Epidemiology and Evaluation Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

8d • $5,798 - $8,578 • Onsite

About The Position

Epidemiology and Evaluation Manager performs complex managerial work overseeing the daily operations and activities of the Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE) Branch, which provides scientific infrastructure, senior epidemiology, surveillance, evaluation, and research study expertise to the Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention (HPCDP) Section. Develops CDE's administrative and scientific goals and objectives in alignment with the priorities of DSHS executive and HPCDP section management, the legislature, and federal grants. Oversees organizational and scientific strategic planning for CDE. Develops, plans, and monitors CDE budget, supervises personnel, conducts performance evaluations, and other administrative functions. Develops guidelines for the development and delivery of scientific products and associated procedures, schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving scientific, administrative, and customer-centric goals. Supports grant application process within HPCDP Section and works collaboratively with other HPCDP branch managers and unit directors on surveillance and evaluation plans, data collection and monitoring process, and related deliverables for grants and other special projects. Ensures collaboration, coordination, and integration of CDE activities with all programs in the HPCDP Section. Participates in the legislative process as needed. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Requirements

• A graduate degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in epidemiology, biostatistics, public health, or a related field is required.
• Five years of experience with statistical data analysis software, qualitative data analysis software, MS Office programs, and data visualization software (e.g. ArcGIS, Tableau).
• Five years of experience working on public health data, survey development, data collection, data dissemination, and evidence based public health program evaluations.
• Two years of experience leading a team or supervising personnel.
• Knowledge of public health principles, epidemiology, evaluation, and surveillance related to chronic diseases and their risk factors.
• Knowledge of epidemiologic investigations, analyses, and interpretation of data.
• Knowledge of scientific research methods, principles, and philosophy.
• Knowledge of process improvement and quality assurance systems.
• Skill in project management.
• Skill in assigning and reviewing the work of others and directly supervising staff.
• Skills in using MS Office programs, statistical software (such as SAS) to analyze data, and mapping packages (ArcGIS).
• Skills in translating statistical information into meaningful information for the general public and external stakeholders.
• Skills in effectively and concisely communicating both orally and in writing.
• Ability to take independent decisions, manage high priority workloads, manage competing priorities, and operate in changing public health environment.
• Ability to work with short turnaround times.
• Ability to mentor epidemiology and program evaluation staff.
• Ability to provide leadership and technical advice on epidemiology and surveillance related to chronic diseases and their risk factors.
• Ability to create formal contributions to public health science and participate in the peer-review process.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels of an organization, agencies, stakeholders, and elected officials.
• Ability to do strategic/program planning, performance monitoring, and budget management.

Nice To Haves

• Skills in data visualization software (Tableau) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership for the Chronic Disease Epidemiology (CDE) Branch; oversees the establishment of strategic plans for CDE's growth, operations, processes, and scientific goals.
• Conducts organizational and scientific strategic planning for CDE.
• Develops and/or approves schedules, priorities and performance standards for achieving goals and objectives in CDE strategic plans.
• Develops and implements guidelines for the development and delivery of scientific data products and associated procedures, schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving scientific and customer-centric goals.
• Provides scientific infrastructure to the HPCDP section and supports more than ten programs and other initiatives in the section with their epidemiology, surveillance, and evaluation needs.
• Provides consultation to other HPCDP branch managers on grant applications, surveillance needs for tracking programs' progress, develop data collection tools and protocols, and measure performance indicators.
• Responsible for providing accurate and timely data to the HPCDP programs via dashboards, surveillance reports, fact sheets, GIS maps, data request reports, presentation slides, etc.
• Maintains the schedule for annual data dissemination process for a variety of data sources providing information on chronic diseases and health risk behaviors.
• Supports grant application process within HPCDP Section and works collaboratively with other HPCDP branch managers on surveillance and evaluation plans, and related deliverables during the grant cycle.
• Ensures collaboration, coordination, and integration of CDE branch activities with all branches and programs in the HPCDP Section.
• Identifies current and future funding and resource needs and communicates them to the Section Director.
• Oversee the preparation of CDE operating budgets, allocates approved budgets to CDE operations, and monitors expenditures, including federal and state funding sources.
• Works with HPCDP Finance Analysts, reviews budget reports to ensure compliance with policies and procedures set forth by DSHS, state, and federal funding sources.
• Oversee the preparation of contract language, scope of works, and performance reports from HPCDP programs related to the CDE activities.
• Collaborates and provides technical assistance to the HPCDP programs, their partners, and other units within CHI and DSHS on HPCDP related epidemiology and evaluation projects.
• Participates in agency work groups as appropriate and represents HPCDP section.
• Assist the HPCDP Section Director with media, executive leadership, and legislative requests, and other communications regarding chronic disease and risk factors data.
• Manages and develops CDE staff through review of performance data, consultation, training and performance appraisal.
• Responsible for hiring and selection, assigning work, completing performance evaluations, recommending personnel disciplinary actions and scheduling and approving leave.
• Prepares formal contributions to public health sciences, including conference abstracts and manuscripts for publications.
• Attends trainings and workshops to maintain skills and knowledge related to chronic diseases in public health science.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery of Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.
• Such participation may require an alternate 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