License and Permit Specialist II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

15d • $3,410 - $5,094 • Hybrid

About The Position

Work involved will be for the following programs, statutes, and rules: Consumable Hemp Products, Foods, Certificate of Free Sale and Sanitation, Milk and Dairy, Salvage; Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters 431, 432, 435, 440, 443; and Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapters 217, 229, and 300. Performs complex (journey-level) licensing and registration work. Work involves receiving and reviewing license, permit, certificate, and registration applications; reviewing for completeness and compliance with statute and rules; communicating with external and internal customers; and approving licenses, permits, certificates, and registrations. Interpreting and explaining licensing, permitting, certification, and registration processes, statutes, and rules to applicants, other DSHS staff, other government agencies, and the public. Will assist branch trainer to train new employees on processing applications. Works under general supervision of the Foods Licensing Branch Manager, with general latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Experience working with the Regulatory Automation System or any other database
• Experience working with applications
• Experience working with Word, Excel, Outlook, Adobe
• Experience using an automated phone system
• Experience using a scanner
• Ability to deal with other government agencies, industry, agency staff, and public in a pleasant and effective manner
• Ability to interpret and apply the following statutes, and rules: Texas Health & Safety Code 431, 432, 435, 440, 443; 25 TAC Chapters 217,229, and 300
• Ability to handle several assignments at one time
• Ability to understand and identify a problem or difficult situation; analyze all information; identify possible solutions; and select a solution
• Ability to work as a team member
• Ability to work independently with a high degree of accuracy and exercise sound judgment
• Ability to adhere to policies and procedures including those pertaining to confidential information
• Ability to schedule leave appropriately taking workloads into consideration
• Ability to communicate verbally, in stressful situations
• Ability to communicate in writing
• Ability to manage high volume of workload
• Skill in customer service or administrative work.

Nice To Haves

• at least three years of RAS experience

Responsibilities

• Receives, reviews, and processes all types of applications for all programs covered by Foods Licensing Branch for completeness and appropriateness based on applicable statutes and rules.
• After determining jurisdiction and eligibility approves, rejects, denies, or moves to deny applicants for a license, permit, certificate, registration or inspection.
• Refers applicants to appropriate section or agency if not under DSHS, Consumer Protection Division jurisdiction.
• Interprets rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and inspection results to determine appropriate license, permit, certificate, or registration required.
• Makes license eligibility determinations by reviewing applications and inspectional reports for compliance with applicable public health laws and/or ordinances.
• Interprets crime record reports that list the nature and classification of criminal arrest and court outcomes to determine eligibility before issuing a license.
• Ensures payments are processed and allocated to the appropriate applications.
• Determines which statutes and rules establishments are subject to licensure and/or subject to other restrictions under applicable laws, rules, and policies.
• Communicates with applicants, regulated industry, the public and governmental agencies via written and/or verbal communications concerning the requirements of regulated establishments and determines which laws and rules apply.
• Maintains the Regulatory Automated System database of establishments to ensure that accurate records are maintained for each location.
• Notifies noncompliant establishments of the state laws and regulations regarding regulated establishments.
• Conducts research via the internet to determine status of non-compliant firms with State Comptroller’s office.
• Maintains accounting and automated data processing records of all regulated establishment license holders and license fees.
• Research internet to determine taxpayer identification information required for remittance refunds.
• Maintains files in accordance with approved DSHS file management plan and retention schedules.
• Maintains contact with Inspections, Operations, and Compliance Branches and provides information on regulated establishments, applicable laws, regulations, and department policies and procedures including inspection and compliance procedures.
• Interprets and explains laws, rules, regulations, policies and procedures to applicants, regulated industry, the public, other sections and branches within DSHS, and governmental agencies via written and/or verbal communications concerning requirements of regulated establishments and all other inquires including open records requests.
• Prepares and sends license information and application packages to applicants and businesses via email, fax, or mail.
• Serves as back up to all staff within the branch as needed to ensure continuation of operations within regulatory time frames.
• Back up duties include and are not limited to: preparing enforcement cases to present to the Compliance Review Committee, reviewing scanned documents for quality assurance and quality control to ensure they are saved corrected before hard copies are destroyed, preparing deficiency letters, processing certificate of Freesale and Sanitation applications and certificates, receiving, evaluating, and filling or referring open records requests.
• Utilize the department’s database to generate reports about number of licenses issued.
• Maintains paper and electronic records in accordance with agency records retention policies.
• Assists other personnel on an as needed basis for mass mail-outs of renewal notices and delinquency notices, processing responses to deficiency letters, and file maintenance.
• Assists Unit Manager or trainer to update training materials and unit policies, procedures, and SOPs to incorporate any law, rule, regulation, or policy changes.
• Performs other duties as assigned including but 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.
• Acts as backup to the unit Administrative Assistant I, Receptionist, on a scheduled and as needed basis.
• Backup duties include and are not limited to answering multiple phone queues, processing incoming and outgoing mail, printing of licenses, registrations, certificates, and permits, and scanning documents to records in Hyland OnBase or the SharePoint site.

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: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed