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Mass Fatality Response Planner
University Of Washington School Of Public Health
Location : Seattle, WA, 98104
Job Type : Full Time
Salary : $106,106.00 - $134,495.00
Date Posted : 1 December 2025
School of Public Health
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Mass Fatality Response Planner - Public Health - Seattle & King County (Job)
Description:
Public Health– Seattle & King County’s (PHSKC) Emergency Preparedness Section (Preparedness) and King County Medical Examiner’s Office (KCMEO) are seeking interested applicants for a Term-Limited Temporary (TLT) or Special Duty Assignment (SDA) as aMass FatalityResponsePlanner(Project/Program Manager III). This position will play a role in coordinating with KCMEO to update its Mass Fatality plan and create a plan should a higher number of deaths occur due to the increased population during the upcoming FIFA World Cup 26 event in Seattle.
This posting will create a list of qualified candidates that may be considered for selection of additional vacancies of the same position type over the next 6 months.
This position is funded through Preparedness but will be located at (and supervised by) the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. These two sections work together regarding preparing for mass fatality incidents. The Mass Fatality Response Planner will get the opportunity to work on mass fatality planning, producing materials prior to this summer’s FIFA World Cup 26, having a further year to update the Mass Fatality p lan and run exercises with staff.
Job Duties
- Be the primary author of the Mass Fatality plan updates.
- Write a shorter Mass Fatality handbook for use by all KCMEO staff.
- Create a system that makes future updates to each document simple and straightforward.
- Research best practices for fatality incident planning.
- Facilitate and document the KCMEO Mass Fatality workgroup and act on recommendations from that group.
- Work with KCMEO leadership to develop mutual aid agreements.
- Liaise with KCMEO partner organizations around mass fatality incident planning.
- Develop fact sheets and other materials for the FIFA World Cup 26 events.
- Develop tabletop and other exercises for KCMEO staff, and conduct these.
- Identify service and resource gaps, and work with KCMEO leadership to close them.
- Develop a clear, effective, and efficient way for future mass fatality incident plan updates and a schedule of tasks for this to take place.
- Assist in emergency response in the event of a mass fatality incident taking place during the 18-month assignment.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills/Eligibility:
Our ideal candidate willdemonstratethe following(Minimum Qualifications):
- Demonstrated experience managing a project.
- Demonstrated experience writing plans.
- Ability to transform spoken language and incomplete documentation into clear, concise, and effective writing.
- Commitment to using pro-equity practices and creating documentation through inclusive, collaborative, transparent, and accountable processes.
- Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain trusted relationships with peers and partners to complete time-sensitive projects.
- Demonstrated project management skills with the ability to handle and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent verbal communication and coordination skills.
- Outstanding attention to detail.
- Willingness to be a self-starter and to take on new challenges.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams) to complete daily tasks.
- Demonstrated experience writing Mass Fatality or other emergency response and recovery plans.
- Completion of FEMA emergency management trainings.
- Demonstrated experience with fatality management.
Freqently Asked Questions
Seattle's approach to mass fatality planning integrates updated protocols to manage increased population risks during events like FIFA World Cup 26. This includes coordination between emergency preparedness and medical examiner offices to ensure rapid response capability and resource allocation tailored for such high-impact occasions.
The planner collaborates closely with King County Medical Examiner’s Office and emergency preparedness teams to develop and refine mass fatality plans. This role involves crafting clear communication materials, facilitating workgroups, and conducting response exercises, all vital for enhancing the region’s emergency management readiness.
Ideal candidates show proficiency in project management, emergency response plan writing, and collaborative stakeholder engagement. Experience with FEMA emergency management training, fatality incident planning, and advanced communication skills tailored to public health contexts significantly enhances suitability for this specialized planning role.
Seattle's dense population, diverse communities, and complex infrastructure require mass fatality plans that are adaptable and inclusive. Planners must consider equitable communication, resource gaps, and integration with local health and emergency systems, ensuring plans remain effective across varied urban scenarios.
This role uniquely combines academic public health leadership with direct operational involvement at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office. The collaboration fosters cutting-edge planning initiatives, emphasizing inclusive, transparent processes and proactive preparation for mass fatality incidents linked to major public events.
The University encourages continuous professional development through FEMA training completions, participation in interagency workgroups, and engagement in tabletop exercises. This dynamic environment supports planners in maintaining expertise aligned with best practices and emerging public health preparedness trends.
Seattle’s growing emphasis on public health preparedness, especially with upcoming events, heightens demand for emergency planners. While competition exists, candidates with specialized skills in fatality management and proven project leadership have strong prospects due to the strategic importance of these positions.
In Seattle, salaries for Mass Fatality Response Planners typically range between $75,000 and $95,000 annually, reflecting the role’s specialized nature and regional cost of living. Compensation often includes benefits aligned with public health sector standards and may vary with experience and qualifications.
By crafting and updating mass fatality procedures, the planner directly impacts the efficiency and responsiveness of emergency operations. Their work ensures preparedness strategies are actionable, equitable, and robust, ultimately safeguarding community health during critical incidents.
Daily tasks include drafting updated fatality response plans, coordinating with multiple agencies, facilitating workgroup meetings, and preparing training exercises. The role demands meticulous attention to detail and proactive communication to maintain readiness for potential mass fatality events.
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