Training and Exercise Coordinator

Functional Title

Training and Exercise Coordinator

Job Title

Training and Development Spec4

Agency

Dept of State Health Services

Department

Region 8

Primary Work

• Leads the preparedness and response exercise program, including after-action reporting and improvement planning.
• Cohorts with the Regional Planner and stakeholders to plan, develop, and evaluate emergency preparedness, public safety, and homeland security exercises related to ESF-8.
• Designs a comprehensive exercise program for Region 8 and local jurisdictions — including orientations, seminars, workshops, tabletops, drills, functional, and full-scale exercises — to test emergency plans, policies, and procedures.
• Co-pilots exercises for real-world implementation and follows up with After Action Reports and Improvement Plans (AAR/IP).
• Develops the regional Integrated Response Plan (IPP).
• Evaluates the effectiveness of policies, practices, and programs and recommends revisions.
• Reviews regional and local AAR/IPs and provides guidance.
• Recruits and coordinates staff for exercises.
• Serves as the ESF-8 exercise program subject matter expert.

Secondary Work

• Provides technical assistance to local health departments, emergency management offices, and regional partners on Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI) and Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) activities.
• Tracks and reports local partner progress to the Preparedness Operations Supervisor.
• Maintains current knowledge of SNS and CHEMPACK requirements and best practices.

ESF-8 Response

• Participates in the on-call rotation providing 24/7/365 phone coverage for reporting infectious diseases and public health emergencies.
• Responds to public health emergencies including natural disasters, bio-terrorism, and disease outbreaks.
• Participates in local, regional, state, and federal emergency response and recovery activities.
• Supports the Regional Health and Medical Operations Center (RHMOC) and assumes an active role in the regional incident command structure.
• Serves as DSHS Region 8 liaison to the Disaster District Emergency Operations Center (DDEOC).
• May deploy to affected jurisdictions for response and recovery.

Other Duties

• Supports the agency’s disaster response, recovery, and/or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge in:
• Emergency management fundamentals: how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters and public health emergencies
• Planning, developing, and evaluating emergency exercises
• Incident Command System (ICS) and National Incident Management System (NIMS), including multi-agency coordination in operations centers
• National Response Framework (NRF) and Continuity of Operations (COOP)
• Homeland Security Exercise Evaluation Program (HSEEP) guidelines for planning and evaluating exercises
• Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and Cities Readiness Initiative (CRI), including medical countermeasure distribution site operations
• Emergency communication tools such as WebEOC, radios, and satellite phones
• Project management principles, including coordinating complex projects with multiple stakeholders

Skills

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication — able to explain complex topics clearly to different audiences, write detailed reports (including AAR/IPs and program documentation), and build effective working relationships with diverse partners
• Active listening — able to understand what stakeholders need and design processes accordingly
• Organization and attention to detail — able to manage multiple projects and deadlines without sacrificing quality
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams) and willingness to learn new tools
• Presentation and facilitation — comfortable leading meetings, trainings, and exercises with groups of all sizes
• Customer service — responsive and professional when working with partners

Ability

• Work independently and as part of a team
• Lead collaborative planning sessions with tact and diplomacy
• Identify problems, determine root causes, and develop practical solutions
• Set clear goals and help the team achieve them
• Encourage creativity and efficiency among team members
• Research and analyze information to draw meaningful conclusions
• Handle sensitive and confidential information appropriately
• Travel throughout Texas and occasionally out-of-state (~30% of the time)
• Work flexible hours including evenings, weekends, and during emergencies

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

• Required:
• Valid driver’s license (Texas Class C or equivalent)
• Texas Class A Exempt or Commercial driver’s license required within 12 months of hire
• FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-300, IS-400, IS-700, and IS-800 required within 12 months of hire

Additional Information

• NA