Disaster Finance Team Lead

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.

Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.

Job Description    

Are you a strategic thinker with strong financial expertise and leadership skills? We’re looking for a Disaster Finance Team Lead to head one of our finance teams within the Response and Recovery Unit at the Center for Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (CHEPR). In this key role, you’ll oversee financial operations during disaster response efforts, leading a dynamic team to ensure budget management, timely reimbursements, and effective disaster recovery processes. If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy leading a team, and are passionate about public health emergency response, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do:

As the Disaster Finance Team Lead, you will:

•       Lead and Supervise the Disaster Finance team, guiding team members in managing disaster-related expenditures, processing emergency response reimbursement applications, and ensuring compliance with disaster response contracts.

•       Develop and Optimize financial strategies and systems to ensure the efficient use of funds during disaster response and recovery efforts.

•       Manage Budgets and Financial Reports, ensuring all expenditures are tracked, documented, and aligned with both internal and external financial guidelines.

•       Collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to streamline financial operations and ensure timely reimbursements and compliance with regulatory requirements.

•       Support Training and Development by assisting in creating and delivering training for team members and other staff involved in the financial aspects of disaster response.

•       Contribute to Process Improvement by analyzing current systems, identifying inefficiencies, and recommending changes to enhance financial operations in disaster scenarios.

•       Lead the After Action Review (AAR) process to evaluate financial performance and integrate best practices and lessons learned into future response activities.

•             Serve as a member of the DSHS Incident Management Team during response and recovery operations.

•             Develop disaster plans, procedures and response budgets.

Why This Role Is Right For You:

•       Lead a passionate, mission-driven team working to ensure financial operations run smoothly during critical public health emergency responses.

•       Work in a dynamic environment with the flexibility to telework up to 4 days per week.

•       Gain invaluable experience working at the intersection of finance and emergency management.

•       Travel up to 20% of the time for on-the-ground disaster response efforts.

•       Be part of a high-impact organization, where your work directly contributes to public health and disaster preparedness.

What We’re Looking For:

•       Leadership Experience in finance, accounting, or emergency management, with a proven track record of leading teams in high-pressure environments.

•       Strong Financial Skills, including expertise in budget management, accounting systems, and reporting.

•       Knowledge of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), National Response Framework (NRF), and FEMA programs.

•       Experience with financial tools such as WebEOC, Grants Portal, CAPPS Financials, and Quickbase.

•       Ability to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, and ensure the team’s success under tight timelines.

•       Excellent Communication Skills to effectively convey complex financial information to both internal and external stakeholders.

•       Flexibility to work extended hours, nights, and weekends when needed during disaster activations

What We Offer:

•       A mission-driven leadership role that makes a direct impact on public health and safety.

•       A flexible work environment, including the ability to telework part of the week.

•       Opportunities for career growth and development in emergency management and public health finance.

•       A collaborative, supportive team culture focused on continuous improvement and excellence.

•       Great benefits.

Ready to Lead?

Apply today to take on this exciting leadership role and contribute to disaster preparedness and recovery efforts that make a real difference in your community.

This is a temporary position and expected to last up to August 31, 2028. There is no guarantee this position will be extended beyond what is indicated in this job posting. Upon hire, the selected candidate will be required to sign a Temporary Employment Agreement indicating awareness that the employment status of the position is temporary. 

Essential Job Functions    

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

Leadership & Supervision (65%): Manage day-to-day activities of the finance team, identify issues and discrepancies, and implement corrective actions. Oversee budgets, financial procedures, and compliance with emergency management regulations. Implement the basic concepts of planning, training, and exercising principles, and methodologies as well as organizational development, strategic planning, program planning, and program evaluation. Monitors and evaluates the effectiveness and efficiency of staffing levels. Establish goals and objectives; develops and approves schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving goals; and manages evaluation activities. Serves as the Finance Section Deputy Chief in the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) during disaster response operations. Oversees and accounts for all disaster response related expenditures. Serves as the SMOC Liaison to the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM) finance staff for response finance issues, processes, and training. Reviews and recommends approval/denial of disaster response related billing and invoices. Assists in providing documentation related to and completing FEMA reimbursement applications as well as any other appropriate reimbursement applications.

Disaster Cost Recovery & Compliance (20%): Review project support documentation to verify eligibility and conformity with disaster cost recovery rules and regulations. Monitor compliance with policies and procedures; and provides input or approves new policies and procedures. Perform reviews of disaster cost recovery processes, provide recommendations for improvement, and assist with implementation. Prepare detailed disaster cost recovery dashboards, reports and files tracking of all projects related costs. Information will be obtained from various sources such as CAPPS, FEMA EMMIE, FEMA Grants Portal and other tools and software. Prepare management and productivity reports; and reviews and approves documents and reports developed by employees to ensure professional quality and appearance, appropriate content, consistency, and responsiveness. Develop and implement techniques for evaluating business function, division, or department activities. Perform complex financial analysis and reconciliations of project funds. Develop and evaluate budget requests, monitor budget expenditures, and adjust as necessary. Review and evaluate the impact of proposed federal and state laws on program objectives. Identify areas of needed change and make recommendations to improve operations. Manage multiple business functions and provide oversight to associated staff.

Regulatory Compliance & Reporting (10%) Stay updated on Federal and State disaster cost recovery processes, standards, rules and regulations. Run queries and prepare reports from the CAPPS financial module. Prepare responses to Request for Information (RFI) and audit request. Design workplace tools such as file libraries excel worksheets, word documents, and access databases which support tactical operating plans and procedures for the SMOC, SOC, or RHMOC. Advise local elected officials and response partners on emergency management responsibilities and capabilities and recommend action plans. Acts as a liaison to local, regional and national agencies to coordinate joint and reciprocal inter-jurisdictional response and recovery activities.

Other Duties (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.

Knowledge Skills Abilities

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to DSHS and FEMA program areas.

Knowledge of principles and practices of financial management, public administration, public sector management techniques, providing services, and contract administration.

Knowledge of statistical analysis processes and of program planning and implementation.

Knowledge of legislative appropriations request and annual operating budget process.

Knowledge of accounting, finance, auditing, or budgeting.

Skills in using computer software including but not limited to Excel, Access, CAPPS Financials, CAPPS, Word, Grants Portal, Grants Management System and other financial applications.

Skill in managing multiple projects and meeting tight deadlines.

Skill in communicating both verbally and in writing.

Ability to prepare concise reports.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, coworkers, other agency staff, and the public.

Ability to manage program activities and to establish goals and objectives.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and to devise solutions to administrative problems.

Ability to develop and evaluate administrative, financial, and program policies and procedures; and to plan, implement, and coordinate agency programs.

Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others.

Ability to conduct agency meetings. 

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications

Texas Class C driver's license or equivalent from another state with the intent to obtain a Texas driver’s license. 

Initial Screening Criteria

Additional Qualifications:

•       Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Emergency Management, Public Administration, or a related field or 3 years experience in finance, accounting or related field.

•       2+ years of experience in finance, accounting or emergency management.

•       1 year in a leadership or supervisory role.

•           Preferred: Disaster recovery or response or project management experience.

Additional Information     

Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines and will be dependent upon available funds. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application but may be provided as supplemental materials. All fields on the application must be filled-in completely. Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position in the job history sections of the application. Selection for Interview is based on quality of information in the summary of experience for each position listed on the employment application clarifying how applicant meets each Initial selection criteria. Meeting the Initial selection criteria does not guarantee applicant will be selected for an interview. The salary on this job posting reflects the minimum and maximum allowed; however, budget considerations may result in salary offers below the maximum of the posted range. Internal applicants are encouraged to review the HHS HR Policy Manual Chapter 7 Compensation: Salaries for certain inter-agency and intra-agency transfers. Applicants must have the ability and willingness to work core business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM, with flexibility for overtime during peak workloads and during legislative session.

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