforts into internal plans Leads the development of response and recovery plans with public health, healthcare, and community partners through the MIC
* Identifies and addresses gaps in interagency preparedness, response, and recovery plans among public health and healthcare organizations
* Identifies and incorporates underrepresented healthcare agencies and disciplines into planning efforts, particularly those serving the most vulnerable populations
* Ensures a process of continuous improvement is sustained throughout BPHC. This will be done following exercises and real-world events through hot washes, after action reports, and corrective action plans that will drive operational plan updates and future work planning efforts

Program Management & Administration


* Manages a staff of 3-5, including consultants and interns as assigned
* Reviews the work of assigned team members for completeness, accuracy, and content
* Provides strategic direction for OPHP preparedness, response, and recovery initiatives
* Leads planning, coordination and management for preparedness, response & recovery projects
* Supports the development of the OPHP Strategic Plan and annual work plans
* Prepares reports and briefing materials to provide information on status of all projects, as well as recommendations for future action
* Ensures that project goals and objectives are consistent with both federal and state grant guidance
* Collects, reviews, and analyzes information to determine effectiveness, and recommend changes/improvements
* Represents OPHP at meetings, conferences, and other events as needed
* Participates in trainings and other educational opportunities to ensure continuous learning and development in the field of public health emergency management
* Oversees budgets, contracts, and spending plans for emergency operations
* Performs other duties to support OPHP operations as required.
* Core competencies include the ability to: describe the agency role and follow the chain of command in emergency response; demonstrate role in regular drills; adapt to and support rapidly changing and evolving emergencies; and recognize deviations from the norm that might indicate an emergency and take/facilitate appropriate action(s) such as communicating clearly within the chain of command.
* Works in a confidential capacity with the Director and meets regularly regarding all aspects of program operations, including but not limited to matters pertaining to program staff and other confidential matters. Able to work as part of a team to advance overall OPHP mission and vision. Uses independent judgment and discretion to make decisions affecting the program and staff as it relates to program operations/services and BPHC policy. Promotes OPHP's mission and vision while upholding its six core values.



Master's degree in a related discipline with five years or more strongly preferred with demonstrated experience in managing projects involving significant planning and coordination; or a BA/BS and at least 7 years of demonstrated experience in managing projects involving significant planning and coordination in a related field.




* Knowledge of the principles and practices of emergency preparedness and public health required.
* Minimum 3 years supervisory experience and coordination of staff required.
* Experience in emergency management, as well as knowledge of healthcare systems required.
* Planning, coordination, and management experience within the field of emergency management required.
* Significant experience working collaboratively with planning partners required.
* Demonstrated experience writing collaborative operational plans required; demonstrated execution of plan(s) required. Proven ability to manage and lead under stressful conditions during emergency response is required.
* Exceptional organizational skills are required.
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential.
* Ability to work as a member of a team and establish and maintain professional working relationships with others required.
* Excellent relationship building skills with an ability to prioritize, negotiate, and work with a variety of internal and external stakeholders is essential. Ability to write clear, concise reports based on relevant research and data required.
* Ability to give clear written and oral instructions is required.
* Ability to exercise tact and sound judgment required.
* Personal qualities of integrity, accountability, and commitment to the mission of OPHP is essential.
* Ability to manage project milestones and deadlines required.
* Advanced knowledge & experience with MSOffice, MS Word, MS Excel, and PowerPoint required.
* Familiarity with Department of Homeland Security's Exercise & Evaluation Program (HSEEP) preferred.
* Familiarity with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) standards for public health and healthcare emergency preparedness preferred.
* Experience with grant writing, executing contracts and purchasing preferred.
* Familiarity with and knowledge of local community agencies, public sector work, and working with state and federal agencies preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled