Chief State Epidemiologist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

5d • $15,038 - $19,917 • Onsite

About The Position

The Chief State Epidemiologist (CSE) serves as the State of Texas’ lead authority on epidemiology and is a key member of the DSHS executive leadership team, reporting directly to the DSHS Commissioner. The CSE is responsible for providing data-driven expertise for public health activities and policies in Texas. This position provides supervision, budget management, and strategic direction for the Office of Chief State Epidemiologist Division and is responsible for overseeing disease surveillance, outbreak response, prevention strategies, and ensuring data-driven decision-making to protect public health. As the department’s expert on epidemiological matters, the CSE serves as a DSHS representative and a point of contact for many stakeholders, including federal agencies, national organizations, and Texas-based health departments, healthcare providers, and health organizations. The CSE must be a physician licensed to practice medicine in the state of Texas, board certified in a medical specialty and have significant experience in public health.

Requirements

• Current full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the State of Texas.
• Board certification in a medical specialty from the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
• Graduation from an accredited college of medicine with a degree as a medical or osteopathic doctor.
• Five (5) years of experience working in public health, as an epidemiologist or in a related field.
• Experience leading teams or managing people.
• Knowledge of principles and practices of modern medicine, public health, preventive medicine; disease conditions, injury causes, and biological threats; state and federal public health laws; structure and functions of local, regional, and state public health organizations; CDC operations and inter-state notification policies and procedures; disease and injury surveillance, reporting practices, and outbreak investigation procedures.
• Skill in clear oral and written communication, employee management, supervisory training, team building, conflict management, problem-solving, leadership, multi-tasking, prioritizing, data analysis and using computers and related software applications.
• Ability to understand, effectively interpret, and navigate agency and program rules, policies, procedures and processes; coordinate public, private, and professional group activities; express ideas clearly and concisely and address a variety of audiences effectively; exercise judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions; exhibit cultural awareness and competency.

Nice To Haves

• An advanced degree in public health, epidemiology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Leads the development, implementation, and evaluation of the department’s epidemiological initiatives and publications.
• Conducts data analysis and reviews health indicators to assists agency leadership with measuring the health status of the state.
• Performs special studies, develops reports and attends meetings.
• Manages the collection, analysis, and dissemination of public health data, including integration across state and federal agencies and ensuring data integrity and quality.
• Directs the daily operations of the OCSE division and provides general administrative and technical leadership of functions and activities.
• Establishes and monitors the division strategic vision, goals, and objectives in alignment with DSHS priorities.
• Advises the DSHS Commissioner and the executive team on epidemiology, morbidity and mortality trends, and health risks in the Texas population.
• Provides expert consultation on epidemiology and disease control, harmful exposure, and injury prevention to state agencies, health facilities, health service regions, local health authorities, local health departments, and other entities.
• Represents DSHS in legislative and public forums, including providing information, testimony, and presentations to legislative committees, state and federal agencies, and other organizations.
• Oversees development and approval of legislative materials and ensures coordination across divisions on joint projects.
• May represent DSHS at meetings, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees.
• Coordinates with the Commissioner and agency executives to advance agency goals and objectives.
• Provides information and counsel to on programmatic trends, emerging issues, and their impact.
• Other duties as assigned include actively participating in the agency's obligation for disaster response and/or recovery of Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
• This position will serve a key role during disasters; such participation may require an alternative shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager