Hospital Preparedness Program Team Lead

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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: Hospital Preparedness Program Team Lead 
Job Title: Program Specialist VI 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Hlth Emer Preparedness Respons 
Posting Number: 11185 
Closing Date: 12/12/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Support 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $6,701.75 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift: Days (First) 
Telework:  
Travel: Up to 20% 
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 (RBB) 
Other Locations: Austin 
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

The Program Specialist VI is responsible for the comprehensive management of the Hospital Preparedness Program (HPP) and the Emergency Medical Task Force (EMTF). This role involves reviewing, interpreting, and implementing federal programmatic and technical guidance and consulting on preparedness policy development, program evaluation, and administrative oversight activities.

This position actively participates in the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) or State Operations Center (SOC) during disaster response and/or recovery efforts and completes all training and exercise requirements. CHEPR supports DSHS’ mission of providing response support to the State Medical Operations Center and/or State Operations Center, requires staff to report onsite within two hours, and the ability to work 12-14 hour shifts. Disaster response activations can require working in person, 7-days a week, for as long as 2-4 weeks, or more.

This position is 100% funded by federal grants.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

1. Program Management and Oversight: (25%)

   - Advise and provide counsel to the HPP Branch Manager regarding long-term (5-year HPP project period) and short-term (one-year budget year) planning, prioritizing programmatic requirements to ensure HPP contractors provide efficient service delivery within the HPP and EMTF frameworks.

   - Oversee program operations to ensure universal contractor compliance with established standards, policies, administrative rules, and regulations, taking corrective actions as necessary to improve contractor service delivery.

   - Proactively identify areas for improvement within the HPP and EMTF program operations and develop strategies to implement efficiencies and innovative practices.

  - Complete contractually required HPP contractor performance reports to ensure contractor accuracy and completeness of submission and compliance with agency, programmatic, and federal policies. 

2. Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building: (25%)

   - Actively collaborate with internal (agency-level) and external partners (contractors, public health, and medical stakeholders) to resolve challenges, identify programmatic gaps, and foster collaboration to encourage statewide preparedness and response partnerships.

   - Develop and deliver presentations to contractors and stakeholders, providing programmatic updates, outlining contractual requirements, and administering technical assistance. This includes planning and facilitating monthly contractor meetings.

  - Maintain relationships with ASPR Project Officer, vendors, and sub-recipient HPP contractors, and EMTF State Coordinating Organization (SCO).

 - Plan, organize and host monthly HPP calls with grant sub-recipients.   

3. Program Evaluation and Budgeting: (25%)

   - Provide counsel on preparing, reviewing, and evaluating program budget requests, ensuring alignment with organizational and programmatic objectives and fiscal accountability.

   - Provide expertise and counsel to the Branch Manager to establish and implement robust evaluation techniques to measure HPP and EMTF program performance and identify new initiatives and programmatic expansion opportunities.

  - Provide high-level technical assistance to HPP Team members including in-depth analysis and interpretation of policies, procedures, and standards to guide program execution and compliance.

 - Provide high-level technical assistance to program sub-recipients, establishing work groups or work sessions, as needed, to enable the sub-recipients to collaborate and leverage regional expertise.

4. Data Collection and Reporting: (10%)

   - Coordinate the systematic collection, organization, analysis, and presentation of hospital data (from over 650 facilities) for quarterly drills, Agency leadership requests, public health emergencies, and state and federal (the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) inquiries.

 -  Provide counsel to the HPP Branch Manager to develop hospital-related metrics in the state's web-based hospital reporting platform, make changes to the reported platform as needed, and develop reports for leadership.

   - Complete, monitor, and analyze administrative and performance reports and specialized projects, suggesting improvements and adjustments to enhance program effectiveness.

5. Leadership and Project Management: (5%)

   - Serve as a lead on complex HPP and EMTF program initiatives, providing clear direction and mentorship to team members.

   - Provide counsel to the HPP Branch Manager to develop risk management and compliance strategies that mitigate potential financial and programmatic challenges and enhance program reliability.

  - Serve as a subject matter expert for the HPP and EMTF programs.  

6. Additional Responsibilities: (10%)

 - Actively participate in or support the agency's obligations for disaster response and recovery as a member of the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC), State Operations Center (SOC); Serving as an on-call team member for SMOC or the SOC on a rotating schedule. Work during a disaster activation may require an alternate schedule to include evenings and weekends.

  - Perform related work as assigned, adapting to the program's changing needs.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs):

1. Knowledge of public health and medical preparedness activities. 
2. Knowledge of federal grant management.
3. Knowledge of basic epidemiological principles.
4. Knowledge of the principles of emergency management, including the National Incident Command
5. System (NIMS).
6. Knowledge of program planning, implementation, and evaluation. 
7. Skill in grant writing and contract procurement and management. 
8. Skill in working collaboratively with a variety of programs and with internal and external partners. 
9. Skill in project management. 
10. Skill in providing customer service and support. 
11. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. 
12. Ability to prepare and deliver effective presentations. 
13. Ability to prioritize, plan and coordinate assignments. 
14. Ability to learn new subject matter areas quickly.
15. Ability to lead a team.
16. Ability to gather, assemble and disseminate information.
17. Ability to exercise appropriate judgment and make decisions.
18. Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives and implement effective solutions.
19. Ability to prepare concise reports.

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