Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Liaison

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: Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) Liaison 
Job Title: Program Specialist V 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Hlth Emer Preparedness Respons 
Posting Number: 14868 
Closing Date: 03/31/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Support 
Salary Range: $4,523.16 - $5,888.50 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-21 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift: Days (First) 
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 15% 
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 (RBB) 
Other Locations: Austin 
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Under the direction of Manager III and Team Lead, this position allows for considerable initiative and independent judgment. Working within the Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response’s (CHEPR) Preparedness Management Unit, this role serves as a liaison between the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) partners and the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). This position’s primary responsibilities include addressing concerns and offering consultative and technical assistance related to the integration of public health and medical preparedness. Tracks, manages, and reviews HPP and Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF) contractual deliverables. Contributes to the development of the annual funding application, reports, and other responses for information requests. Works with staff within the HPP Team, Branch, and Section to ensure responses are consistent and timely. Communicate with staff in other parts of the agency and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to ensure awareness of activities in assigned regions, as needed.

Develops and maintains awareness of public health and medical preparedness issues. Supports disaster response activities. Actively participates in disaster response by serving in a role in the State Medical Operation Center and/or the State Operation Center activations.

Essential Job Functions:

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

(35%) Serves as a liaison to assigned Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) providers. Serves as a programmatic lead for budget review and negotiations for assigned HPP providers. Collaborate with the Contract Management Section to track, review, and approve deliverables and requests for budget changes and/or amendments. Provides consultative and technical assistance services to HPP providers and other stakeholders regarding grant compliance, deliverables, and other HPP issues. Responds to requests for information or clarification in a timely and professional manner.

(20%) Travels throughout the state to participate in, observe, or lead: site visits, quality assurance reviews, exercises, coalition meetings, and other visits as required. Prepare appropriate reports from visits and oversee follow-up activities related to visits. Assists in developing agendas and facilitating meetings for HPP providers and other stakeholders. Reports issues and concerns promptly to the HPP Team Lead and/or Manager for corrective action, as needed. Maintains public health and medical situational awareness for assigned regions of the state. Maintains professionalism in all interactions with internal and external partners.

(20%) Supports the HPP Team Lead in ensuring compliance with requirements and deadlines for the federal cooperative agreement. Maintains detailed familiarity with and understanding of federal programmatic requirements, including Health Care System Preparedness Capabilities, Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) Capabilities, HPP Performance Measures, and annual HPP/PHEP Funding Opportunity Announcements. Contributes to the development of annual funding applications, requests for extensions/carry-over funds, special funding requests, end-of-year reports, and other ad-hoc reports and information requested by the HHS Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and other federal partners or national or state associations/partners. Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares material in response to requests and keeps subject matter experts and other DSHS staff informed, as necessary.

(15%) Learns and maintains awareness of public health and health care preparedness issues, including: Relevant federal and state laws, regulations, and rules; hazards, risks, and gaps throughout the state, especially in regions covered by assigned HPP providers, and a broad knowledge of the roles of public health, health care, and emergency management in preparedness and response in Texas.

(10%) Performs other duties as assigned. Will serve as a team member in the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) and/or the State Operations Center (SOC) in the event of a natural or man-made disaster requiring DSHS or State of Texas response. Depending on the magnitude of a disaster, may be deployed to a region or local area to assist with response efforts. Work during a disaster activation may require an alternate schedule, such as extended hours and working during holidays and/or weekends

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

1. Knowledge of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP).
2. Knowledge of the Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF). 
3. Knowledge of principles of emergency management and the National Incident Command System (NIMS).
4. Knowledge of contract management and budget principles
5. Skill in providing consultative and technical assistance.
6. Skill in managing and tracking multiple projects at different stages of development.
7. Skill in using Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and other Microsoft Suite products.
8. Ability to learn new subject matter areas quickly.
9. Ability to work as a member of a team.
10. Ability to gather, assemble, and disseminate information.
11. Ability to prepare concise reports.
12. Ability to prepare and deliver effective presentations.
13. Ability to prioritize, plan, and coordinate assignments.
14. Ability to exercise appropriate judgment and make decisions.
15. Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions.
16. Ability to communicate effectively in written and verbal forms in English.

Registration or Licensure Requirements:

None.

Initial Selection Criteria:

1. At least one year of healthcare readiness or emergency preparedness/management experience.
2. At least two years of experience developing and writing reports.
3. At least one year of experience with grant management, program management, contract management, or project management.

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