DHHS Administrator I-Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit

The work we do matters!

Hiring Agency:

Health & Human Services - Agency 25

Location:

Lincoln, NE

Hiring Rate:

$32.789

Job Posting:

JR2025-00021706 DHHS Administrator I-Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit (Open)

Applications No Longer Accepted On (If no date is displayed, job is posted as open until closed):

01-06-2026

Job Description:

The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is seeking a strategic leader to provide operational oversight for the statewide Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit, including administration of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) cooperative agreements.

 

Job Duties

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for the statewide Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Unit, including administration of the Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) and Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) cooperative agreements.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate statewide preparedness strategies, plans, and capability assessments aligned with CDC, ASPR, and state requirements.
• Oversee budget development, grants management, contracting, and fiscal stewardship for all preparedness funding streams, ensuring compliance with federal regulations (e.g., 2 CFR 200), state statutes, and cooperative agreement requirements.
• Direct, coach, and support a team responsible for planning, training, exercise, response coordination, healthcare coalition support, and subrecipient monitoring.
• Serve as a primary liaison to federal partners (CDC, ASPR), local health departments, healthcare coalitions, Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, and statewide response partners (e.g., ESF-8).
• Lead statewide emergency response coordination during public health incidents, including activation of response structures, resource allocation, and situational reporting.
• Ensure the development and implementation of training and exercise programs.
• Oversee performance management, reporting, and quality improvement activities across all preparedness initiatives.
• Guide the development of policies, SOPs, and strategic priorities that strengthen statewide public health and healthcare system resilience.
• Represent the agency at state, regional, and national preparedness forums, advisory groups, and workgroups.

Wage: $32.789 Hourly to $49.183. Pay rate may be commensurate with education and/or experience within fiscal constraints, if approved.

 

Requirements/Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, social work, human development, public health, behavioral science, law, finance, human resources or other program related field AND two years of experience in a field related to the assigned program area including supervisory experience; OR a Master’s degree in any of the above mentioned fields. Experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Public Health, Emergency Management, Health Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field.
• Five or more years of progressively responsible experience in public health emergency preparedness, healthcare system preparedness, emergency management, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience managing federal cooperative agreements, particularly CDC PHEP and/or ASPR HPP.
• Experience overseeing complex budgets, grants, contracts, or subrecipient monitoring programs.
• Leadership experience directing teams or programs within a state or local public health agency, healthcare system, or emergency management organization.
• Advanced training or certifications, such as ICS 300/400, FEMA Professional Development Series (PDS), or similar.
• Experience coordinating multi-agency or statewide emergency response operations.
• Experience collaborating with healthcare coalitions, hospitals, EMS, emergency management, and local health departments.
• Demonstrated success using improvement methodologies (QI, performance management, after-action/ improvement planning).
• Familiarity with rural and frontier preparedness challenges, healthcare access issues, and statewide infrastructure considerations.

Other: Valid Driver's License.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Comprehensive knowledge of public health emergency preparedness, incident management systems (ICS/NIMS), and the National Response Framework, particularly ESF-8 and healthcare system coordination.
• Strong understanding of federal cooperative agreement requirements, grants management principles, and financial oversight (including budgeting, cost principles, allowable costs, tracking, reporting, and subrecipient monitoring).
• Knowledge of healthcare system preparedness, healthcare coalitions, surge capacity/surge management, and continuity of operations.
• Skill in developing strategic plans, policies, procedures, and statewide guidance for preparedness and response programs.
• Ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and local regulations and guidance, including CDC/HPP requirements and emergency management frameworks.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to convey complex information to diverse audiences: public health officials, healthcare partners, legislators, and stakeholders.
• Ability to lead, manage, and develop staff; build high-performing teams; and foster a collaborative, inclusive work environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including risk assessment, situational analysis, and data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under limited timelines, particularly during active responses.
• Proficiency in building and sustaining partnerships across public health, healthcare systems, emergency management, and community organizations.

 

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Benefits

We offer a comprehensive package of pay, benefits, paid time off, retirement and professional development opportunities to help you get the most out of your career and life. Your paycheck is just part of your total compensation.

Check out all that the State of Nebraska has to offer! Benefit eligibility may vary by position, agency and employment status. For more information on benefits, please visit: https://statejobs.nebraska.gov/index.html#benefits

Equal Opportunity Statement

The State of Nebraska values our teammates as well as a supportive environment that strives to promote diversity, inclusion, and belonging. We recruit, hire, train, and promote in all job classifications and at all levels without regard to race, color, religion, sex. age, national origin, disability, marital status or genetics.