Director, Emergency Preparedness & Response - Health Community Services Division Director

Director, Emergency Preparedness & Response

Join a mission-driven team in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Division of the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) where your expertise meets our commitment to protecting, maintaining, and improving the health of all Minnesotans!

This position exists as part of the senior management team to direct complex emergency preparedness, response and recovery, and business continuity activities for the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) in order to strengthen public health and health care system readiness, response, and recovery capacity and capability in coordination with programs and activities of other preparedness and response partners. Primary functions include directing activities using extensive knowledge of emergency preparedness and response to establish the vision and direction for the health components of emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and business continuity, while assuring state and local agency emergency response activities address state health priorities.

Working as the Director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, you will:

• Provide administrative leadership to the division, including establishing and upholding priorities and practices to ensure the division is operating effectively and meeting the needs of the department.
• Provide vision, direction, and leadership for statewide planning and implementation of the emergency preparedness activities for the Minnesota Department of Health, the local public health system, tribal governments, the health care system, and institutes of higher education so that the health aspects of disasters are defined and effective response and recovery measures are developed.
• Develop, implement and evaluate emergency preparedness program activities, monitor performance, and administer the program so that programs are delivered effectively and efficiently.
• Coordinate or integrate public health and health care emergency preparedness planning, response and recovery in order to assure a seamless emergency preparedness and response structure is in place to minimize the impact of disasters on all Minnesotans.
• Regularly assess and monitor emergency preparedness and emergency response evaluation system in order to demonstrate preparedness strengths and areas needing attention for a wide range of emergencies.
• Ensure a coordinated and integrated public health and health care response to emergencies, including those in which MDH is the lead agency and for those in which MDH plays a supporting role so that response efforts can be rapidly deployed and can readily focus on effective strategies.
• Direct the development and preparation of the biennial budget for the division and project future program needs and administer annual division spending plans and state or federal funds so that fiscal resources are appropriately allocated and managed.
• Serve as the agency representative at the State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) during public health emergencies. Hold a national security level clearance for national emergency preparedness briefings as a member of the Association of State and Territorial Health Organizations (ASTHO) Directors of Emergency Preparedness.

In accordance with HR/LR Policy #1422 Telework, this position is eligible for up to 50% telework for applicants who live in Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location. Candidates residing outside of Minnesota or in a bordering state within 50 miles of the assigned work location at the time of application must be able to relocate to Minnesota within 30 days of their start date.

The telework policy may exempt employees who live more than 50 miles from their primary work location from the 50% in-office requirement, depending on job requirements, helping the State of Minnesota access top talent across the state.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Five (5) years of public health experience or directing complex emergency preparedness, response and recovery activities.
• Providing supervisory or managerial level leadership overseeing one or more major health program area.
• Developing and managing budgets that include complex state and federal funding sources.
• Communicating and planning with national public health organizations, as well as with state local public health, Tribal, and healthcare organizations.
• Working with legislators and the Governor's Office, as well as with legal, communications, labor, and human resources teams within an organization.
• Working with state and federal associations and organizations leading local and tribal public health emergency preparedness and response and health care emergency preparedness.

A degree in public health, public administration, emergency preparedness or other closely related field may substitute for experience as follows:

• Doctorate = 24 months
• Master's = 18 months
• Bachelor's = 12 months
• Associate's = 6 months

Qualifications to be assessed during the interview process:

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles and practices…