Program Specialist IV

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Program Specialist (PS) IV position is in the Congenital Syphilis (CS) Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Division. Under the supervision of the Congenital Syphilis Manager, the PS IV performs highly complex (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work to regional and local STD jurisdictions in accordance with state and national goals to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of CS reports. Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. PS IV assists implementation of Congenital Syphilis Surveillance and Epidemiology programs at local and regional health departments by providing technical support, developing, interpreting, and revising policies, procedures, regulations, and standards related to the CS program. Program specialist IV monitors required performance reports and recommends appropriate changes. In collaboration with CS program staff, PS IV determines trends and implements improvements to resolve technical problems. Program Specialist IV evaluates and review program area functions and operations, identify areas needing change, and develop plans to improve programs or to address areas of concern. Conduct training and provide guidance to local and regional STD jurisdictions staff in the development and integration of new or revised methods and procedures. Recommend and coordinate activities to produce a more effective congenital syphilis surveillance program. 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

• Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in public health, health sciences or related field. Experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-to-year basis.
• At least one-year experience with public health, disease surveillance and infectious disease control preferred with a Texas state agency.
• A minimum of one year’s experience in program planning, development, administration, and evaluation.
• At least one year’s experience providing customer service to internal and external stakeholders and with a diverse group of professionals.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to the program area; public administration techniques; training and marketing techniques; and program management processes and techniques.
• Knowledge of management techniques; statistical analysis processes; budget processes; and research techniques.
• Knowledge of word processing, database software applications, and spreadsheet software applications.
• Knowledge of infectious disease control or disease surveillance.
• Knowledge of Congenital Syphilis control and reporting.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration and management.
• Knowledge of governmental budgeting processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of the major functions of public health, health care reform initiatives, and health care policy development.
• Skill in identifying measures or indicators of program performance and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Skill in organizing and interpreting data, preparing reports, and delivering public health information in presentations.
• Skill in conducting planning activities including developing goals and objectives for strategic planning and evaluation.
• Skill in organizing and presenting complex information to a variety of diverse stakeholders.
• Skill in managing and prioritizing multiple and competing work activities.
• Skill in quality improvement implementation for program evaluation.
• Skill in meeting facilitation.
• Skill in using a public health prevention framework and ensuring it is incorporated and evaluated in program activities and initiatives.
• Skill in developing and evaluating administrative policies, procedures, and protocols.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems; to market programs; to prepare reports; to develop, evaluate, and interpret policies and procedures; and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to provide guidance to others.
• Ability to serve as a lead worker providing direction to others.
• Ability to work with others to resolve complex issues.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Ability to speak and write effectively, clearly, and concisely on a variety of complex subjects related to the program.
• Ability to plan, organize, and complete multiple activities in a timely fashion.
• Ability to handle a wide range of tasks in an effective manner along with planning, organizing, and completing multiple tasks and activities in a timely fashion.
• Ability to interpret guidelines, policies, procedures, and regulations on a state and national level.

Responsibilities

• Supports Congenital Syphilis (CS) surveillance by performing syphilis and congenital syphilis case reviews and approvals, data remediation and deduplication.
• Provides guidance to surveillance sites regarding medical chart abstractions for congenital syphilis.
• Aids local and regional health departments regarding reporting for congenital syphilis surveillance.
• Assists local and regional health departments in workflow management for congenital syphilis surveillance.
• Provides consultative services and technical assistance to regional and local STD jurisdictions in accordance with state and national goals to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data gathered.
• Identifies and addresses training needs of local and regional STD jurisdictions, and aids in the evaluation of the effectiveness of program systems to improve accuracy, precision, completeness, fidelity, and efficacy of data matches, electronic case reporting and reporting to CDC.
• Works within the CS team to identify cases eligible for Fetal Infant Mortality Review of HIV and Syphilis (FIMR-S) activities at multiple FIMR-S groups in Texas.
• Collaborates to ensure complete medical record of ascertainment, review, and documentation.
• Represents Texas DSHS at virtual and in person FIMRS meetings to identify gaps in services and prevention.
• Use academic and general search engines to locate congenital syphilis -related research.
• Provides consultation relating to research design, planning, instrumentation, and statistical analysis, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Coordinates the interstate communications necessary to ensure the reporting and investigation of potential congenital syphilis cases and syphilis cases among persons of childbearing capacity which transverse state boundaries are complete and timely.
• Conducts out of state record searches for congenital syphilis cases.
• Sends field records for out of state contacts of congenital syphilis cases diagnosed in Texas.
• Initiates incoming field records for public health follow up for partners of out-of-state congenital syphilis cases.
• Represents DSHS at meetings and conferences on a statewide and national basis and acts as a liaison to other branches within the Department and with state and national organizations related to congenital syphilis.
• Provides feedback to management regarding needs related to the budget, grants or contracts, staffing, and policies and procedures.
• Other duties 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 location.
• 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.

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: Senior