Laboratory Courier Coordinator

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.

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Functional Title: Laboratory Courier Coordinator 
Job Title: Program Specialist IV 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Quality Assurance 
Posting Number: 7039 
Closing Date: 07/24/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Support 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20 
Salary Range: $4,263.16 - $5,521.16 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Regular Weekend Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework:  
Travel:  
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DBGL) 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,86P0,88A0,88B0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

Performs advanced consultative services and technical assistance work that includes coordinating activities required to implement, operate and monitor state-wide courier services for the Public Health Laboratory Division.  Develops policies and procedures. Provides consultative services and technical assistance to Laboratory and DSHS program staff, external customers, and the courier contractor. Provides customer service. Evaluates the effectiveness of the courier service and prepares management reports.  Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Based on your work area, consistently comply with DSHS Laboratory, local, state and federal guidelines to ensure a safe functioning laboratory.  Performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

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

EJF 1. (35%) Provides customer service. Ensures that eligible providers receive the training materials and instructions necessary to schedule a pick-up and to package specimens appropriately for shipment. Assists with customer inquiries or issues related to the courier service. Resolves customer service problems and documents quality assurance issues. Provides internal customer service by communicating delays and issues with shipments.

EJF 2. (30%) Evaluates the effectiveness of the courier services and prepares management reports. Monitors courier performance, verifies invoices, and monitors courier budget. Requests input from eligible submitters, laboratory staff Quality Assurance Office, and program areas on the effectiveness of the courier service. Identifies problems and proposes corrective actions. Adds, removes, and changes provider schedules, as needed. Prepares reports and meetings as required by Laboratory management. Gathers and evaluates statistical data such as number of specimens transported, turnaround time, and number of specimens received in unsatisfactory condition, etc. and identifies trends.

EJF3. (15%) Develops and implements policies and procedures. Collaborates with laboratory staff, Program Staff, Laboratory Managers and/or the courier contractor to develop and implement policies and procedures for the use of the courier service enrolled submitters. Develops and maintains educational materials for courier service enrolled submitters such as courier user manuals and educational reminders.

EJF4. (15%) Provides consultative services and technical assistance to Laboratory and DSHS program staff and external customers. Works closely with DSHS Privacy Office to report any HIPAA breaches and provide notifications to affected individuals. Works with the Container Preparation Group Manager and staff to create and update, as necessary, forms for ordering of supplies required for packaging specimens for transport by the courier. Coordinate the purchase and inventory of lockboxes. Works closely with Laboratory Educators and Specimen Logistics groups to recruit submitters for courier services, as budget allows. Works closely with Laboratory Accounting to enter requisitions and pay invoices. Participates in the selection process for new or continuing courier contracts.

EJF 5. (5%) Performs other duties as assigned including 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 and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• The roles of public health laboratories.
• Clinical, diagnostic, research, environmental and/or public health laboratory testing.
• Specimen handling and shipping.
• Microbiological and chemical principles and terminology.
• State and federal regulations related to the transportation of clinical and/or dangerous goods specimens.
• DSHS and HHSC policies and procedures for budget management and tracking, fiscal accounting, purchasing and contracting, and grants management.
• Laboratory and/or public health policies and procedures.  

Skill in:

• Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Effective customer service practices.
• Oral and written communication.
• Synthesizing and analyzing complex information for a variety of purposes.
• Problem solving and conflict resolution.
• Time management and planning.

Ability to:

• Exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions.
• Analyze complex information and develop plans to address identified issues.
• Gather, assemble, correlate, analyze, and evaluate data to devise solutions to problems.
• Communicate effectively.
• Prepare concise reports with recommendations.
• Develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Read, understand, and explain state and federal regulations related to the transportation of clinical specimens and/or dangerous goods specimens.
• Build effective working relationships with individuals at all levels within DSHS.
• Work and communicate effectively with internal and external customers, providing consultative services and technical assistance.
• Organize and manage multiple tasks, prioritize heavy workloads and meet deadlines.
• Facilitate meetings and projects and work effectively with teams.
• Handle stressful situations.
• Create, review and follow standard operating procedures.
• Complete assignments without close supervision.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

1. Three years’ experience in Customer Service.
2. Two years’ experience in gathering, manipulating, and evaluating data.
3. Experience working in a clinical, diagnostic, research, environmental and/or public health laboratory, preferred.
4. Experience with shipping regulations, preferred.
5. A bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in a field relevant to this position, preferred.
6. Experience managing large projects and budgets, preferred.

Additional Information:

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

Work Schedule: Must be able to work holidays and weekends; Must be able to work hours other than 8am – 5pm.

Environmental or Hazard Demands of Essential Job functions:

• Working:
  • Indoors; Sitting; Walking; Hearing; Vision
• Exposure to:
  • Human blood, bodily fluids, tissue or wastes

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