License and Permit Spec III

License & Permit Specialist III. Under the direction of the Drug and Food Licensing Branch Manager, performs highly complex, (senior-level), certification, licensing, permitting, and registration work with limited supervision. Work involved will be for the following programs, statutes, and rules:  Retail Foods, Certified Food Manager, Drugs and Medical Devices, and Seafood and Aquatic Life; Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters 431, 436, and 437; and Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapters 228, 229 and 241.
Primarily responsible for the  Retail Food initial applications and all Drugs and Medical Devices applications. Conducts quality assurance/quality control activities on printed licenses, permits, certificates, and registrations. Processes, approves or initiates denial of all types of applications for all programs listed. Determines if businesses/entities fall under DSHS jurisdiction and applicable public health laws and rules. Work involves communicating, interpreting, explaining statutes, rules, and policies to applicants, license holders, other sections and units within DSHS, the public, and other government agencies via verbal and written means. Generates performance reports, conducts database maintenance, serves as backup to other unit staff. 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.  

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
Work involved will be for the following programs, statutes, and rules:  Retail Foods, Certified Food Manager, Drugs and Medical Devices, and Seafood and Aquatic Life; Texas Health and Safety Code Chapters 431, 436, and 437; and Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code Chapters 228, 229 and 241.
EJF 1( 40%) Receives, reviews initial Retail Food applications for completeness. Determines fees based on regulatory requirements and applications. Identifies and resolves application deficiencies through development of correspondence or telephone contact to applicants. After determining jurisdiction approves, rejects, denies, or moves to deny applicants for a permit. Assists branch manager in reviews, develops, and submits changes/amendments to rules regarding Retail Food. Provides policy interpretation on rules and regulations pertaining to Retail Food to federal, local authorities, other States’ Government Regulatory Agencies; Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Inspectors and internal state office staff; and applicants. Enters Retail Food applications, fees, and additional fees into RAS and determines expiration date based on regulatory requirements. Maintains tracking and filing system for Retail Food permits and licenses.

EJF 2 (15%) Drugs and Medical Devices – Receives, reviews initial Drugs and Medical Devices applications for completeness. Identifies and resolves application deficiencies through development of correspondence or telephone contact to applicants. After determining jurisdiction approves, rejects, denies, or moves to deny applicants for a license. Assists unit manager in reviewing, developing, and submitting changes/amendments to rules regarding Drugs and Medical Devices. Provides policy interpretation on rules and regulations pertaining to Drugs and Medical Devices to federal, local authorities, other States’ Government Regulatory Agencies; Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Inspectors and internal state office staff; and applicants. Enters Drugs and Medical Devices applications, fees, and additional fees into RAS. Maintains tracking and filing system for Drugs and Medical Devices licenses.

EJF 3 (30%) Receives, reviews, and process all renewal and amendment applications for all programs covered by the Drug and Food Licensing Branch for completeness and appropriateness based on applicable statutes and rules. After determining jurisdiction and eligibility approves, rejects, denies, or moves to deny applicants for a license, permit, certificate, registration or inspection. Refers applicants to appropriate section or agency if not under DSHS jurisdiction. Interprets rules, regulations, policies and procedures, and inspection results to determine appropriate license, permit, certificate, or registration required. Makes license eligibility determinations by reviewing applications and inspectional reports for compliance with applicable public health laws and/or ordinances Interprets crime records reports that list the nature and classification of criminal arrest and court outcomes to determine eligibility before issuing a license. Ensures payments are processed and allocated to the appropriate applications, reconciles remittance accounts, merges applications when necessary. Determines which statutes and rules establishments are subject to licensure and/or subject to other restrictions under applicable laws, rules, and policies. Communicates with applicants, regulated industry, the public and governmental agencies via written and/or verbal communications concerning the requirements of regulated establishments and determines which laws and rules apply. Communicates with applicants via written correspondence to relay application deficiencies, and presence of credits. Maintains the Regulatory Automated System database of licensed establishments to ensure that accurate records are maintained for each location. Notifies noncompliant establishments of the state laws and regulations regarding regulated establishments. Assists other staff with researching internet to determine status of non-compliant firms with State Comptroller’s office. Maintains accounting and automated data processing records of all regulated establishment license holders and license fees.
EJF 4 (5%) Licensing and Certification Activities - Develops, monitors, and enters data into RAS regarding numbers of certificates and licenses issued to applicants and total dollars collected for fees. Assists in preparation of legislative responses. Prepares statistical, financial, and performance reports for Branch Manger as requested utilizing RAS. Monitors and performs audits for payment of fees by reviewing confidential governmental records. Reviews remittances and applications and proofs for completion. Assists in the planning, development, operations, and evaluation of RAS to ensure that accurate and timely records are maintained for each entity regulated by the Drugs and Food Licensing Branch.
EJF 5 (5%) 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.

EJF 6 (5%) Acts as backup to other unit staff on a scheduled and as needed basis to ensure continuous operations and issuance of licenses, permits, certifications, and registrations. Including answering phones and printing of licenses, permits, certificates, and registrations.
 

Experience with local, state and federal laws regulating to the Retail Foods, Certified Food Manager, Drugs and Medical Devices, and Seafood and Aquatic Life programs.
Experience with procedures for permitting, licensing, certifying, and registering.
Experience reviewing the work of others.
Skill in using computers and utilizing the following software: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and Adobe.
Skill in using the Regulatory Automation System or any other database
Skilled in preparation of written correspondence and reports.
Skilled in gathering, assembling, correlating and analyzing facts.
Skill in interpreting and applying rules, regulations, policies and procedures.
Skill in reading, interpreting, and evaluating inspection reports.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to plan and organize programs and to supervise technical personnel.
Ability to establish priorities in workload and scheduling.
Ability to manage time effectively and to exercise good judgment in evaluating situations and making recommendations.
Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing with program personnel, state and local officials, boards and associations, and the public.
Ability to meet scheduling, workload and reporting deadlines.
Ability to work with a diverse group of people.
Ability to work as an effective team member.
Ability to schedule leave appropriately taking workload and projects into consideration.
Ability to coordinate activities between branches within the Consumer Protection Division
Ability to interpret complex policies and allocate tasks.