Perinatal and Infant Health Branch Manager

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

22h • Onsite

About The Position

Serves as the Branch Manager for the Perinatal and Infant Health Branch. Provides public health expertise and leadership in the daily operations of the Branch. Collaborates with consumers, providers, other agencies, organizations, programs, and other stakeholders to develop and implement family or person-centered, community-based, culturally competent, and coordinated systems of care for children and adolescents.  Manages the daily operations of staff in the Branch, develops and implements new service initiatives, programs and/or systems of care for children and adolescents.  Administers grant and contract proposals and projects and oversees the Title V block grant application for the infant population health domain, as well as the Title V needs assessment and Branch budget.   Works under limited supervision of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Unit Director, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Knowledge in supervision of employees; such as, hiring, staff development and evaluation, and counseling of employees.
• Knowledge of public health policy, state and federal agency laws and regulations related to community health services.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration and management.
• Knowledge of the legislative process and state and federal laws pertaining to public health.
• Knowledge of community health care delivery needs and barriers among diverse Texas populations.
• Knowledge of grant funding processes and competitive awarding of funds.
• Knowledge of best practices in community health service delivery.
• Skill in conducting planning activities including developing goals and objectives for strategic planning and evaluation.
• Skill in developing and implementing contracts and grant applications.
• Skill in identifying resources needed to accomplish service delivery objectives and budget development.
• Skill in developing and evaluating administrative policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Skill in interpreting scientific research and data to guide activities.
• Skill in identifying, evaluating, and solving issues and implementing effective solutions.
• Skill in managing multiple and competing priorities.
• Skill in quality improvement implementation for program evaluation.
• Skill in written communication
• Ability to plan, organize and complete multiple activities in a timely fashion.
• Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to work in a professional manner with employees and the general public and to establish and maintain effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups.
• Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely.

Responsibilities

• Supervises and manages staff. Work includes overseeing the daily operations of the Branch, identifying staff development and training requirements, performance monitoring and conducting performance evaluations, approving leave, recommending and approving merit increases, counseling staff as needed, interviewing and selecting individuals for hire, and providing ongoing guidance and leadership in staff work efforts. Oversees the establishment goals and objectives; developing and approving schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and managing evaluation activities.
• Regularly coordinates with the Maternal Health and Safety and Texas Collaborative for Healthy Mothers and Babies initiatives, strategies, and activities with the Maternal and Child Health Unit. Provides interface with other agencies, organizations, groups (federal and state) and represents the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) on formal committees, workgroups, and educational trainings relating to the infant population and initiatives. Provides leadership to ensure that program activities are integrated with other intra and interagency initiatives and activities and are in alignment with and work to achieve agency, state, and national goals and objectives. Oversees the infant population domain Title V planning, data reporting, needs assessment activities, grants and Request for Proposal (RFP) development for program services and activities to achieve the Title V objectives.
• Leads the generation of ideas and design methods for program quality improvement initiatives. Identifies needed areas of change and makes recommendations/leads implementation of techniques to evaluate and improve program activities, including contractor activities. Plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates policies and procedures; and monitoring compliance with policies and procedures
• Represents the Branch, Maternal and Child Health Unit/Section, Community Health Improvement Division and Department of State Health Services at meetings, hearings, conferences, and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees.
• Reviews, tracks, and prepares analyses of state and federal legislation relevant to maternal and child health and children with special health care needs. Developing and evaluating budget requests, monitoring budget expenditures, and adjusting as necessary. Researches, prepares, and/or assists with evaluation and development of grant opportunities, contracts, fiscal impact reports, and other reports and studies. Coordinates the implementation of special initiatives.
• 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, Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, and/or serving on the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) team.  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
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees