Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor (Closes 9/9)

If hired for this position, you would be an employee of our partner agency, Community Family Advocates working 

The DHS Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor acts as DHS’s primary liaison to the community for disaster
response. This position also is responsible for overseeing Emergency Behavioral Health response and behavioral
health outreach, education and training, including supervising the staff person(s) that perform those duties. The
DHS Disaster Response and Outreach Supervisor works under the supervision of DHS’s Administrative Officer 3
who oversees DHS Safety and internal emergency response.

The Supervisor acts as the primary response liaison in the event of a significant emergency or disaster affecting
Allegheny County residents—coordinating DHS’s response, which includes mass care, social services and other
assistance. To prepare for and respond to county emergencies or disasters, the incumbent works closely with the
administrator responsible for DHS Safety in the Office of Administration, as well as other DHS Offices and
programs, the Allegheny County Emergency Operations Center, the Pennsylvania Office of Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Services(OMHSAS), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Pennsylvania Emergency
Management Agency (PEMA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), The American Red Cross,
The Salvation Army, Center for Victims and other relevant local, State and Federal organizations, as appropriate
and necessary. Supervisor directs the work of the Coordinator – Disaster Response & Emergency Behavioral
Health.

These are professional responsibilities of an administrative nature involving planning, training facilitating, review,
analysis and evaluation, as well as the ability to respond in an emergency 24/7.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Disaster Response

• Assists DHS Safety in coordinating continuity efforts before, during and after a disruption event for
  DHS.


• Responsible for planning for DHS’s response in the event of a community emergency.


• Participates in the planning, conducting and debriefing of regular mock-disaster exercises to test
  adequacy of existing plans and strategies and recommends modifications as identified.


• Assists in the effective and timely response to and recovery after a significant emergency or crisis
  event, as required, including:
  
  
  
  •  Staffs the Mass Care & Human Services section of the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as
    required.
  
  
  • Provides behavioral health and emergency management leadership to the DHS Disaster Response
    Team.
  
  
  • Coordinates with partner organizations for the distribution of emergency supplies including food,
    clothing, hygiene products, etc.
  
  
  • Assists Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) with the coordination and setup of PODS
    (Points of Distribution) for distribution of medication and medical supplies from the Strategic
    National Stockpile that may be needed during certain emergencies/disasters.
  
  
  • Coordinates with other County Government and communications offices for activation of the
    Public Information Line (PA-211) and other services to report and meet the needs of
    community members during disasters.
  
  
  • Coordinates with the American Red Cross (ARC) to plan, train and respond for mental health
    staff support at the Family Assistance Center, when created.
  
  
  • Provides knowledge of above to DHS for the purpose of evaluating policies, provisions and
    programs and makes recommendations for changes/additions to such policies and programs and
    assists in the development of new policies, procedures and programs.
  
  
  
  


• Works cooperatively with external partners and disaster response entities, including:
  
  
  
  • PA Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) and PA Western Region
    Emergency Behavioral Health Team (EBH): trainings and meetings, along with other DHS staff as
    needed.
  
  
  • Region 13 meetings including Western Region meetings, Emergency Behavioral Health
    meetings and Region 13 Health and Medical Meetings (HCSWPA).
  
  
  • Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD) meetings for Western Region VOAD and
    Pennsylvania VOAD.
  
  
  • Local Emergency Planning Committee & FEMA Region III meetings and trainings
  
  
  • Task Forces, Advisory Committees or State or County sponsored meetings.
  
  
  
  


• Annually updates training requirements for responders.


• Ensures DHS and provider staff are current in required trainings and/or certifications for Emergency Behavioral Health and Disaster Responses.

EBH Response, Outreach and Training

• Oversees the Coordinator who:
  
  
  
  • Acts as the behavioral health liaison to the American Red Cross (ARC) and Center for Victims (CVC) during any disaster or emergency situations; and who develop, implement and/or coordinate supportive services for individuals experiencing an emergency/crisis, such as Community Health Afternoons for communities, multiple residents or families.
  
  
  
  


• Support Office of Behavioral Health with EBH related trainings as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities
This job supervises a coordinator responsible for behavioral health response to the community in a disaster
(including recruiting and training a diverse array of staff and volunteers) and who will support the overall training
and outreach functions.

• Provides technical assistance and individual supervision to staff.


• Assigns deliverable job priorities and reviews work produced for quality and efficiency.


• Verifies staff time and attendance for accuracy and approves staff time, schedules (vacation, sick, personal
  and compensatory time) and travel requests.


• Prepares, completes and signs staff performance evaluations.
  

Additional Responsibilities

From time to time the employee will be required to perform additional tasks and duties as required by the
employer. This includes, but is not limited to, serving as a backup for both the Security Specialist and Safety
Specialist roles.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple, simultaneous projects.
• Considerable knowledge of overall operational policies and established procedures in the community,
institutional or facility-based programs.
• Develop and maintain an understanding attitude toward individuals who have been involved in a disaster
or emergency crisis and recovery from those incidents.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of state and local public and private
agencies.
• Communicate effectively, both orally and in writing. Must be enthusiastic and persuasive.
• Knowledge of behavioral/mental health conditions and verbal de-escalation techniques preferred
• Maintain necessary records and prepare reports.
• Maintain diplomacy and tact to problem solve in a constructive and collaborative manner.
• Make quick and sound decisions in response to changing conditions.
• Work independently with minimal direction.
• Ability to maintain an authoritative leadership with delegation of details as necessary,
• Work with various IT systems
• Respond immediately, when necessary, for significant incidents or disasters.
• Maintain EBH Responder and Coordinator Credentials

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The
requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions, consistent
with applicable law.

Education/Experience Requirements

Master’s degree in human services or related field, plus at least 3 years’ related experience.
-OR-
Bachelor’s degree in human services or related field, plus at least 5 years’ related experience.
-OR-
Any equivalent combination of education and experience that meets the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
Act 33 & 34 clearances.
-AND-
Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle are required.

Why DHS?

DHS is diverse, but we strive to be even more inclusive. This includes equity in hiring and advancement, as well as in unleashing the creativity and ideas of staff at every level of DHS. It has strong, assertive leaders. We do not hire yes-people.

You can make a big impact here. We stand out as one of the best human services organizations in the country. But we need problem-solvers, innovators, and terrific leaders to make sure we are smart in how we use our funding so that we reach the people who most need our help to make their lives better.

“DHS strives to be the kind of place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come to grow and do their best work.”

-From the organization’s statement on Equity and Inclusion

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER -M/F/V/D