Epidemiology and Surveillance Manager

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Employee 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). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Functional Title: Epidemiology and Surveillance Manager 
Job Title: Manager IV 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: TB Branch 
Posting Number: 17339 
Closing Date: 06/09/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 
Salary Range: $5,797.66 - $9,000.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-25 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 15% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 201 W HOWARD LN STE 200 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 0203,0207,0302,0520,0602,0802,1802,5502,6302,6502,7202,7208,7210,7220,111X,112X,113X,114X,16GX,41AX 
611X,612X,631X,632X,641X,648X,86M0,86P0,8U000,9G100,SEI15 
 
 

Brief Job Description

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.  

Essential Job Functions

25% - 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.

25% - 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. 

15% - 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. 

15% - 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. 

10% - 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.  

5% - 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.

5% - 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.

Licensure, Certification or Registration Required

Valid and current Texas driver's license

Knowlege, Skills and Abilities

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

Additional Information

Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.

Applicants invited to an interview will be administered a skills test as part of the interview process.

Must be willing to travel at least 15% of the time.

Must be willing to work outside the normal work schedule if needed.  

Initial Screening Criteria

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 two years experience working as a team lead or manager in epidemiology. 

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form