Epidemiology and Surveillance Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Under the supervision of the Tuberculosis (TB) and Hansen's Disease Section Director, performs highly complex managerial work administering the daily operations of the TB and Hansen's Disease Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch. Work involves establishing and achieving goals and objectives; developing guidelines, schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals; coordinating and evaluating activities within the program. Effectively supervises program staff and foster a work environment that promotes teamwork, competency, and a highly skilled workforce within the Branch. Provide clear direction and guidance to each team.  Work with the Section, DSHS laboratory, including regional and local health department management staff to ensure a system of surveillance and reporting are maintained to accurately determine the impact of tuberculosis and Hansen’s disease in Texas. Serve as the Section’s subject matter expert in the development of electronic data software applications. Participate in completing division assignments including legislative requests.

Requirements

• Valid and current Texas driver's license
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations related to epidemiology, surveillance and program management processes and techniques.
• Thorough knowledge of the basic principles and methods of epidemiology.
• Thorough knowledge of biostatistics as applied to epidemiology.
• Thorough knowledge of the methods to control tuberculosis and other communicable diseases.
• Thorough knowledge of the application of computers to the analysis and management of epidemiological data.
• Thorough knowledge of departmental rules, regulations, and policies related to the work.
• Thorough knowledge of the transmission of infectious diseases and the pathologic processes leading to disease.
• Knowledge of relevant laws such as HIPAA and data privacy regulations.
• Some knowledge of training and supervisory techniques.
• Some knowledge of equal employment opportunity policies and procedures
• Ability to manage a public health program Ability to think critically and make data-driven decisions under pressure Ability to plan, develop and coordinate field operations Ability to manage program activities and establish goals and objectives Ability to develop and assess performance measures Ability to devise solutions to administrative problems Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures Ability to prepare concise reports Ability to plan, assign, supervise, and evaluate the work of others Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships Ability to work in a multidisciplinary work environment Ability to facilitate and work in a team environment Ability to adhere to agency and program standards
• Skill in analyzing large datasets and applying statistical methods to interpret public health data.
• Skill in the use of epidemiologic software such as SAS, SAS-VIYA for statistical analysis and data management
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing Skill in effective prioritization of multiple work assignments Skill in developing and implementing program planning Skill in public speaking Skill in developing presentations to diverse audiences Skill in team building Skill in EXCEL, ACCESS, Word, PowerPoint
• Master's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in epidemiology, public health or closely related field. A Master's degree in epidemiology is preferred.
• At least three year's work experience in epidemiologic data analysis and reporting.
• Must have experience using SAS statistical software.
• Must have at least three years experience working as a team lead or manager in epidemiology.

Responsibilities

• Plan, assign, and supervise the work of the TB Epidemiology and Surveillance staff: Hire, manage, and develop staff through mentoring, trainings, and performance appraisals. Identify training needs of direct reports, develop work performance plans, and conduct performance evaluations annually. Work within agency constraints to provide staff with the training, tools, and information needed to carry out their responsibilities and to succeed in their work. Direct and evaluate staff and recommend appropriate personnel actions to foster a fair, honest and equitable work environment to promote teamwork and competency. Direct work assignments and provide clear direction on responsibilities and work performance expectations using written and verbal communication. Review and approve leave and ensure all human resource activities are in accordance with agency and system policy. Disseminate information and management decisions to staff regarding relevant departmental activities. Provides direction to staff regarding activities and operations of their functional areas. Post vacant positions and conducts interviews including selecting and hiring staff.
• Direct, coordinate, and evaluate the daily operations of the TB Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch. Establish goals and objectives that align with Section's priorities; develop and maintain standards of operation for the Branch. Create team workflows to facilitate work performance and foster prompt response to Section staff including internal and external stakeholders. Identify gaps and opportunities to improve operational mechanisms within the Branch. Ensure optimal performance among staff to meet priorities and address program activities effectively and efficiently. Demonstrate proficiency in epidemiology concepts, data analysis and surveillance strategies. Serve as a subject matter expert on TB. Be knowledgeable of resources that support the Branch. Hold routine meetings with teams to share information and receive updates on team's activities. Oversee special investigations, program analyses, research studies and internal audits. Coordinate airline investigations, cluster outbreaks, monitor investigations of concerning events such as false positive investigations, mortality events, school exposures, other environmental exposures etc. Lead research studies on TB and Hansen's disease.
• Maintain a competent TB and HD workforce statewide. Work with Section staff to develop and/or maintain trainings including materials relevant to internal and external stakeholders. Work with Section staff to organize conferences, seminars, webinars and other video training opportunities. Develop and routinely update publications, standards of care and other materials that support consistent epidemiology and surveillance practices statewide. Engage in research opportunities to highlight program’s performance on a variety of interventions and practices. Sets standards for auditing epidemiology practices performed among funded local health departments (LHDs) and public health regions (PHRs). Participate and/or assign an epidemiologist in participating program audits conducted by the Section.
• Participate in program collaboration and service integration activities. Work across program areas in and outside the Section to support overall TB and Hansen’s disease functions. External groups include but are not limited to Laboratory Services Mycobacteriology Branch, Pharmacy Branch, local, state and federal correctional entities, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Heartland National TB Center, PHRs, LHDs, the Division for Regional and Local Health Operations (RLHO), etc.
• Oversee the implementation of changes resulting from new legislation in data applications affecting the Section. Serve as program lead in working with the Public Health Informatics Team in developing surveillance data applications. Serves as subject matter expert in discovery sessions with DSHS vendors, DSHS information technology teams, and epidemiology and surveillance team leads to develop technical specifications for TB and Hansen’s disease electronic data software applications. This includes data migration from existing to proposed electronic data software application. Completes project assignments as directed by the DSHS project manager.
• Participate in responding to division requests. These requests include performing highly complex epidemiological data analysis using statistical software such as SAS and SAS VIYA to complete reports. Performs complex data analysis using SAS and SAS VIYA to complete legislative budget board (LBB) performance measures outcomes on a quarterly basis and submit to the division for routing to DSHS government affairs. Complete other complex data analysis using EXCEL, SAS or SAS VIYA as requested by the division or Section director. Complete division assignments including legislative requests. May represent the Section director at meetings or other events. May serve as the acting Section director.
• Perform 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 or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Benefits

• DSHS offers 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