Skip to Main Content

ADMINISTRATOR IV

Rapid Response Team Coordinator

Recruitment #20-002589-0004

GRADE

19

LOCATION OF POSITION

MDH/Prevention and Health Promotion Administration, Environmental Health Bureau/Office of Food Protection, Baltimore, Maryland

Main Purpose of Job

This position will lead the State of Maryland Rapid Response Team (SMarRRT) in the Maryland Department of Health (MDH)'s Prevention and Health Promotion Administration (PHPA)'s Environmental Health Bureau (EHB)'s, Office of Food Protection (OFP). This nationally facing position will work with external and internal partners to oversee and manage the development and completion of Rapid Response Team (RRT) program operations, functions and policies, as well as to prepare written bi-annual RRT Program Reviews. This position will also develop and deliver RRT training for partners, such as an annual exercise and/or the development and facilitation of an on-site environmental assessment involving a high priority food firm, as identified under the Manufactured Food Regulatory Program Standards (MFRPS). 

This position will regularly work with local health departments (LHDs), as well as federal and State agency partners, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA); the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service; and, the Maryland Department of Agriculture, particularly in the preparedness, planning, development, and implementation of programs, outbreak investigations, response activities, and training exercises. This position will be the key liaison between external RRTs, federal agencies, local health jurisdictions, and other State agencies, in regards to emergency response programs and foodborne outbreak response workflow. This position will lead the OFP and work with internal agency partners. 

Additionally, this position will serve on incident command teams and lead a multi-disciplinary, multi-unit MDH team in foodborne outbreak investigations and all-hazards food emergency responses, while working with personnel from MDH's Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Outbreak Response (IDSOR) and Maryland Public Health Laboratory. As Incident Command for outbreak investigation, this position will be responsible for the design and execution of timely investigations of local and multi-state foodborne outbreaks, which may include firm inspections, document collection, document interpretation, and product traceback, in addition to environmental and food sampling, in order to prevent further illness and support regulatory action. This position, in collaboration with the FDA, will be responsible for establishing and executing the documentation and completion of calendar milestones which are consistent with the aims of the RRT project, the required annual RRT Capability Assessment Tool, and an annual improvement plan, based on identified elements. 

Furthermore, this position will work with the MFRPS Coordinator to implement Standard #5, in order to accomplish the work of the OFP and meet FDA grant obligations. This position will research, coordinate and provide specialized training, in conjunction with the FDA, to other members of the RRT, along with OFP field staff members and LHD partners associated with investigation mission, aseptic sampling, environmental sampling, traceback, emergency response, and other food emergencies (i.e. natural disasters, bioterrorism, intentional contamination, fires, power outages, etc.). In addition, this position will be responsible for database management and updating 24-hour emergency response phone numbers and corporate contact information for federal agencies, State and local health departments, in order to further enhance statewide response and communication systems. 

This position will be responsible for reviewing in-coming complaints, responding to those complaints, and/or forwarding those complaints to the appropriate responsible jurisdictions. Also, this position will maintain and manage an email list serve, as well as web pages and social media pages for the Center for Food Emergency Response and Defense, in order to disseminate product recall information and advisories from industry, USDA, FDA, and other trusted food safety sources. Finally, this position will exemplify an inter-agency collaborative, robust work ethic, and a commitment to preparedness, response and continuous improvement. 

The goals of all SMarRRT foodborne responses are to gather and interpret outbreak investigation findings; prevent further illness; and, support regulatory action.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Education: A Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. 

Experience: Five years of experience in administrative staff or professional work. One year of this experience must have involved one or more of the following: the supervision of other employees; overseeing and coordinating the general operations of a unit; applying rules and regulations; or, exercising responsibility for the development of policies or procedures. 

Notes: 

1. Additional experience in administrative staff or professional work may be substituted, on a year-for-year basis, for the required education. 

2. Additional graduate level education at an accredited college or university may be substituted, at the rate of 30 semester credit hours on a year-for-year basis, for the required general experience. 

3. Candidates may substitute U.S. Armed Forces military service experience as a Commissioned Officer involving staff work related to the administration of rules, regulations, policy, procedures, and processes, or overseeing or coordinating unit operations, or functioning as a staff assistant to a higher ranking Commissioned Officer, on a year-for-year basis, for the required education and experience.

DESIRED OR PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

The desired candidate should have experience with food safety and outbreak investigation procedures, as well as experience facilitating meetings. The desired candidate should also have experience developing and implementing a training program.

LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS AND CERTIFICATIONS

Employees in this classification may be assigned duties which require the operation of a motor vehicle. Employees assigned such duties will be required to possess a motor vehicle operator's license valid in the State of Maryland.

SELECTION PROCESS

Applicants who meet the minimum (and selective) qualifications will be included in further evaluation. The evaluation may be a rating of your application, based on your education, training and experience, as they relate to the requirements of the position. Therefore, it is essential that you provide complete and accurate information on your application. 

Please report all related education, experience, dates, and hours of work. Clearly indicate your college degree and major on your application, if applicable. For education obtained outside the U.S., any job offer will be contingent on the candidate providing an evaluation for equivalency by a foreign credential evaluation service prior to starting employment (and may be requested prior to interview). 

Complete applications must be submitted by the closing date. Information submitted after this date will not be added. 

Incorrect application forms will not be accepted. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed application.

Candidates may remain on the certified eligible list for a period of at least one year. The resulting certified eligible list for this recruitment may be used for similar positions in this, or other, State agencies.

BENEFITS

FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS

Online applications are highly recommended. However, if you are unable to apply online, the paper application (and supplemental questionnaire) may be submitted to MDH, Recruitment and Selection Division, 201 W. Preston St., Room 114-B, Baltimore, MD 21201. Paper application materials must be received by 5 pm, close of business, on the closing date for the recruitment.  No postmarks will be accepted.

If additional information is required, the preferred method is to upload. If you are unable to upload, please fax the requested information to, 410-333-5689. Only additional materials which are required will be accepted for this recruitment. All additional information must be received by the closing date and time.

For questions regarding this recruitment, please contact the MDH Recruitment and Selection Division, at 410-767-1251.

If you are having difficulty with your user account or have general questions about the online application system, please contact the MD Department of Budget and Management, Recruitment and Examination Division, at 410-767-4850 or Application.Help@maryland.gov

Appropriate accommodations for individuals with disabilities are available upon request by calling: 410-767-1251 or MD TTY Relay Service, at 1-800-735-2258.

We thank our Veterans for their service to our country.

People with disabilities and bilingual candidates are encouraged to apply.

As an equal opportunity employer, Maryland is committed to recruitment, retaining and promoting employees who are reflective of the State's diversity.




Powered by JobAps