Grant Coordinator

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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: Grant Coordinator 
Job Title: Program Specialist V 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Emergency Preparedness 
Posting Number: 15100 
Closing Date: 04/19/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science 
Salary Range: $4,523.16 - $5,717.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-21 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift: Days (First) 
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 5% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DBGL) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Under the direction of the Emergency Preparedness Branch Manager, coordinates the quality assurance activities designed to oversee the Texas Laboratory Response Network (TxLRN) laboratories’ performance of Cooperative Agreement for Public Health Emergency Preparedness (CDC PHEP) required grant activities.   Adapts and revises a quality assurance program to assess and document compliance of the TxLRN laboratories with requirements of the CDC Emergency Preparedness Cooperative agreement.  Coordinate pre-site and post-site visit activities and schedule and perform TxLRN laboratory site visits.  Maintain documentation of pre-site activities, site visits, and required follow-up activities.  Provide written reports to DSHS and to the LRN laboratories detailing performance in meeting TxLRN requirements and identifying any deficiencies.  Review written responses addressing identified deficiencies submitted by the LRN laboratories and ensure that these responses adequately address the deficiencies.  Provide assistance to any LRN that has identified weaknesses or obstacles, which could prevent successful performance of expected LRN and CDC grant activities.  Assists in Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement development and reporting of grant activities to DSHS executives and grantor agencies.  Assists with other activities designed to support grant deliverables.  Supports the creation of a laboratory-wide safety culture by serving as a liaison to the Safety Office to ensure a healthy and safe workplace.

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

EJF 1.  Coordinates and performs all pre-site, post-site, and site visit activities for quality assurance audits of the Texas Laboratory Response Network (LRN) laboratories in support of CDC PHEP grant deliverables.  Develops a schedule of site visits.  Coordinates with regional and local authorities prior to site visit.  Coordinates all pre-site visit conference calls, requests for documentation, DSHS expectations, and agenda for site visit.  Coordinates initial conference overview and exit conference overview with local management.  Ensures that facilities are available for meetings and interviews. (40%) 

EJF 2.  Maintains documentation of pre-site activities, site visits, and required follow-up activities in regards to quarterly reports for the CDC PHEP grant.  Provides written reports to DSHS and to the LRN laboratories.  Provide written reports detailing performance in meeting Texas LRN requirements and identifying deficiencies.   Review LRN responses addressing identified deficiencies and ensure that these responses address the deficiencies.  Provide updates and written reports in support of the midyear and final PHP cooperative agreement reports. (20%)

EJF 3.  Adapts and revises a quality assurance program to assess and document compliance of TxLRN laboratories with the CDC Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative agreement. Develops necessary templates for documentation of site visit reviews.  Develops format for exit reports and post-site assessment reports.  Determines requirements for DSHS quality assurance activities and reports. (15%)

EJF 4.    Provides assistance to any LRN that has identified weaknesses or obstacles, which could prevent successful performance of expected LRN and CDC PHEP grant activities.  Participates in technical assistance conferences designed to provide support for the TxLRN laboratories.  Assists the Laboratory Response Coordination Team with activities designed to assist the TxLRN in successfully meeting performance measures as outlined in the CDC Public Health Preparedness cooperative agreement.  (10%)

EJF 5.  Integrates other duties or workload as assigned; serves on workgroups or service improvement teams, as required; identifies and assembles documentation to support federal and state auditors as requested by the Deputy Laboratory Director and Laboratory Director. Collaborates with colleagues to continually review, improve, and/or ensure the integrity of grant application information.  Monitors customer satisfaction with the grants process.  (5%)

EJF 6.  Assists in Public Health Emergency Preparedness Cooperative Agreement development and reporting of grant activities to DSHS executives and grantor agencies. Prepares reports and presentations.  Participates in preparedness and LRN exercises and conferences.  Assists with other activities in support of grant deliverables as assigned.  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. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

EJF 7. Maintains Training and Compliance module for sentinel laboratory workers in Texas. (5%)

Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge of microbiology especially useful is knowledge of bacteriology and virology as related to disease transmission.
Knowledge of laboratory training techniques.
Knowledge of program planning and evaluation
Knowledge of grants writing principles and practices.
Skill in using computer software such as word processing, database, spreadsheet and graphic presentation software.
Skill in effective customer service practices.
Skill in synthesizing and analyzing complex information for a variety of purposes.
Skill in problem solving and conflict resolution.
Skill in research and analysis techniques.
Skill in providing technical assistance to a variety of stakeholders.
Skill in organizing large interdisciplinary meetings.
Ability to present complex information to a variety of audiences verbally and in writing.  Ability to develop policies, procedures and concise reports.
Ability to organize and prioritize heavy workloads and meet deadlines.
Ability to organize program activities.
Ability to establish goals and objectives.
Ability to maintain effective working relationships with managers, co-workers, the public, stakeholders and partners.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze data, to devise solutions to problems.
Ability to prepare concise reports, to develop and evaluate policies and procedures, and to plan for future needed actions.

Registration or Licensure Requirements: NA

Initial Screening Criteria:
A minimum of Bachelor’s Degree.
Experience in laboratory related emergency response activities.
Experience in developing policies, procedures, and reports.

Additional Information:
If an employee operates a personal or state motor vehicle in performance of their official duties, the employee must possess a current valid Texas driver’s license for the appropriate type vehicle.  Employees/Applicants are responsible for providing a copy of their driver’s license prior to beginning employment. Applicant must be able to work hours other than normal schedule in the event of an emergency and should indicate this ability in the application. 

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