HCV Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit Director

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

22d•Onsite

About The Position

Works under the direct supervision of the HIV/STD Section Director, serves as Director of the HIV/STD/HCV Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (ESU). Performs complex managerial and epidemiological work leading the day-to-day operations of the Unit including functions related to developing, implementing, evaluating, and maintaining statewide HIV, STD, and HCV surveillance systems, sero surveillance, behavioral surveillance and special epidemiologic projects. Oversees analysis, interpretation and dissemination of HIV/AIDS, STD and HCV data collected by the Unit. Oversees management, security, and quality control of surveillance data systems. Provides oversight for provision of data and analyses critical to community planning for prevention and care services throughout Texas. Serves as DSHS Principal Investigator for HIV, STD, or HCV federal grants and cooperative agreements as appropriate. Ensures grant objectives and deadlines are met. Serves as Local Responsible Party of the Unit for security and confidentiality of HIV/STD data. Provides HIV/AIDS, STD, and HCV epidemiological expertise internally and externally. Manages the Unit budget including input on budget development and determining resource allocation to achieve Unit objectives. Responsible for all administrative duties, public relations, and public education provided by the Unit. Acts on behalf of the Section Director in his/her absence to provide HIV/AIDS, STD, and HCV programmatic information and guidance. Represents the agency at meetings and hearings as needed. Works under limited direction with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement.

Requirements

Knowledge of: Local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program activities and/or business functions.
Knowledge of: Principles and practices of public health, public administration and management.
Knowledge of: Texas legislative process and public accountability systems.
Knowledge of: Principles of leadership and how to effectively interact with various leadership styles.
Knowledge of: Supervision of employees, such as hiring, counseling, staff development and evaluation
Knowledge of: Grant funding processes and competitive awarding of funds.
Knowledge of: Public health laws related to communicable diseases, including HIV/STD.
Knowledge of: Prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of HIV infection and sexually transmitted diseases.
Knowledge of: Disease surveillance methods, bio-statistical methods, and epidemiology; familiarity with electronic methods of data analysis.
Knowledge of: Detailed knowledge of the principles and practice of program evaluation and application of behavioral theory to HIV/STD prevention.
Skill in: Establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy.
Skill in: Identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and negotiating and implementing solutions.
Skill in: Working collaboratively and cooperatively with diverse groups.
Skill in: Managing multiple and competing priorities.
Skill in: Developing and implementing contracts and grant applications.
Skill in: Identifying resources needed to accomplish service delivery objectives and budget development
Skill in: Excellent organizational and communication skills. Broad based statistical, epidemiological and analytical skills including experience with statistical computer packages. .
Skilled in presenting ideas clearly and concisely in writing and orally; addressing a wide variety of audiences effectively.
Ability to: Direct and organize program activities and/or business functions.
Ability to: Establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan.
Ability to: Identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
Ability to: Develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
Ability to: Prepare reports.
Ability to: Communicate effectively.
Ability to: Supervise the work of others.
Ability to: Express ideas clearly and concisely.
Ability to: Lead in an environment of change.
Ability to: Plan, assign, and evaluate the work of others.
Ability to: Establish effective working relationships with coalitions.
Ability to: Think creatively and support creative thinking in others.
Ability to: Establish effective working relationships with staff at all levels of an organization, agencies, providers, stakeholders, and elected officials.
Ability to: Develop and implement effective customer service systems.
Ability to: Understand and align operations and support strategies according to business needs.
Ability to: Interpret data and develop effective operating procedures and practices.
Ability to: Organize and present information effectively, both orally and in writing.
Ability to: Extensive ability in designing conducting, and collaborating on epidemiological research studies.
Ability to: Extensive ability to plan, develop, and promote a statewide system of HIV/AIDS and STD surveillance, data collection and data management.
Ability to: Build effective work teams.
Ability to: Work with the legislature.
Bachelor’s degree required.
Minimum of three years of experience in supervision of employees, including hiring staff, staff development and evaluation, counseling, and identification and implementation of human resource activities
Experience developing and supporting grants, contracts, procurements, or budgets.

Nice To Haves

Graduate degree in public health, public administration, or related field or 5 years of relevant experience preferred.
A minimum of three years of experience working for a public health department or state government preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides overall vision, leadership and strategic direction to the HIV/STD/HCV Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit.
Responsible for oversight, planning, monitoring and implementation of the Unit’s administrative, budget and fiscal activities.
Manages all resources in the Unit to meet current needs and plans for future needs to meet projected increases in activity.
Coordinates activities with other branches within the unit and with programs throughout the Department.
Provides administrative, program, and epidemiological information concerning HIV/AIDS, STDs, and HCV to department staff, policy makers, other governmental agencies, the media, community-based organizations, universities, and the public as requested.
Supervises and provides guidance in the creation, analysis and enhancement of HIV/AIDS, STD, and HCV surveillance systems.
Provides the epidemiological expertise to surveillance staff to enhance the quality of data that is collected and utilized for evaluation and analysis.
Develops the necessary policies, procedures, and technical guidelines to enhance surveillance and analysis of data dealing with HIV, STD, and HCV.
Serves as the Local Responsible Party for ensuring security and confidentiality of HIV, STD, and HCV data.
Encourages, manages, and supervises the development of epidemiological projects dealing with HIV/AIDS, STD, and HCV.
Oversees development and updating of program rules.
Supervises assigned personnel including providing regular guidance, setting priorities, developing performance standards, assigning tasks, setting deadlines, mentoring, scheduling and approving leave, monitoring and evaluating work performance and recommending disciplinary actions.
Conducts and supervises appropriate epidemiologic investigations and studies to define problems.
Develops and implements a plan of resolution for problems that are discovered by the above investigations.
Oversees the design and implementation of epidemiologic and behavioral studies to describe and monitor HIV/AIDS, STDs, and HCV in Texas including research methodology, protocol development, data collection, data management, security, human subjects protection, data analysis, data interpretation, report and manuscript writing, project evaluation and quality control.
Reviews, approves, and manages IRB application requests for data.
Provides leadership and guidance in preparing requests for proposals and obtaining funding for program evaluation, epidemiology and surveillance activities.
Serves as Principal Investigator federally funded grants and cooperative agreements as appropriate, ensures that all grant and cooperative agreement requirements, activities, goals and objectives are met
Ensures the provision of appropriate data and analyses to prevention and services planning bodies for use in planning, developing and evaluating programs and services.
Ensures that required disease reporting, progress on objectives, and data reports are prepared and provided in a timely and accurate manner for federal disease reporting, federal funding progress reports, legislative reports, and internal and external requests for information.
Manages and develops unit 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 for unit personnel.
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).

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