Disaster Planning Coordinator

The Planning Coordinator serves as the primary point of contact for Disaster Behavioral Health Coordination (DBHC) planning, preparedness and mitigation services. The Planning Coordinator is responsible for the supporting the development, implementation, and training of disaster behavioral health emergency operations plans (EOP) and procedures. This position is responsible for the coordination, tracking, and documentation of disaster behavioral health-related planning activities, grant development, and creation of innovative tools and training designed to enhance and improve DBHC’s planning and preparedness capacity and effectiveness. This position reports to the Associate Director of Planning and Preparedness (DPP) for Disaster Behavioral Health Coordination under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. 

Planning Activities: 

Performs highly complex, advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work to help Local Mental Health/Local Behavioral Health Authorities (LMHA/LBHA) with preparedness and mitigation planning to ensure appropriate and adequate response to all hazards, to include natural and human caused disasters (e.g. mass shootings, pandemics). Work is heavily focused on coordinating, training, evaluating process and practices, facilitating community collaborations, assisting in the cultivation of community relationships, writing, soliciting feedback, and completing DBH planning assignments related to federal, state, regional, and/or local emergencies, incidents, disasters, or exercises. Works closely with Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) systems agencies, divisions, departments, programs, LMHAs/LBHAs as well as other external stakeholders to coordinate DBH-related deployable team resources. 

This position will serve as the subject matter expert in the development of tools, protocols, and training designed to facilitate the development of DBH focused emergency operations plans that seek to improve stakeholder response capability and efficiency. Specific activities may include: (1) assessing LMHA/LBHA gaps in DBH preparedness; (2) planning, developing, and implementing education/training solutions to address gaps; (3) developing training materials to educate and inform the practices of stakeholders about preparedness and mitigation; (4) organizing, coordinating, and assisting or facilitating DBH related drills and exercises, emergency operations planning activities and preparedness classes; (5) frequent interaction with external emergency management (e.g. county, state. and federal) entities; (6) providing best practices to LMHA/LBHAs related to cultivating and maintaining local emergency management relationships (e.g. developing mutual aid agreements, being included in local emergency management planning); (7) assisting the agency in performing and analyzing primary and alternate continuity of operations (COOP) activities and business impact analyses; (8) evaluating and capturing lessons learned through the After Action Review (AAR) process at the conclusion of an operational activity or exercise then update and maintain documentation accordingly. 

Serves as planning, preparedness and mitigation subject matter expert to personnel designated as the DBH point of contact within LMHA/LBHA, Texas Critical Incident Stress Management Network of Teams, Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Texas Division of Emergency Management, and other stakeholder groups. Maintains accurate contact lists, information and rosters, and facilitates scheduled conference calls. 

Position may be required to deploy to communities affected by a disaster or critical incident and work non-traditional hours other than 8:00 – 5:00, including nights, weekends and holidays to fulfill agency and program goals and objectives. 

Other Activities: 

Grant Related: Assists with the development of grant applications. Assists with the preparation, collection, analysis, and distribution of DBH-related activities and data. 

Disaster Related: Conduct AARs, Quicklooks or Hotwashes for a myriad of disaster processes; assess and report on COOP for disaster affected areas; ensure attendance at all TDEM and VOAD calls or meetings; compile and report on TDEM disaster registrations; and assist with the needs assessment process. 

Other duties include assisting the Response Coordinator, copy editing documents, participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations during DBH response, and recovery. Duties may be performed outside individual’s assigned workstation and outside of normal working hours, including weekends and holidays, under stressful conditions and adverse weather conditions to support disaster response and recovery activities. 

This position may be required to deploy to communities impacted by disasters or criminal incidents with little notice.

Essential Job Functions (ESFs):