Grant Coordinator

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

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: Grant Coordinator 
Job Title: Program Specialist IV 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Birth Defects Epi & Surveill 
Posting Number: 16659 
Closing Date: 06/05/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Community and Social Services 
Salary Range: $5,000.00 - $5,000.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: ARLINGTON 
Job Location Address: 1301 S BOWEN RD STE 200 
Other Locations: Austin 
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Job Description: Under the supervision of the Program Supervisor VII, coordinates activities related to preparing grant applications and grant renewals for the Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch (BDESB). Assists with grant-related projects, family outreach, birth defects prevention initiatives, and IRB study approvals. Coordinates grant-related meetings and manages grant-related contracts and budgets. This is a grant-funded position that will span one year (May 1, 2026 - April 30, 2027) and is contingent on grant funding at any point.

Essential Job Functions:

(35%) Coordinates grant-related applications, renewals, documents, reports, budgets, and communications. Works with Section Budget Specialist, Grants Office at DSHS, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the branch grant team on grant submissions. Coordinates submission of all grant-related documents and deliverables and ensures all grant deadlines are met. Coordinates and monitors grant-related contracts and budgets. Assists with developing scopes of work and annual contract renewals. Collects and reviews quarterly progress reports and other deliverables from contractors.

(35%) Participates in or assists with specific grant-related projects, which may include performing literature reviews, assisting with data cleaning, and assisting with surveys of families of children with birth defects. Assists with family outreach projects, including the neural tube defect (NTD) recurrence prevention mailout and the review of electronic case reports (eCRs) to identify children for referral to agency social workers. Prepares abstracts, presentations, or reports about grant-related family outreach and prevention projects.

(10%) Oversees the development and administrative monitoring of IRB approved research studies for the Branch. Works with external collaborators, other DSHS programs, and Branch staff in completing IRB submissions, renewals, and amendments. Tracks IRB study deadlines to ensure that IRB approvals/renewals do not lapse. Develops and reviews policies and procedures related to IRB research studies. Collects, compiles, and analyzes complex IRB research information. Assists with ongoing IRB-approved research studies related to family outreach by tracking and mailing study recruitment letters and/or providing technical assistance to families participating in studies.

(10%) Coordinates meetings with grant team for various grant-related projects. Ensures that meetings are set up and appropriate team members invited. Develops meeting agendas, provides project updates, and shares relevant handouts. Develops meeting minutes, receives input, finalizes and shares minutes and additional handouts/materials with the grant team. Tracks and updates grant team about progress of all grant-related projects. Ensures that project deadlines do not lapse.

(10%) Carries out other duties as assigned. Manages publications listings, manuscript approvals, and abstract approvals for BDESB. Develops slide sets, social media posts related for family outreach and birth defects prevention, and abstracts stemming from grant-related projects.

Knowledge, skills, and abilities

Prefer knowledge of: public health programs, grants, grant administration, contract monitoring, budgets, program planning, community outreach, and/or social work.

Skills in: Effective collaboration with other program staff and external partners on specified tasks; effective oral and written communication; managing multiple tasks, meeting deadlines; the use of computer software such as word processing (esp. MS Word), graphics (esp. MS Power Point), or statistical analysis software (esp. MS Excel, SAS, STATA, or R) preferred.

Ability to: Gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; devise solutions to problems; prepare documents and reports; independently organize and coordinate multiple projects with overlapping components; work effectively with others and deal tactfully with coworkers and the public; initiate and complete independent projects and tasks with minimal supervision.

Initial selection criteria:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health education, social work, or related discipline required.
• Prior experience writing or developing reports required.
• Prior experience with statistical analysis software (e.g., MS Excel, SAS, STATA, or R) preferred.
• Experience with coordinating projects, grants, community outreach, and/or contracts preferred.  

Additional Information:

• This is a grant-funded position that has 1 year of funding remaining (May 1, 2026- April 30, 2027) and is contingent on grant funding at any point.
• This position is eligible for hybrid teleworking, subject to agency policies, but must reside in the greater Austin area and be able to travel to the office (1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, TX, 78756) as needed. 

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