Public Health Specialist (Emergency Preparedness Specialist)

The City of Bloomington is seeking an individual to support the City’s Community Resilience Team by advancing efforts to prepare for, respond to, and recover from public health emergencies and disasters. This position contributes to emergency operations planning, pandemic preparedness, and resilience-building initiatives that protect and promote the health of residents across Bloomington, Edina, and Richfield (BER). 

Working collaboratively with the Emergency Preparedness (EP) and Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) teams, the Specialist helps meet grant expectations, coordinate training and communications, and develop equitable, sustainable preparedness systems. 

CITY VALUES & EXPECTATIONS

• Models and contributes to a positive work environment, culture of communication, engagement and safety
• Communicates effectively and respectfully with employees and the general public, including but not limited to those of diverse racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Works cooperatively as a member of a team; develops and maintains effective working relationships with diverse coworkers and community members; consistently brings a high level of self-awareness and empathy to all personal interactions
• Embraces the City’s shared values and contributes towards accomplishing the City’s vision and goals by being creative, innovative, continuously learning, and communicating clearly

Emergency Preparedness & Response

• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of public health emergency plans, including the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP), Pandemic and Infectious Disease Plans, Field Operations Guides (FOGs), and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) 
• Assist with maintaining and administering the Health Alert Network (HAN), including staff training, partner coordination, and database management
• Support mass dispensing and vaccination planning, including contracts (MOUs, POD Plans), staffing, volunteer coordination, and logistics for emergency medical countermeasures 
• Participate in emergency activations or serve in a supporting role within the City’s Incident Management System (ICS)
• Assist in developing After-Action Reports (AARs) and improvement plans following exercises or emergency responses

• Coordinate with internal departments and external partners to ensure effective and inclusive emergency communication, response, and recovery      

• Promote equity and inclusion throughout all aspects of preparedness and resilience work 
• Collaborate with community partners to ensure preparedness materials, trainings, and communications are culturally relevant, accessible, and multilingual where possible
• Engage with diverse community organizations, leaders, and residents to identify needs, build trust, and foster local capacity to prepare for and recover from emergencies
• Support initiatives that address social vulnerability and environmental justice, strengthening protective factors that reduce risk during emergencies 

Other 

• Perform related duties as assigned to support the mission of the Community Resilience Team and the Public Health Division                               

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, & ABILITIES REQUIRED                                                                                                                                                                    
Knowledge of: 

• Emergency management and public health preparedness principles, including the Incident Command System (ICS)
• Infectious disease prevention and control, vaccination operations, and outbreak response 
• Climate resilience, sustainability, and social vulnerability frameworks within public health and emergency management 
• Federal and state public health preparedness capabilities, including CDC (PHEC) and MDH guidance 
• Basic principles of grant administration, record keeping, and data evaluation
• Equitable community engagement practices and trauma-informed approaches to public health                                                                                   Ability to: 
• Communicate clearly and professionally in both written and verbal formats with diverse audiences 
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with community-based organizations, healthcare providers, and government partners
• Organize multiple projects, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail
• Analyze problems, synthesize data, and recommend actionable solutions 
• Work effectively under pressure during emergency activations or time-sensitive situations 
• Apply cultural humility, empathy, and inclusivity in all interactions 
• Operate standard office software and preparedness-related databases or tools 
• Demonstrate commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and innovation in the field of public health preparedness  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, Emergency Management, or a closely related field 
• Two years of professional or internship experience in public health preparedness, emergency management, resilience, or a closely related field

DESIRABLE QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in public health, Emergency Management, Public Administration, or related field 
• FEMA IS-300 and IS-400 course completion
• IAEM (CEM, AEM) certification, HSEM Emergency Manager Certificate 
• Experience supporting medical countermeasure or mass vaccination operations
• Ability to speak a second language commonly used in the community (e.g., Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese)
• Experience drafting, revising and maintaining public health emergency plans
• Prior experience in a lead role in a public health response
• Coursework or certification in Public Health Preparedness, Project Management, Train-the-Trainer
• Experience working with local government or community-based organizations in the areas of resilience and emergency preparedness

SUPERVISION OF OTHERS

This position does not supervise others.

Anticipated Hiring Range: $84,754-$89,895 Annually

2025 Full Salary Range: $84,754 – $112,986 Annually

Full-Time; Exempt; Non-Union; Benefits Ineligible

The City of Bloomington is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to creating a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applicants who are black, indigenous or persons of color are encouraged to apply. We also encourage women, veterans, members of the LGBTQIA community, and individuals with disabilities to apply.

Salary : $84,754 - $89,895