Public Health and Prevention Specialist V

Job Title Public Health and Prevention Specialist V Location Austin, TX 78756 – 1100 W 49th St (DHT) Salary $4,801.16 – $6,300.00 Monthly Day Shift Day Telework Availability Eligible for Telework; work schedule includes working in person 2‑3 days per week and teleworking the other days. Travel Up to 5% Job Description Complex (senior‑level) job duties pertaining to mandated healthcare safety training, statewide education and advocacy, state and federal reporting, learning needs assessments, infection control and response assessments, and healthcare worker training tracking. Work involves planning and analyzing user requirements, processes or problems to enhance, update or maintain data reporting systems, including performance and reporting quality assurance. Ensures healthcare safety data quality in processes and evaluation related to healthcare injuries, adverse events, healthcare‑associated infections, and sharps injuries. Works with general hospitals, long‑term care facilities, nursing homes, and other facilities on safety measures in healthcare. Involved in public health education program activities and provides consultative services and technical assistance to epidemiologists in DSHS, the general public, professional organizations, local and regional health departments, government agencies, and application users. Works as needed on disease outbreaks in Texas. This role works with healthcare and public health leaders on acute, sensitive, and high‑profile activities, thus must be professional, poised, productive, and produce accurate reports and data under pressure, and independently motivated to be a strong steward for the State of Texas. Essential Job Functions

• 30%) Develops, advises, and interprets policies, procedures, legislation, rules, grant strategies, and regulations related to healthcare safety. Collaborates with program staff to do public speaking, lead projects, inform prevention processes and standard of care, clarify definitions, standards, and policies related to the reporting and implementation statewide of healthcare safety. Develops, updates, and maintains processes associated with healthcare safety and public health reporting and provides consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, or the general public. Represents the Healthcare Safety Units as a subject matter expert when speaking to internal and external stakeholders. Prepares and runs administrative reports, including ad hoc reports, related to healthcare safety data. Coordinates on the analysis and assessment of Healthcare Safety Unit data and develops plans and recommendations to improve processes and procedures. Maintains knowledge and understanding of healthcare safety programming and data sources by participating in ongoing training and update calls/meetings. Communicates timely and effectively with local, regional, state and federal agencies and key partners.
• 30%) In collaboration with internal and external partners, creates, develops, presents, and distributes training materials and tools for public health and healthcare partners related to healthcare safety. Develops and makes available multi‑media training for healthcare facility staff related to healthcare safety data sources. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and impact of educational activities. In collaboration with program staff, researches empirically‑based information on healthcare safety, and follows CDC and other authority's guidelines on healthcare safety rules, reporting, prevention, control, and improvment. Must be comfortable prioritizing multiple tasks simultaneously and independently motivated to seek answers to complete tasks.
• 20%) Contributes to projects to enhance, update, and/or data reporting systems and processes (the Texas‑specific system is called “TxHSN”). Coordinates with internal and external users to identify requirements and specifications to meet Unit business function requirements, and address errors and needs as they arise, sometimes with little or no warning. Performs quality assurance and user acceptance testing to ensure data quality and functionality are maintained. Completes agency assignments related to Unit projects, including procurement, grant writing and reporting, project work plans, and working with colleagues as needed to ensure high quality, on time task completion. Coordinates with IT, web services, and internal/external colleagues to create customized reports, user interface, customized workflow tools, and data conversion mapping.
• 15%) Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares high quality, technically written communications, reports, and reviews. Reviews and evaluates processes to identify gaps in resources and recommend improvements for Healthcare Safety Data collection. Collaborates with staff in problem solving of technical issues. Contributes to activities related to grant applications including completion of activities and creation of reports related to grant deliverables and milestones.
• 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 disease outbreaks, disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. The division is an active partner in response activities. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Knowledge of healthcare, public health, and/or healthcare safety and quality principles. Knowledge of accessibility and plain language principles and requirements. Knowledge of public health and/or healthcare quality priorities. Knowledge of CDC, Texas, healthcare, and/or public health reporting and/or data management. Knowledge of public entity operating procedures, guidelines, and processes. Knowledge of scientific or technical writing and presentation guidelines. Skill in establishing goals and objectives and coordinating the achievement of established goals and objectives. Skill in interpersonal relationships and in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships. Skill in independently coordinating solutions and complex problem solving. Skill in expertly written technical or scientific analyses, documentation, and reports. Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and negotiating and implementing solutions. Skill in translating complex technical information verbally and in writing for non‑technical audiences. Skill in developing, testing, maintaining, troubleshooting large data systems. Ability to plan, organize, schedule and monitor completion of assigned projects. Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures. Ability to use personal computers and to use Microsoft Office products (e.g., Word, PowerPoint and Excel). Ability to exercise independent judgment, set priorities and meet deadlines. Ability to autonomously identify problems and develop creative solutions. Ability to create concise, well‑written communications, documents, briefing documents, and reports. Ability to organize and present complex information to a variety of audiences verbally and in writing. Ability to communicate clearly, concisely and effectively. Ability to work effectively as a team member with regional and local health department personnel and private sector health care professionals. Ability to analyze systems and procedures. Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze information. Ability to work independently and deliver results in an environment of broad, consultative management. Initial Screening Criteria Bachelor’s degree in public health, healthcare, nursing, human services, or related field or higher with at least 2 years of work experience in a public health agency, healthcare setting, or academia; at least 1 year of professional work experience in data entry or database management. Additional Information This position will work in person at the DSHS Central Office campus on 1100 W. 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756. The work schedule currently includes working in person 2–3 days per week and teleworking the other days; subject to change if mandated by State or DSHS Leadership. Military Eligibility All active‑duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. 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. Salary Information The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds. 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 as needed. Nearest Major Market: Austin #J-18808-Ljbffr Texas Department of State Health Services