Section Programs and Strategic Initiatives 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: Section Programs and Strategic Initiatives Coordinator 
Job Title: Program Specialist VII 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Env Epid & Disease Registries 
Posting Number: 22416 
Closing Date: 10/30/2026 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Business and Financial Operations 
Salary Range: $5,797.66 - $7,652.91 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-25 
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework:  
Travel:  
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 (DHT) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Reports to the Director of the Environmental Epidemiology and Disease Registries Section (Section), with minimal supervision and extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Performs highly advanced consultative, technical assistance, program coordination, project management, research support, and administrative work across Section programs. Provides leadership and coordination for Section-wide grants, contracts, legislative assignments, research and Institutional Review Board (IRB) activities, data and analytic initiatives, and other cross-program priorities. Works closely with Section leadership, program managers, epidemiologists, research staff, the Funds Coordination and Management Branch (FCMB), the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Division Office, contracting and procurement staff, and other agency partners to coordinate complex assignments and ensure timely completion of Section priorities. Coordinates and supports Section-wide research and IRB activities, including development, submission, amendment, renewal, and tracking of IRB applications and related documentation. Provides project coordination and analytic support for cross-program epidemiologic and data initiatives, including electronic case reporting (eCR), data integration, surveillance analyses, and other Section-wide projects.Serves as a central Section liaison for grant-related activities, including coordination of grant applications, renewals, reporting requirements, budgets, and other grant administration activities in partnership with program staff and FCMB. Assists Section leadership in coordinating legislative requests, bill analyses, briefing materials, data requests, and other assignments originating from the CHI Division Office or agency leadership. Assists with development, administration, amendment, monitoring, and coordination of Section contracts and related procurement activities. Develops recommendations, briefing materials, project documentation, reports, and other products for Section leadership. Performs other duties and special projects as assigned.

Essential Job Functions (ESJs):

30%: Research, IRB, and Data Analytic Coordination

Provides advanced consultation and coordination for Section-wide epidemiologic research, IRB activities, and cross-program data initiatives.Coordinates preparation, submission, amendment, continuing review, and maintenance of Section-wide IRB applications and related research documentation. Works with investigators, epidemiologists, program staff, privacy staff, and other agency partners to identify and address methodological, operational, data-use, privacy, and regulatory considerations. Maintains documentation and tracking mechanisms for Section-wide research and IRB activities and assists programs in ensuring that required approvals and documentation remain current. Supports cross-program epidemiologic and analytic projects involving Section surveillance and administrative data. Assists with development of analytic questions, project plans, data specifications, documentation, interpretation of findings, and preparation of reports and presentations. Provides project coordination and analytic support for eCR and other Section-wide data initiatives, including assessments of data quality, timeliness, completeness, case ascertainment, and potential uses of emerging data sources.

30%: Grant Coordination and Program Administration

Provides leadership and coordination for Section-wide grant activities and serves as a liaison among Section programs, FCMB, and other agency administrative partners. Coordinates development and submission of grant applications, continuation applications, renewals, progress reports, work plans, budgets, budget revisions, and other required grant documentation. Works with program managers and subject matter experts to identify deliverables, timelines, reporting requirements, and administrative needs.Tracks grant deadlines, deliverables, funding requirements, and other commitments and communicates upcoming requirements to Section leadership and program staff. Assists programs in resolving grant-related administrative issues and coordinates responses requiring participation from multiple Section programs or agency offices. Reviews grant-related materials for completeness, consistency, alignment with program objectives, and responsiveness to funding requirements. Supports Section leadership in identifying grant opportunities and assessing potential operational, staffing, contractual, or programmatic implications.

20%: Legislative, Executive, and Section Coordination

Coordinates Section responses to legislative, executive leadership, and CHI Division Office assignments. Assists with legislative requests, bill analyses, fiscal or programmatic impact assessments, briefing documents, presentations, data requests, talking points, and other materials required by agency leadership. Works with Section programs to obtain, review, synthesize, and communicate information needed to respond to assignments accurately and within established deadlines. Serves as a central point of coordination for Section-wide assignments involving multiple programs. Tracks requests, deadlines, responsible parties, and outstanding issues and provides status updates to Section leadership. Assists the Section Director with development of executive briefings, decision documents, program summaries, legislative materials, and other high-level products involving Section programs and priorities.

10%: Contracts, Procurement, and Project Coordination

Assists with development, coordination, administration, and monitoring of Section contracts, amendments, renewals, procurement activities, and related documentation. Works with Section programs, contracting and procurement staff, FCMB, vendors, and other agency partners to define program needs, scopes of work, deliverables, timelines, performance measures, and other contract requirements.Tracks contract activities and deadlines and assists programs in resolving administrative or operational issues affecting contract implementation. Reviews statements of work, deliverables, amendments, and supporting materials for completeness and consistency with Section needs. Coordinates complex Section projects involving multiple programs or organizational units. Develops and maintains work plans, timelines, issue logs, decision documents, and other project-management materials. Identifies risks, dependencies, and issues requiring leadership attention and facilitates resolution.

10%: Special Projects and Other Duties

Provides highly advanced technical assistance and consultation on emerging Section priorities and special assignments. Conducts research, analyzes programmatic or operational issues, develops recommendations, and prepares reports, briefing materials, presentations, and other products for Section leadership. Participates in agency and Section workgroups and represents Section interests as assigned. Coordinates follow-up activities resulting from leadership decisions, workgroups, or agency initiatives. Assists with development and improvement of Section policies, procedures, administrative processes, tracking systems, and other mechanisms to improve coordination and operational effectiveness. Performs other duties as assigned Other duties as assigned may include actively participating during a disaster response and/or recovery effort, serving in a supporting role during a disaster response and/or recovery effort, and assisting in work to maintain continuity of operations of the agency during a disaster response and/or recovery effort.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of public health program administration, surveillance, epidemiology, and research activities.

Knowledge of state and federal grant administration, grant requirements, performance reporting, and budget processes.

Knowledge of legislative processes and the development and coordination of responses to legislative and executive-level requests.

Knowledge of research governance, including IRB processes, data-use requirements, privacy considerations, and research documentation.

Knowledge of public health data analysis, surveillance systems, electronic case reporting, and related data sources.

Knowledge of contracting, procurement, project management, and program administration principles.

Knowledge of program planning, implementation, evaluation, performance monitoring, and quality improvement methods.

Skill in coordinating complex projects and assignments involving multiple programs, organizational units, and stakeholders.

Skill in reviewing and synthesizing complex programmatic, financial, legislative, research, and technical information.

Skill in preparing executive briefings, reports, legislative materials, grant documents, research documentation, presentations, and other professional products.

Skill in coordinating grant applications, reporting requirements, budgets, contracts, and other administrative activities.

Skill in reviewing research protocols, IRB submissions, amendments, data-use materials, and related documentation for completeness and consistency.

Skill in organizing and supporting epidemiologic and data analytic projects involving multiple data sources and program areas.

Skill in identifying issues, evaluating alternatives, developing recommendations, and facilitating resolution of complex problems.

Skill in communicating effectively with executive leadership, program managers, researchers, administrative staff, contractors, and external partners.

Ability to gather, analyze, synthesize, and interpret complex programmatic, research, financial, legislative, and administrative information.

Ability to independently plan, prioritize, coordinate, and monitor multiple complex assignments and competing deadlines.

Ability to lead cross-program initiatives without direct supervisory authority.

Ability to establish effective working relationships with staff at all organizational levels and with external partners.

Ability to translate complex technical or programmatic information into concise materials appropriate for executive or legislative audiences.

Ability to exercise extensive initiative and independent judgment.

Ability to identify opportunities to improve Section-wide administrative, research, contracting, and program coordination processes.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

NA

Initial Screening Criteria: 

1. Experience coordinating or managing complex projects involving multiple programs, stakeholders, or organizational units.
2. Experience in public health, healthcare, research, government administration, grants management, program management, or a closely related field.
3. Experience developing, coordinating, reviewing, or monitoring grants, contracts, research projects, legislative assignments, or other complex program activities.
4. Experience preparing or reviewing executive, legislative, research, grant, policy, program, or technical documentation.
5. Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Graduate-level education in public health, public administration, health policy, epidemiology, or a related discipline is preferred.

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