Special Projects Coordinator

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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: Special Projects Coordinator 
Job Title: Program Specialist VI 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Maternal & Child Health Prog 
Posting Number: 7996 
Closing Date: 08/22/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $6,701.75 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for 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 (RDM) 
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 highly complex project consultative services, technical assistance, management and oversight of Maternal and Child Health (MCH)-funded population-based maternal and infant health services including maternal and perinatal health and safety programs, under minimal supervision of the Senior Nurse Advisor within the MCH Section’s Strategy, Education and Improvement (SEI) Group. The SEI Group provides oversite and strategic direction maternal and infant health initiatives such as the Texas Collaborative for Health Mothers and Babies, High-Risk Maternal Care Coordination Services Program, Hear Her Texas Campaign, the TexasAIM Program including TexasAIM sustainability and readiness activities. This position plans, develops, performs, coordinates and monitors maternal safety programs and perinatal collaborative initiatives. Works with considerable latitude using both initiative and independent judgment to facilitate integration and streamlining of systems and processes to support development and implementation of best and promising practices in maternal and perinatal health and safety with direct implications for public health practice. Works with the SEI Senior Nurse Advisor and staff to improve population health service delivery through stakeholder collaboration with a focus on prevention. Facilitates alignment and coordination of MCH activities with other DSHS and HHS System organizational units as well as with external local, regional, state, and national-level partners toward common strategic goals and objectives. Develops recommendations for priorities and standards for improving programming and achieving goals and oversees evaluation of select activities.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

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

Provides oversight of maternal and perinatal health and safety initiatives in coordination with other MCH program areas, agencies, and external stakeholders. Collaborates with state agency programs, state health professional associations, community-based organizations, consumer groups, and other stakeholders to ensure coordination, engagement, and improvement of maternal and perinatal health initiatives. Plans, prioritizes, and performs technical assistance, training, research, planning, policy development, program assessment, and administrative activities to research, implement, and evaluate promising and best practices in women's, maternal, perinatal and infant health and safety and makes recommendations for program and policy direction. Works with management and provides guidance and support to program staff to develop and integrate new programming and processes to support improvements in maternal and perinatal health and safety.  Provides consultative services and technical assistance to plan, implement, and monitor effective programs and services. (40%)

Helps to coordinate responses and activities related to administrative initiatives, including, but not limited to legislative activities. Collects, organizes, analyzes, and prepares material in response to requests for information and reports. Works with MCH staff and other DSHS organizational units to implement and monitor compliance with legislative mandates. (15%)

Provides subject matter expertise and speaks with communities and professional groups including, but not limited to Texas Medical Association, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Nurses Association, Perinatal Care Regions, and regional and local health officials on assigned MCH topics. Coordinates, improves, and stimulates interest in special projects to improve maternal and child health. (15%)

Facilitates alignment and coordination of functions toward Title V Block Grant and legislative strategic goals and objectives, develops priorities and standards for achieving goals and directs evaluation activities. Facilitates involvement and communication with inter- and intra-agency activities related to women’s, maternal, perinatal, and infant health policy and program priorities. Identifies opportunities to further strategic goals and makes recommendations to strengthen and improve relationships between potential agency and external partners and stakeholders. (15%)

Reviews grant opportunities for services for MCH population-based projects and develops proposals or responses for submission. Provides consultative services and technical assistance to plan, implement, and monitor effective programs and services. Prepares necessary documentation as required by agency policy and ensures timely submission of proposals and responds to requests for additional information to complete grant process. Maintains confidentiality of sensitive information. (10%)

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, Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation, and/or serving on the State Medical Operations Center (SMOC) team.  Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of women's, maternal, perinatal and infant health and issues pertaining to health care and public health programs serving these populations.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations impacting MCH.

Knowledge of quality improvement principles and methods and project management.

Knowledge of principles and practices of public health administration at federal, state, and local levels.

Knowledge of research and analyses processes and principles of monitoring and evaluation; benchmarking; development of evaluation tools. 

Knowledge of program development, planning, and implementation.

Knowledge of contract/performance monitoring and providing technical assistance.

Knowledge of grant writing principles and practices.

Skill in using personal computers, with knowledge of word processing and ability to learn other applications as required.

Skill in interpersonal relations.

Skill in identifying measures and indicators of program performance and in interpreting data.

Skill in managing multiple tasks.

Skill in program development and implementation.

Ability to work collaboratively and productively with people from varying professional, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds;

Ability to analyze and solve complex organizational problems, think creatively and work independently.

Ability to prioritize, schedule, and monitor completion of complex assignments.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and data.

Ability to serve as a project lead providing direction and coordination with others.

Ability to communicate complex information clearly, concisely and effectively orally and in writing with a variety of audiences and with internal and external stakeholders.

Ability to market programs and produce written materials that are easily understood by a broad audience. 

Ability to develop, evaluate, and interpret, programmatic and administrative policies and procedures

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

NA

Initial Screening Criteria:

A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in an area related to public health, health policy, and/or MCH. Master’s degree preferred.

Experience working with public health, population health, or health policy development, preferably in maternal and infant health

Experience in program planning, development, implementation and evaluation, preferably in maternal and/or infant health programs

Experience leading and managing projects.

Experience developing, writing, and presenting reports and communications

Additional Information:

NA

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