Public Health & Prevention Specialist II

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: Public Health & Prevention Specialist II 
Job Title: Publ Hlth and Prevent Spcl II 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Region 7 
Posting Number: 20017 
Closing Date: 08/26/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Support 
Salary Range: $3,409.83 - $4,252.00 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-16 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework:  
Travel: Up to 20% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: TEMPLE 
Job Location Address: 1010 OLD WACO RD 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 230X,43EX,43HX,4B0X1,4E0X1,60C,68S,68Z,HM,HS,MED,NAP11,SEI12 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Under the general supervision of the Tuberculosis (TB) Program Manager, this position performs complex, journey-level public health work to support regional operations.

The primary focus of this role is fiscal and contract administration, which involves assisting the TB Program Manager with budgeting, monitoring expenditures, and coordinating vendor contracts to secure resources for TB surveillance, containment, and patient care. This includes managing accounts payable functions, processing vendor invoices, and tracking them through to final payment in coordination with agency fiscal offices. 

Additionally, the position serves as the regional Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) Coordinator, managing the clinic assignment, follow-up tracking, data entry, and quality assurance monitoring for high-risk individuals referred through the EDN system to ensure compliance with public health standards.

This role provides vital logistical support to regional public health staff and clinics by handling the procurement, storage, inventory control, and distribution of supplies and equipment. As needed, the specialist assists with field operations, including TB contact investigations, community mass screenings, and transporting clients to the Texas Center for Infectious Disease (TCID).

Finally, the position manages essential administrative operations to maintain program organization. This includes drafting processes and procedures, updating clinical manuals and contact lists, developing educational materials, and providing technical, non-clinical assistance to local health departments, contracted vendors, and healthcare providers. Additionally, the position conducts regular quality assurance reviews of program data and processes to ensure compliance with public health standards. 

Works with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. 

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

EJF 1. Budgeting and Contracting Support: Reconciles internal program financial spreadsheets with agency accounting systems. Maintains the TB Program Expenditures log and manages all financial records related to program spending. Prepares quarterly, semiannual, and annual budget reports for the TB Program Manager, and actively assists with fiscal planning and forecasting. Supports the recruitment and establishment of vendor contracts for professional services—including medical evaluations, radiography, and laboratory testing—for patients being evaluated or treated for TB infection and disease. Develops, updates, and monitors contract expenditure tracking logs at least monthly. Processes vendor invoices and tracks them through to final payment. Establishes and maintains strong working relationships with contracted service providers, local budget analysts, and agency accounts payable and contract management teams. Provides technical assistance to vendors regarding contract status, referrals, billing reports, and outstanding invoices, conducting routine monthly follow-ups and assisting with annual contract renewals. 30%

EJF 2. Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) Coordinator: Responsible for the oversight, receipt, and comprehensive follow-up tracking of high-risk immigrant and refugee referrals received through CDC's EDN system. Manages quality assurance monitoring to ensure timely clinical evaluation of arrivals. Performs precise data entry, status updates, and closures within the EDN system and the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS). Collaborates closely with regional public health staff, local health departments, and external healthcare providers to coordinate continuity of care. Maintains highly organized electronic tracking logs using Microsoft Excel and specialized public health databases. Provides technical, non-clinical assistance and workflow training to internal and external partners regarding EDN and NEDSS protocols. 25%

EJF 3. Logistical Support for TB Program and Regional Clinics: Responsible for the procurement, tracking, receipt, and delivery of supplies and equipment used for regional tuberculosis services. Maintains accurate inventory logs and coordinates the distribution of assets to the regional nursing program. Participates in planning and developing TB educational initiatives for internal and external stakeholders, which includes securing venues, staging training environments, and managing all required event supplies. Assists as needed with the regional Respiratory Protection Program, TB contact investigations, community mass screenings, and the physical transportation of clients to the Texas Center for Infectious Disease (TCID). 20%

EJF 4. Administrative: Using Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat software, prepares correspondences and reports and updates TB related clinical forms and contact lists. Assists the TB Program Manager in formulating regional TB processes and procedures, updating manuals, reports, in-services, workshops and conferences, and communicating with internal and external entities. Organizes office functions such as filing systems, security and confidentiality, TB computer systems and databases, supply inventory logs, training logs, web-based employee access logs, and records disposition. 20%

EJF 5. Other duties as assigned include but are 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%

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of basic epidemiology and disease processes; Tuberculosis epidemiology, transmission, and surveillance, including screening of high-risk populations.

Knowledge of budgeting, public accounting principles, purchasing, storage, and inventory control.

Knowledge of current social, economic, and public health issues, laws, agency rules, and regulations, with the capability to interpret them accurately.

Skill in using personal computers, modern web browsers, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC (including creating fillable PDF forms), and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access) to perform data entry, maintain files, create complex spreadsheets, and generate reports.

Skill in the organization, gathering, and maintenance of public health records and data files.

Skill in establishing and maintaining professional, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

Skill in developing and delivering educational or training materials to groups and individuals.

Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to rigorous data security and HIPAA standards.

Ability to prepare, submit, and track vendor invoices for payment accurately and within established deadlines.

Ability to maintain accurate inventory records for supplies and equipment.

Ability to analyze regional public health needs.

Ability to communicate effectively (written and oral) with people of all ages, backgrounds, and disciplines, and coordinate work activities of program staff.

Ability to work in a team setting in close collaboration with others.

Ability to work under limited supervision, exercise independent judgment, implement time-management strategies, and successfully meet project deadlines.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver's license or equivalent license from another state.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Two years’ experience in communicable disease surveillance, tuberculosis prevention and control activities, public health program operations, or public health data management.

Experience providing training, technical assistance, education, or team leadership preferred.

Willing to travel 20% of the work week; the travel for this position typically occurs within the normal workday. Overnight travel is infrequent.

Additional Information:

Up to two days of telework may be available after six-month probation period.

Applicants should ensure their resume clearly demonstrates how they meet the initial screening criteria. Please include employment dates if they are not already captured in the work history section.

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