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Under general supervision of the Compliance Officer – Risk Manager, the Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (EPC) is responsible for the development, planning, implementation, coordination, and maintaining a continuous comprehensive Emergency Preparedness Program for Winslow Indian Health Care Center, Inc. (WIHCC). This position ensures organizational compliance in accordance with tribal (Navajo Nation), local (county), state, federal (FEMA, ICS, CMS, JC, OSHA), and accrediting standards and regulations. The EPC supports preparedness for all hazards and emergencies, including natural disasters, technological hazards, and human-caused emergencies through planning, training, exercises, and collaboration with internal departments and external agencies, and key stake holders. The EPC serves as Chair of the Emergency Preparedness Committee and leads as the primary liaison with tribal, local, state, and federal emergency management partners. This role ensures WIHCC maintains a constant state of readiness to protect patients, staff, and the community.

Upholds the principles of WIHCC’s Vision, Mission, and Value Statements. Maintains confidentiality of all privileged information at all times.

This list of duties and responsibilities is illustrative only of the tasks performed by this position and is not all-inclusive.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

• Maintains regular attendance and punctuality.

• Coordinates and guides the WIHCC Emergency Preparedness Program for WIHCC Service Area; to ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS Emergency Preparedness Rule, OSHA standards and other accrediting or regulatory bodies.
• Conducts annual Hazard Vulnerability Assessments (HVA) to identify and assess potential risks and hazards for natural (e.g. hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes), technological (e.g. hazardous materials spills), human-caused hazards (e.g. active shooter or hostage situations), and other emergency disasters for all healthcare facilities.
• Develops, implements, and maintains the All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and supporting policies, procedures, and response protocols.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for emergency planning with Navajo Nation Dept. of Emergency Management, Navajo/ Coconino County Emergency Management, AZ Dept. of Health Services, FEMA, HHS, and IHS coordination
• Develops policies & procedures for emergency planning, emergency management training and education, and emergency preparedness activities/ drills/ exercises with WIHCC, Inc.  Departments and a wide variety of public and private agencies.
• Leads the development, evaluation, and updating of the Emergency Preparedness Plan and All Hazards, including policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and response protocols.
• Manages, Develops, implements and maintains the All-Hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and supporting policies, procedures, and response protocols.
• Chairs the Emergency Preparedness Committee and leads interdisciplinary collaboration across departments.
• Plans, coordinates, and evaluates emergency drills, and exercises, including tabletop, functional, and full-scale exercises.
• Facilitates debriefs and creates the After Action Reports (AARs) and improvement plans following drills and real events.
• Assists and advises activation and operation of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) during events and maintains readiness of the facility for activation in disaster exercises and actual disaster events/ emergencies.
• Ensures compliance with Continuity of Operations (COOP) Planning and organizational resilience strategies.
• Collaborates with internal leadership and external partners such as EMS, fire departments, schools, law enforcement, community partners/ agencies/ organizations and local hospital emergency management coordinators.
• Monitors, schedules, and conducts in-service training, seminars, briefings and workshops including but not limited to: Incident Command System (ICS), Disaster Response, Life Safety and Emergency procedures and other appropriate training to all employees.
• Prepare and maintain accurate records, documentation and reports in accordance with local, state, tribal (Navajo Nation), and federal regulatory guidelines.
• Provides Environmental of Care Committee (EOC) monthly reports on training, disaster events/drills, AAR, and policies.
• Provides monthly reports to the Environmental of Care Committee (EOC).
• Conducts and coordinates emergency preparedness projects including trainings, drills, and assures WIHCC staff awareness and understanding of expectations during a disaster- natural or otherwise.
• Serve as a key member of the facility’s Emergency Preparedness and Incident Command team.
• Identifies and applies for emergency preparedness grant opportunities; monitors implementation, reporting, and fiscal accountability.
• Maintains knowledge and expertise in emergency management programs
• Ensures the organization’s readiness for emergency situations 24/7, with availability to respond to emergency situations, including after-hours, holidays, and weekends. 
• Shares information with appropriate Department and/or Committees to raise awareness and knowledge of emergencies and disasters for improvements.
• Supports Compliance and Risk Management initiatives as assigned.
• Handles confidential information with maturity and discretion and in compliance with all laws and regulations.
• Requires completion of tasks or duties assigned by a supervisor.
• Upholds all principles of confidentiality and patient care to the fullest extent.
• Adheres to all professional and ethical behavior standards of the healthcare industry.
• Adheres to WIHCCs Personnel Policies and Procedures, departmental policies, rules, and regulations.
• Interacts in an honest, trustworthy and dependable manner with patients, employees, visitors, and vendors.
• Possesses cultural awareness and sensitivity.
• Maintains compliance with all Human Resources requirements.  
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree required, concentration in Emergency Management or closely related field preferred. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Health Management Administration, Emergency Management, Public Administration or Business Administration, or a related field is preferred.
• Relevant professional experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis (two year experience for 1 year of education). An equivalent combination of education, training, certification, and directly related experience that demonstrates the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully perform the essential functions of the position will be considered.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a healthcare related field including hands-on emergency preparedness experience, safety, regulatory compliance, community or public health, or related areas is required.
• Experience may include the development, implementation, and evaluation of community-based health initiatives, emergency response plans, surveillance
• Mandatory certifications completed or received within six (6) months of hire, if not current: Incident Command Certification: ICS 100, 200, 300, 400, 700, and 800; Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP); Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program (HSEEP). Must possess or obtain current CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) and/ or Basic Life Support (BLS) certification within 6 months of hire.
• Bilingual skills in English and Navajo language preferred.  Must maintain a valid unrestricted and insurable driver’s license. Must successfully pass a background investigation and maintain suitable requirements for a Child Care position. This position is considered as a Child Care position, which requires a satisfactory background check investigation and is subject to the requirements of the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act, as amended (henceforth referred as the ICPFVP Act).

Knowledge, Skills, Ability

• Comprehensive knowledge of emergency preparedness regulations, protocols, and response systems.
• Familiarity with communicable diseases and types of terror-related health threats.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to work cross-functionally with medical and non-medical teams.
• Organizing and setting goals and objectives to ensure program needs are met.
• Ability to develop and conduct educational sessions, presentations, and drills.
• Ability to professionally represent WIHCC, Inc. at local, state, tribal, or federal government functions.
• Proficiency in statistical/data analysis.
• Ability to build strong working relationships with public health officials, emergency services, and community organizations.
• Availability to respond during emergency events outside of normal work hours.
• Knowledge of all applicable Tribal (Navajo Nation), Federal, State, County and local laws, regulations, Joint Commission, etc. as they pertain to Emergency Management.
• Knowledge of Incident Command System (ICS) and the Hospital Emergency Incident Command System (HICS) and how they inter-relate.
• Knowledge of basic training curriculum development to lead teaching opportunities.
• Knowledge of strong work ethics in the workplace.
• Knowledge of basic application of confidentiality.
• Knowledge of duties and responsibilities of the position.
• Knowledge of basic computer skills, e.g. Outlook, Word, Access, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher.
• Knowledge of grammar, spelling, punctuation and appropriate formatting.
• Ability to be dependable in attendance and job performance.
• Ability to meet attendance, overtime (if necessary), and other reliability requirements of the job.
• Skill in implementing situational leadership abilities during high-stress conditions.
• Skill in using critical- thinking techniques to maintain control of hazardous conditions.
• Skill in maintenance of accurate records and identification of resource conditions and problems of on-going projects.
• Ability to design, conduct and evaluate operational and discussion-based exercises.
• Ability to work under the pressure of dealing with multiple tasks/projects and constant deadlines, while maintaining attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to handle and resolve issues using advanced conflict management skills.
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with the individuals of varying social and cultural backgrounds.
• Ability to work collaboratively with multiple disciplines and all levels (i.e. Nursing, Physicians, Administration, and Public Health staff).
• Ability to work independently and to take initiative
• Ability to be dependable in attendance and job performance.
• Ability to meet attendance, overtime (if necessary), and other reliability requirements of the job.
• Ability to accept and learn from feedback.
• Ability to communicate effectively- verbally, listening, and in writing.
• Ability to provide exemplary customer service at all times.
• Ability to interact positively with others and possess great interpersonal skills.
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure.
• Ability to function effectively in a dangerous and/or high-stress environment.
• Ability to exercise independent judgment.
• Ability to have self-confidence.
• Ability to be a great team player, yet possess the ability to act autonomously depending on exigent circumstances.
• Ability to multi-task, maintain flexibility, travel, and work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to accept and learn from supervisor/peer critique.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to the changing needs of the organization.

Physical Demands:

While performing the essential functions of this position, the employee is regularly required to walk, sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel objects and equipment, reach with hands and arms, and communicate effectively by talking and hearing. The employee frequently must stand, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and may occasionally use taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move objects weighing up to 50 pounds.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office setting and outdoor work environment with moderate noise levels. Work environment may involve exposure to physical risks, such as blood borne pathogens, hazardous chemicals, or operating potential dangerous equipment, and requires adherence to all safety protocols. Required work schedules may include evening, weekend, overnight shifts, extended hours, or irregular schedules as operational needs dictate.  

As required by P.L. 93-638, absolute preference will be given to qualified Navajo applicants.  If there is no qualified Navajo applicant, preference will be given to qualified American Indian applicants.