Program Specialist V

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Employee Benefits:

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Functional Title: Program Specialist V 
Job Title: Program Specialist V 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Congenital Syphilis 
Posting Number: 15199 
Closing Date: 04/08/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Computer and Mathematical 
Salary Range: $4,523.16 - $5,888.50 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-21 
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: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (RDM) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Job Description:  

The position is in the Congenital Syphilis (CS) Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit in the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Division. Performs highly complex (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work supporting local and regional health department Congenital syphilis Surveillance staff and programs. Exercises independent judgment and professional discretion with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment to administrate, advise, plan, and coordinate duties. The Program Specialist V performs a variety of technical training, research, planning, policy, program assessment, and administrative activities tasks related to the reporting and case validation of congenital syphilis investigational data, including database maintenance, report tracking, data entry, and quality assurance. Provides support to and collaborates in the planning, development, implementation, analysis, and documentation of CS program. Serves as a liaison to staff, government agencies, community organizations and the public to assist in explaining CS program specifics and requirements for contracts and case reporting from assigned local and regional health department jurisdictions. Engages community and professional groups to encourage and improve interest in the CS program. This position will aid in development of short-term, mid-term and long-term goals and objectives, and the development of standards for monitoring achievement of strategic operational goals and ensure compliance with applicable requirements, laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Performs other related work as assigned.  To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Essential Job Functions: 

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

(35%) Work with the Congenital Syphilis (CS) epidemiology team to review congenital syphilis cases, CS data remediation and deduplications. Consults with public and private agencies involved in the CS programs to resolve problems, identify training needs, and discuss program effectiveness. Participates in the development of program policies, procedures, standards, and manuals in accordance with program objectives and goals. Provides guidance to surveillance sites regarding medical chart abstractions for CS. Supports regional and local health departments regarding reporting for congenital syphilis surveillance. Develops and provides line lists, data trackers and program reports to local and regional health departments partners on the processes and procedures for investigating and reporting congenital syphilis. Manages THISIS database workflows and provides guidance, training and technical assistance on the review and monitoring of workflows at surveillance sites, ensuring data are entered meeting federal and state requirements. 

(20%) Provides consultative services, technical assistance, and program information to regional and local health departments in accordance with state and national goals to ensure the accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of data gathered during congenital syphilis investigations. Analyzes program performance data to help ensure compliance with program policies and procedures, statutes, and rules; and recommend corrective actions as needed. Identifies and addresses training needs and aids in the evaluation of local and regional health department progress toward contractually required metrics. Provides consultation to assigned congenital syphilis surveillance jurisdictions in meeting short-term, mid-term and long-term goals, objectives and standards.   

(20%) Coordinates the instate and interstate communications, Out of State Record Searches (OOS), Cumulative Interstate Duplicate Review and Routine Interstate Duplicate Review, necessary to ensure the reporting and investigation of congenital syphilis cases which transverse state boundaries are complete, timely, accurately capture case history, and do not overcount the total number of congenital syphilis at a national level. Analyzes legislation to develop recommendations for policy in programmatic issues relating to the implementation, improvement, and expansion or reduction of CS program funding. 

(10%) Verifies entered CS data by reviewing, correcting, deleting, or reentering data collected from medical records and other sources; combining data from multiple systems and multiple data sources when reporting information is incomplete; purging files to eliminate duplication of data. Processes CS reports and provides occasional data entry support for CS case registry sites. Analyze the application of and variations within programs to develop action plans for improving or initiating new programs. 

(10%) Supports epidemiologists by researching and resolving aberrant data findings and records while understanding the reporting limitations of the data collection process. Participates in case reporting accuracy studies by reabstracting the medical records of previously reported cases.  Participates in CDC site visits and training as appropriate. Prepares data and objectives for grant applications, annual progress reports, and interim progress reports. 

(5%) Performs other duties as assigned, including but not limited to actively participating in and serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and recovery or Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) activities. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and location. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements. 

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: Not Appicable.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with major course work in public health, health sciences or related field. 

At least one year experience with public health, disease surveillance and infectious disease control preferred with a Texas state agency. 

A minimum of 2 years’ experience in program planning, development, administration, and evaluation. 

At least one year experience providing customer service to internal and external stakeholders and with a diverse group of professionals. 

At least one year experience in the coordination and tracking of assignments through completion. 

Additional Information:

This position may be eligible for telework.  

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