Supplemental Information

This position is located within the Louisiana Department of Health / Office of the Secretary / Emergency Preparedness / East Baton Rouge

Announcement Number: OS/DRT/171771
Cost Center: 3071120204
Position Number(s): 50562225

This vacancy is being announced as an Unclassified position.

No Civil Service test score is required in order to be considered for this vacancy.

Job Description
In the State of Louisiana Emergency Operations Plan, Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) Is the primary responsible agency for coordinating medical support in State-operated Medical Special Needs Shelter(s) and Points of Dispensing (PODs). LDH is the primary agency for coordinating with support agencies and/or organizations to facilitate health care and hospital planning with public and private medical facilities. Therefore, the Office of Emergency Preparedness within LDH was developed. Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP) is responsible for development and implementation of plans for natural, biological, chemical and nuclear disasters. During disasters, OEP is accountable for the direction of LOH personnel, equipment and resources. OEP directs the opening and closing of shelters during disasters. Outside of disaster, the office is responsible for training the emergency coordinators of Louisiana hospital chains, nursing homes, and home health organizations throughout the year on Emergency Preparedness.

The purpose of this position will be to manage, in conjunction with the Executive Director of OEP, in the development and implementation of policy procedures, managing of grant funds, manage contract processes, interpret legal concepts such as rules, regulations and statutes related to emergency preparedness and other duties as deemed necessary to successfully manage an emergency preparedness program.

This position will receive broad supervision from a higher-level executive, which includes the Executive Director of Emergency Preparedness and the State Health Officer at the Louisiana Department of Hospitals.

Job Duties:
(20%) - Planning for Disaster Response

• 
  In conjunction with the State Executive Director of OEP, develop plans, procedures, arrangements and agreements to identify, acquire and mobilize public health, medical, behavioral health, and mass fatalities resources for emergency and disasters.
• Conduct planning meetings to ascertain the current status, the gaps, and Impact of recently released CMS rules and regulations.
• Develop and maintain information and serve as a liaison with public health, medical, behavioral health and mass fatality resources in local, parish, state government, federal government, private industry and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) that could furnish assistance in an emergency or disaster.
• Facilitate the development and Implementation of Regional Emergency Preparedness plans. Take the lead in developing a real time plan response based on the incident and resources available with the region and communicate requirements needed.
• Explore and determine extraordinary demands for specific resources and expertise and communicate with LDH so that multi-regional solutions or state-solutions can be identified.
• Receive, review and approve annually the emergency preparedness plans of nursing homes. Coordinate and review plans with the 14 support agencies to ensure plans, procedures and inventories are in place to support ESF8. These agencies are Louisiana National Guard, Department of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Corrections, Department of Children and Family Services, Department of Environmental Quality, Louisiana State University System, Louisiana Board of Regents, State Fire Marshal, Louisiana Workforce Commission, Department of Transportation and Development, Department of Veterans Affairs, Non-Governmental Organizations, Louisiana Hospital Association, and Louisiana Primary Care Association.
• Maintain ongoing relationships with all stakeholders and engage members of the healthcare coalitions in designing, coordinating and participating in regional tabletop exercises.

(20%) - Response During a Disaster

• Confer and collaborate with the Executive Director and State Health Officer to activate and mobilize personnel, facility and material resources need for the anticipated threat and state declared emergency.
• Collaborate with the LDH/OEP Executive Director to determine appropriate evacuations of state nursing homes and hospitals as necessary.
• Provide disaster area survey support data as soon as possible to determine whether the disaster has created any public health problems or threat; if any exist, then direct the appropriate resources to the area to remove and solve problems and suppress any threats to health and sanitation.
• Review request from local and regional stakeholders who are in need of State resources/assistance and make recommendations to the LDH/OEP Executive Director on the ability to assist. Participate In daily calls with local parishes, Designated Regional Coordinator's, Nongovernmental Organization's, Federal partners to assess the status and needs of these stakeholders.
• Perform all requirements necessary to direct the issuance of a purchase order to the contract holders once the State Health Officer has made the determination to activate a state contract.
• Perform any other assignments as needed in support of the ESF8 functions.

(20%) - Grants Management

• Manage the day-to-day operational function of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) grant that encompasses funds over $9M annually, executing 1S deliverables to prepare Louisiana hospitals for disasters.
• Establish priorities, monitor and evaluate efficiency, quality and compliance with federal and state regulations and take corrective action as necessary.
• Responsible for past grant award activities and the management of grants and contracts, fiscal and budgetary processes and timely programmatic reporting of project activities.
• Conduct quarterly reviews and audits of sub-contracts to ensure adherence of contract deliverables, which Includes arranging for audits, maintaining files of all work papers, maintaining all appropriate documentation, and preparing audit reports.
• Supervise hospital and EMS grant managers and oversee work activities of subordinate staff members. Participate in the planning and implementation of activities or regional staff within the state and statewide Advisory Council.
• Contribute ideas to the emergency preparedness and response grant planning process.
• Identify inconsistencies among plans and propose corrective measures.

(20%) - Office Management

• Develop current and long-range plans, policies and procedures for administering the ESFB emergency preparedness program.
• Monitor revenues and expenditures of statewide program budget and formulate budgetary projections.
• Serve as a liaison for agency on statewide task forces, work groups councils and coalitions.
• Track legislative changes and request made during legislative sessions that may impact the services of emergency preparedness program. Prepare responses to request.
• Respond to dally incoming calls, research solutions and make recommendations to the LOH/OEP Executive Director to assist callers.
• Participate in the coordination and execution of regional or statewide drills.

(10%) - Contracts/ Acquisitions

• Participate on committees to prepare specifications/ scope of work for resources needed to support ESFB during disasters. Participate in review committees to evaluate RFP proposals.
• Review and monitor existing contracts for emergency resources to ensure coverage is adequate and readily available for disasters. Review activation requirements and contact information to ensure all ls current prior to each upcoming hurricane season.
• Monitor Readiness contracts and ensure all deliverables are complete and accurate before invoices are paid. Review state contracts to Identify available resources awarded to support ESFS functions.

(10%) - Other Duties as Assigned
Perform tasks as otherwise assigned by the LDH/OEP Executive Director.

Knowledge of:

• Disaster relief program operations, services, and activities
• Public safety response and coordination
• Disaster management and recovery
• Concepts of emergency activities at various levels of government
• NIMS protocols, FEMA requirements, and ESFB processes

Ability to:

• Lead LDH as the primary resource in healthcare disaster relief (an initiative by the Governor and ESF8)
• Develop, manage, and coordinate emergency preparedness and disaster relief programs
• Generate community and organizational support for emergency service programs
• Respond to field emergencies and coordinate the response of all resources in significant emergency operations
• Make persuasive presentations In political, professional, and public environments
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with local, state, and federal officials
• Negotiate, establish, and administer program budgets for various contracts used to administer public health services during emergencies.
• Apply for and administer numerous large grants
• Allocate resources In a cost effective manner
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing

Qualifications:
A baccalaureate degree plus six months of experience with working disaster management, relief, or recovery.

To apply for this vacancy, click on the “Apply” link above and complete an electronic application, which can be used for this vacancy as well as future job opportunities. Applicants are responsible for checking the status of their application to determine where they are in the recruitment process. Further status message information is located under the Information section of the Current Job Opportunities page.

*Resumes WILL NOT be accepted in lieu of completed education and experience sections on your application. Applications may be rejected if incomplete. *

A resume upload will NOT populate your information into your application. Work experience left off your electronic application or only included in an attached resume is not eligible to receive credit

For further information about this vacancy contact:
Deanda Thymes
Deanda.Thymes@la.gov
LDH/HUMAN RESOURCES
BATON ROUGE, LA 70821
225 342-6477

This organization participates in E-verify, and for more information on E-verify, please contact DHS at 1-888-464-4218.