Emergency Management Specialist - Risk Communications; Health Department

Snohomish County’s commitment to life-work balance and an inclusive culture. The County offers outstanding benefits and professional growth opportunities to our employees, and we also enjoy flexible work schedules, telework options and a convenient downtown Everett, WA. location. Snohomish County believes in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and is committed to embedding these values into our workplace culture. Snohomish County is located on the Puget Sound;

we are situated near some of the country’s most scenic national parks and is consistently ranked as one of the best places to live in the U.S.

The Health Department typically has a hybrid model for most roles; however, it is outlined by the supervisor for the given role based on performance and business needs. When working remotely, employees are expected to maintain a home workspace with an internet connection where they can reliably perform work and remain available and responsive during scheduled work hours. Snohomish County has a robust collection of tools and resources to support working remotely.

Snohomish County Health Department is recruiting a Risk Communications Specialist to join our Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (PHEPR) team in the Office of the Director. This role leads the program’s risk communication work, from preparedness messaging during steady-state periods to real‑time support during emergency activations.

The Risk Communications Specialist develops pre-scripted and incident-specific messages, coordinates with the department’s Communications team and Public Information Officer, and builds risk communication into our emergency plans, trainings, and exercises. During responses, the specialist supports public information operations and partner coordination. After exercises and incidents, the specialist leads communication-focused after‑action work and carries improvements back into plans and training.

We are looking for someone who can turn complex, evolving health information into clear, accurate, culturally responsive messages under time pressure. The right candidate builds strong working relationships with partners, has great communication skills, and is comfortable working in dynamic environments.

• Prepare and respond to public health emergencies using skills, training, and procedures as a member of the PHEPR Program. Participate in and support emergency responses in assigned ICS roles and tasks.
• Contribute to annual Integrated Preparedness Plans (IPP), AARs/IPs, risk/capability assessments (e.g., THIRA/SPR, HVA), readiness assessments, and corrective-action tracking work.
• Embed and integrate equity, access, and inclusion principles into all work—including planning, training, exercises, outreach, volunteer management, partner engagement, and response operations.
• Maintain accurate documentation (plans, SOPs, checklists, job aids, rosters, inventories) and accurate records (training completions, inventories, volunteer rosters, MOUs, AARs/IPs, assessments) in shared repositories, ensuring consistency with grant and program requirements.
• Coordinate with Region 1 and Puget Sound partners on cross-jurisdiction topics, projects, and priorities (e.g., ESF-8, fatality management, surge planning, alternate care, etc.). Build and sustain the relationships needed for effective emergency preparedness and response.
• Support risk communication, information management, and situational awareness processes; keep public‑facing preparedness information current and accurate.
• Participate in required public health or emergency management trainings/drills/exercises; maintain role‑appropriate credentials.
• Collaborate with Health Department…