Injury Prevention Unit Director

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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: Injury Prevention Unit Director 
Job Title: Director I 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Injury Prevention 
Posting Number: 11104 
Closing Date: 11/21/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Management 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-26 
Salary Range: $6,377.50 - $8,581.66 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 10% 
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 (RDM) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 8003,8040,8041,8042,10C0,111X,112X,113X,114X,20C0,30C0,40C0,611X,612X,631X,641X,648X,90G0,91C0,91W0 
97E0,SEI15 
 
 

Basic Job Description:

Under the direction of the Newborn Screening and Injury Prevention (NBSIP) Section Director, the Injury Prevention (IP) Unit Director oversees the daily operations and activities of the IP Unit staff.  Plans, assigns, and supervises unit activities; develops and approves unit schedules, priorities, and goal standards; and manages unit staff and program evaluation activities. Supervises the work of others. Establishes unit strategic plan, goals and objectives; and develops measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals. Plans, implements, coordinates, monitors, and evaluates unit policies and procedures including agency human resources activities and monitors compliance with unit policies and procedures. Develops grant budgets; monitors unit program and grant expenditures, and provides unit budgetary oversight. Collects, organizes, and analyses monthly unit productivity reports and completes performance measure reports. Makes unit recommendations including section legislative appropriations requests. Develops, reviews, and proposes legislative initiatives for programs. Represents the unit at meetings, conferences, legislative hearings and serves on public committees. Manages the coordination of various IP contracts and grants. Provides guidance to staff regarding the contract and grant administration processes. Analyzes program and evaluation data and communicates results with diverse audiences. Works under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.  To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Essential Job Functions:

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

(30%) Supervision and staff management. Directs the daily operations within the IP Unit. Manages activities of the program to verify implementation of program requirements. Guides the development of staff priorities, initiatives, and work schedules to achieve unit objectives, performance indicators, and project deadlines. Hires staff including posting vacancies, reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and recommending a final candidate for approval to hire. Conducts staff performance evaluations, monitors the ongoing activities of staff, and initiates and follows through with human resources activities as needed.

(30%) Develops, implements, and evaluates IP Unit goals and objectives and coordinates with other units and sections within the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Division consistent with the DSHS strategic plan. Develops, implements, monitors, and evaluates unit standards, policies, and rules to support essential operations and to confirm compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. Identifies need for changes in program activities, goals, and objectives as needed. 

(25%) Serves as the IP unit lead of grant and contract development in coordination with unit staff. Confirms staff follows agency procedures for submitting grant applications, inter-agency agreements, and requests for proposals. Monitors the status of grants, inter-agency agreements, and requests for proposals to confirm progress through stages of approval for timely implementation. Develops grant budgets; reviews major expenditures; and ensures that requirements of funding sources are met. 

(5%) Analyzes statistical and operations data, interprets results, prepares reports, and makes presentations to diverse audiences. Initiates and guides special studies to assess Texas injury prevention needs and program evaluation outcomes.

(5%) Participates in reviewing and analyzing legislation related to NBSIP and CHI division priorities including tracking legislative bills, identifying, and writing DSHS legislative CHI division initiatives, and serves as a program contact for unit bill analysis and impact statements for the programs, contractors, counties, and hospitals. Serves as a unit resource for legislators, other elected officials, governmental entities and the public at legislative meetings. Represents the agency at business meetings, hearings, trials, legislative sessions, conferences and seminars or on boards, panels, and committees.

(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. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours
needed to meet defined deadlines and support the agency’s mission critical reporting requirements.

Certifications:

N/A

Knowledge / Skills / Abilities:

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program activities and/or business functions; business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, and leadership techniques; and the principles and practices of public administration and management
Knowledge in supervision of employees such as hiring, staff development, evaluation, and counseling of employees, and identification and implementation of human resources. 
Knowledge of public health policy and state and federal agency laws and regulations related to community health services. 
Knowledge of the principles and practices of public health administration and management. 
Knowledge of the Texas legislative process and state and federal laws pertaining to public health. 
Knowledge of community health care delivery needs and barriers among diverse Texas populations. 
Knowledge of grant funding processes and competitive awarding of funds.
Knowledge of agency budget and accounting principles and applications.
Knowledge of best practices in community health service delivery. 

Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy; decision-making, including assessing risk and using good judgment to inform decisions and recommendations to leadership; and conflict resolution and working quickly and collaboratively to solve problems.
Skill in operational planning including developing activities, goals, and objectives for strategic planning, development, and evaluation. 
Skill in developing and implementing contracts and grant applications.
Skill in identifying resources needed to accomplish service delivery objectives and budget development. 
Skill in developing and evaluating administrative policies, procedures, and protocols. 
Skill in interpreting scientific research and data to guide activities. 
Skill in identifying, evaluating, and solving issues and implementing effective solutions. 
Skill in managing multiple and competing priorities. 
Skill in quality improvement for program evaluation implementation.

Ability to direct and organize program activities and/or business functions; to establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan; to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions; to develop and evaluate agency policies and procedures; to prepare concise reports; to communicate effectively; and to supervise the work of others
Ability to plan, organize, and complete multiple activities in a timely fashion. 
Ability to plan, assign, and supervise the work of others. 
Ability to work in a professional manner with employees and the public including establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with diverse individuals and groups. 
Ability to express ideas clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing. 
Ability to work with the legislature and produce effective results.
Ability to communicate data to diverse audiences.

Initial Screening Criteria:

A Master’s Degree in public health, public administration, public affairs, or a related field or 5 years’ relevant experience preferred. 

A minimum of 2 years’ experience in supervision of employees including hiring, staff development and evaluation, counseling, and identification and implementation of human resource activities.

A minimum of 2 years’ experience working for a public health department or in state government preferred. 
Experience developing and supporting grants, contracts, and budgets.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION PRIOR TO SUBMITTING AN
APPLICATION FOR THIS POSITION:

Information on the application must clearly state how the applicant meets initial selection criteria in the
Summary of Experience section in order to be interviewed. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an
application.

Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position. Answer all
questions and completely summarize your experience including technical and managerial
responsibilities and any special training, skills and qualifications for each position you have held in the
employment history section of application.

All fields on the application must be filled-in completely. This includes, but is not limited to, previous
salary, previous supervisor, and reason for leaving previous position.

Applicants selected for an interview will be required to complete an in-basket exercise.

Agency salary policy, budget and candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer.

This position is not eligible for Telework

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