Emergency Preparedness & Communications Specialist IV - CMHHIP

Please note: This recruitment may be used to fill multiple vacancies.

The Emergency Management and Preparedness Department proactively mitigates operational risks and prepares for a full range of emergencies to protect patient and staff safety at the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP). The unit leads the facility's comprehensive response and recovery efforts during large-scale crises by developing regulatory-compliant Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs), educating personnel, and providing expert strategic consultation to hospital leadership. Additionally, the department fosters collaborative partnerships with external healthcare coalitions and regional emergency response agencies to enhance communication, joint resource sharing, and overall community safety.

As a designated staff authority, this position develops, implements, and maintains the comprehensive Emergency Management (EM) program for the Colorado Mental Health Hospital in Pueblo (CMHHIP). The primary objective of this role is to safeguard the campus population by ensuring the facility’s all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and related safety protocols maintain continuous compliance with all state and federal healthcare regulations.

Acting as the agency's subject matter expert, this role leads facility-wide hazard vulnerability assessments, integrated cross-departmental emergency planning, comprehensive staff training, and strategic community partnership outreach. During active emergencies, this position serves within the incident command center to advise leadership and help direct the hospital's response and recovery efforts across a wide range of operational threats.

Planning

• Chairs the Emergency Management Committee, collaborating with cross-functional hospital leadership and external partners to ensure integrated campus emergency planning.
• Directs and executes the annual facility-wide Hazard Vulnerability Assessment (HVA) and comprehensive self-assessments to identify operational risks and prioritize planning efforts.
• Develops, implements, and maintains the hospital's all-hazards Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), ensuring alignment with the six critical elements of the Joint Commission’s Hospital Emergency Management Standards.
• Designs and oversees strategic emergency preparedness protocols encompassing mitigation, response, and recovery for a variety of threats, including natural disasters, infectious diseases, and security incidents.
• Manages resource allocation planning within the EOP, including the staging of personal protective equipment (PPE), medical countermeasures, and essential utility backups.

Communication  

• Develops and oversees redundant internal and external emergency communication systems to ensure timely threat notification across the agency.
• Serves as the primary liaison for community emergency partners, coordinating responses with local health departments, healthcare coalitions, and first responders.
• Collaborates with hospital leadership regarding the activation, operational logistics, and necessary supply chains for the CMHHIP Emergency Shelter.
• Designs and facilitates comprehensive emergency management training and scalable exercises (tabletop, functional, and full-scale) to validate communication pathways and test leadership readiness.
• Coordinates critical incident messaging and urgent response communications with facility leadership and the CDHS Critical Incident and CMHHIP Communications Specialist.

Quality Management

• Analyzes complex emergency response data and statistical metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and identify areas for structural improvement.
• Produces formal Apparent Cause Analysis/Root Cause Analysis Reports (ACA/RCAs) and Improvement Plans following all exercises and major real-world incidents.
• Drives Quality Assurance and Process Improvement (QAPI) initiatives for the emergency program, utilizing evidence-based data to update and revise emergency policies, procedures, and training objectives in collaboration with the Director of Quality Management.
• Provides real-time operational analysis during active incident command responses to prioritize needs and guide recovery efforts.

 Customer Service 

• Serves as the primary subject matter expert (SME) and technical advisor for hospital emergency management.
• Provides strategic consultation to executive leadership and department heads to guide high-level policy formulation and operational decisions.
• Fosters collaborative relationships with internal stakeholders and external community partners to promote the agency's emergency preparedness mission and values.

Compliance

• Ensures facility-wide compliance with all local, state, and federal emergency management regulations, including Joint Commission, CMS, and CDPHE standards.
• Leads the facility's preparation for and response to onsite accrediting agency surveys and audits.
• Formulates and executes formal Plans of Correction in response to any survey findings or identified compliance deficiencies.
• Conducts root-cause analyses and formal investigations into safety incidents and near-misses, developing corrective actions to mitigate future risks.

Other Duties as Assigned:

Responsibility to perform assigned tasks and duties within the scope of practice for this position that do not fall within the realm of duty statements A-D. 

Minimum Qualifications 
Experience Only:

Seven (7) years of full-time, relevant professional experience in an occupation directly related to emergency management, crisis communications, hospital safety planning, or public health preparedness.

Combination of Education & Experience:

A combination of related higher education (e.g., Emergency Management, Healthcare Administration, Communications, Public Health, Safety Engineering, or a related field) and/or relevant professional experience equal to seven (7) years.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hospital Disaster Experience: 3 to 5 years planning hospital safety responses, evaluating facility risks, and running disaster drills for staff.

• Crisis Communication Skills: Direct experience writing emergency alerts, coordinating with news media, and managing mass text/email alert systems during critical incidents.

• Regulatory Knowledge: Working familiarity with hospital emergency rules from government agencies (CMS) and The Joint Commission (TJC) Emergency Management Standards. 

• Specialized Training:  FEMA incident response courses (ICS 100, 200, 700, 800) and Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) training.

• Professional Credentials: Professional emergency management certification (such as CHEP or CEM) or formal Public Information Officer (PIO) training.

Preferred Education:

• Education: A bachelor’s degree in Emergency Management, Communications, Public Relations, or Public Health.
  

Conditions of Employment:

• Full background check -CDHS employees (all Direct contact with vulnerable persons): CBI name check and fingerprint check, ICON Colorado court database, Medicare fraud database, Reference Checks, Professional License verification (licensure requirements), Drug Screen, PREA (Division of Youth Services), Trails check (direct contact with children), CAPS (direct contact with adults – Mental Health Institutes, Regional Centers, Veterans Community Living Centers).
• Use, handling, or exposure to hazardous materials - Potential exposure during various construction projects. 
• Be up-to-date on MANDT and CPR before working first assignment;
• Lift arms above head and kick as high as own waist; 
• Stabilize another person to accomplish a controlled takedown; 
• Rotate body 90 degrees with feet planted for using a defensive tactic; 
• Kneel on one or both knees and stand up again with multiple repetitions; 
• Must be able to see and hear to observe, address, and respond to potential breaches in safety;
• Seize, hold, control, or subdue violent or assaultive persons and defend oneself or others to prevent injury; 
• Demonstrate body agility, strength of all four limbs, and the ability to walk and climb stairs consistently; 
• Work in situations involving assaultive behavior, physical control of another person and/or restraint situations.
• Shall not initiate or engage in sexual, social, personal, or financial relationships with patients either during or any time after hospitalization, even if the patient requests or initiates such a relationship. All relationships with current or former patients must be disclosed on your application;
• Successfully pass all modules of the CMHHIP New Employee Orientation core curriculum to include English reading comprehension, relevant competency assessments and written/practical exams;
• Has direct patient encounter responsibilities; works in situations involving assaultive behavior;
• Ability to read and comprehend the English language; effectively and fluently communicates in English, both verbally and in writing;
• 2-step TB (tuberculosis) screening is required of all new employees upon hire;
• Annual influenza vaccination required.

• Former State employees who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination must:

  • Disclose that information on the application.

  • Explain why the prior termination or resignation should not disqualify you from the current position.

  • Provide your employee number from your prior State employment.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, prior disciplinary termination or resignation in lieu of termination and failure to provide this information will disqualify the applicant from future State employment with CDHS.

Employment history is calculated on a full-time basis (40/hrs. per week). Part-time employment is calculated on a prorated basis to determine qualifications. Be sure your application specifically addresses your qualifications, experience, work products, and accomplishments as they relate to the position and minimum requirements. 

• Preferred Qualifications & Competencies:

  • Relevant years of state service experience.

• Minimum Qualification Screening Process 

  A Human Resources Analyst will review the work experience/job duties sections of the online job application to determine whether your experience meets the minimum qualifications for the position.  You must complete the official State of Colorado online application.  Cover letters and resumes WILL NOT be reviewed during the minimum qualifications screening process. You must specifically document your work experience and qualifications in the application form. Do not use "see resume" or "see attached."

  You must meet the minimum qualifications to continue in the selection process.  Part-time work experience will be prorated.

  Comparative Analysis Process – Structured Application Review 

  After minimum qualification screening, the comparative analysis process will involve reviewing and rating of all the information you submit. The comparative analysis step may also include your results from standardized testing. 

  Your Work Experience/Job Duties

  Document your work experience/job duties to the extent to which you possess the skills, education, experience, minimum qualifications, and preferred qualifications. 

  If listed, answer all supplemental questions as your answers to these questions will be evaluated during this phase. Provide at least 4-8 sentences for each supplemental question.     

  Supplemental Questions 

  Answer the supplemental questions completely and thoughtfully. We will rate your answers  based on the content of your response and your writing skills (spelling, grammar, and clarity of your writing).

  Appeal Rights

  You may file an appeal with the State Personnel Board or request a review by the State Personnel Director if your application is eliminated.  You will find the appeals process, the official appeal form, and how to deliver it on the State Personnel Board website.

  • You or your representative must sign and submit the official appeal form for review.  

  • You can find the official appeal form here. 

  • You must be deliver the official appeal form to the State Personnel Board:

    • By email ([email protected]), or

    • Postmarked in US Mail to(1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203, or 

    • Hand delivered (1525 Sherman Street, 4th Floor, Denver CO 80203), or

    • Faxed (303.866.5038) within ten (10) calendar days from your receipt of notice or acknowledgement of the department’s action.

• Contact the State Personnel Board for assistance:

  • At (303) 866-3300, or

  •  Refer to the  Colorado Code of Regulations (CCR) 801-1, State Personnel Board Rules and Personnel Director's Administrative Procedures, Chapter 8, Resolution of Appeals and Disputes, within the Rules webpage.

• How to apply to the State of Colorado(Youtube Video, Runtime 3:59, Closed Captions Available)

• The Assessment Process

About Us & Benefits

If your goal is to build a career that makes a difference, join the dedicated people of the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS). Our professionals strive to design and deliver high quality human and health services that improve the safety, independence, and well-being of the people of Colorado. Each of us is committed to contributing to a safe and accessible CDHS. In addition to a great location and rewarding and meaningful work, we offer:

• Strong, secure, yet flexible retirement benefits including a PERA Defined Benefit Plan or PERA Defined Contribution Plan plus 401(k) and 457 plans

• Medical and dental health plans

• Employer supplemented Health Savings Account

• Paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• 11 paid holidays per year plus vacation and sick leave

• State of Colorado Employee BenefitHub Resource Center

• Employee Wellness program

• Excellent work-life programs, such as flexible schedules, training and more

• Remote work arrangements for eligible positions

• *Some positions may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.

Our Values

• We believe in a people-first approach: We prioritize the needs, well-being, and dignity of the individuals, families and communities we serve. We commit to respect, fairness and access in every decision, policy and interaction. We engage client voices and experiences in the development and implementation of the services we provide.

• Balance creates quality of life: We want our team to be resilient through a supportive workplace that values flexibility, health and wellness, and employee engagement.

• We hold ourselves accountable: We take responsibility through our actions, programs, and results for the state of health and human services in Colorado.

• Transparency matters: We are open and honest with employees, our partners, the Coloradans we serve, and the public.

• We are ethical: We abide by what is best for those we serve by doing what is right, not what is easy.

• Collaboration helps us rise together: We work together with all partners, employees, and clients to achieve the best outcomes for Coloradans.

ADA Accommodations

CDHS is committed to a Colorado for ALL qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, our agency will assist individuals who have a disability with any reasonable accommodation requests related to employment. 

This includes completing the application process, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, participating in the employee selection process, and/or performing essential job functions where the requested accommodation does not impose an undue hardship. If you have a disability and require reasonable accommodation to ensure you have a positive experience applying or interviewing for this position, please direct your inquiries to [email protected].

EEO Statement

The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer

We are committed to increasing a “Colorado for ALL" of our staff and providing culturally responsive programs and services. Therefore, we encourage responses from people of all backgrounds and abilities.  The State of Colorado believes that a “Colorado for ALL” drives our success, and we encourage candidates from all identities, backgrounds, and abilities to apply. The State of Colorado is an equal opportunity employer committed to building inclusive, innovative work environments with employees who reflect our communities and enthusiastically serve them. Therefore, in all aspects of the employment process, we provide employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, medical condition related to pregnancy, creed, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, or military status (with preference given to military veterans), or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law.

Additional Support For Your Application

Toll Free Applicant Technical Support

If you experience technical difficulty with the NEOGOV system (e.g. uploading or attaching documents to your online application) call NEOGOV technical support at 855-524-5627 Mon-Fri between 6 am and 6 pm (Pacific Time).  Helpful hints: if you are having difficulty uploading or attaching documents to your application 1) ensure your documents are PDF or Microsoft Word files and 2) close the document before you attempt to upload (attach) it.