JC-494824 – Local Emergency Preparedness Coordinator

Overview

The Center for Preparedness and Response (CPR) within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is a critical division dedicated to safeguarding the health and well-being of Californians during public health emergencies. CPR coordinates statewide preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation efforts for events such as natural disasters, disease outbreaks, bioterrorism, and other emergencies impacting public health.

Through robust planning, collaboration with local health departments, and partnerships with federal, state, and community organizations, CPR ensures readiness to manage and mitigate health threats effectively. Its responsibilities include developing emergency response plans, training health professionals, conducting exercises to test response capabilities, and providing resources and guidance to strengthen California’s public health infrastructure. By fostering resilience and preparedness, CPR plays a vital role in protecting the state’s diverse populations from evolving health challenges.

*The salary information listed on this advertisement may not reflect recent salary increases from salary adjustments or changes in the fiscal year.

*The CDPH is not currently an E-Verify employer.

Department Website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov

In July 2025, the State of California implemented the Personal Leave Program (PLP) 2025. This program temporarily reduces employees’ monthly base pay in exchange for paid leave credits. This position is subject to PLP 2025 and will have a monthly base pay reduction of 3% in exchange for 5 hours of leave credits through June 2027. The salary ranges shown on this job posting do not reflect the salary reduction.

The Health Program Specialist I (HPS I) supports the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) mission and strategic plan by enhancing preparedness and response for emerging public health threats. This position serves as a key technical consultant and liaison to local public health jurisdictions (LHJs), providing leadership, coordination, and oversight for emergency preparedness programs funded through federal and state sources. The HPS I ensures programmatic compliance, supports performance improvement, and fosters collaboration across public health and healthcare sectors.

Coordinate the development, implementation, and evaluation of emergency preparedness programs for assigned LHJs, including Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP), Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP), and Pandemic Influenza (Pan Flu) initiatives.
Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) providing technical assistance and training to LHJs on programmatic requirements, performance measures, and reporting expectations.
Review LHJ annual work plans and programmatic purchase requests in coordination with Contract Managers to ensure alignment with federal and state guidelines.
Monitor and track LHJ progress toward deliverables and performance measures; collect and analyze reports to identify best practices, challenges, and areas for improvement.
Maintain awareness of evolving local, state, and federal emergency preparedness policies and communicate relevant updates to LHJs and CDPH leadership.
Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with local, regional, and state emergency planning experts in public health and healthcare.
Review LHJ emergency preparedness and response plans, identify capability gaps, and recommend strategies to strengthen local readiness.
Act as a liaison between LHJs and the State to address preparedness gaps and escalate systemic issues to management.
Plan and conduct annual site visits to assess LHJ programmatic progress, provide technical assistance, and document findings in formal reports.
Organize and facilitate regional meetings with LHJs to promote coordination and share strategies for improving preparedness and response.
Track and evaluate the effectiveness of implemented solutions and provide ongoing support to LHJs.
Minimum Requirements

You will find the Minimum Requirements in the Class Specification.

HEALTH PROGRAM SPECIALIST I
Desirable Qualifications

In addition to evaluating each candidate’s relative ability, as demonstrated by quality and breadth of experience, the following factors will provide the basis for competitively evaluating each candidate:

Demonstrated experience in public health emergency preparedness or healthcare preparedness programs.
Proven experience with developing and improving emergency preparedness and response plans.
Strong knowledge of federal and state emergency preparedness funding streams, including PHEP and HPP.
Familiarity with SEMS, NIMS, and other emergency management frameworks.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and project management skills.
Effective communication and interpersonal skills for working with diverse stakeholders.
Ability to travel for site visits, trainings, and meetings (up to 20%).
How To Apply

Complete Application Packages (including your Examination/Employment Application (STD 678) and applicable or required documents) must be submitted to apply for this Job Posting. Application Packages may be submitted electronically through your CalCareer Account at www.CalCareers.ca.gov. When submitting your application in hard copy, a completed copy of the Application Package listing must be included.

https://calcareers.ca.gov/CalHrPublic/Jobs/JobPosting.aspx?JobControlId=494824

At the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), equity, diversity, and inclusion are at the core of our mission to advance the health and well-being of California’s diverse people and communities. We are genuinely and strongly committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness where we can grow and learn together with a diverse team of employees. In recruiting for team members, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring to us and the work we do.