Epidemiology Program Manager

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: Epidemiology Program Manager 
Job Title: Epidemiologist III 
Agency: Dept of State Health Services 
Department: Region 6/5 
Posting Number: 10202 
Closing Date: 10/29/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $6,065.75 - $7,200.00 
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: Nonexempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: HOUSTON 
Job Location Address: 5425 POLK ST 
Other Locations:  
MOS Codes: 230X,43EX,43HX,43TX,4E0X1,61G,HM,SEI12 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description

Performs advanced epidemiology work. Serves as the Epidemiology program manager for Public Health Region 6/5S. Works under the direction of the Regional Communicable Disease Manager and in consultation with the Regional Medical Director. Provides leadership in initiating, planning, developing, conducting and directing advanced epidemiologic projects, including epidemiology related emergency preparedness and response activities. Provides direction in the collection, management, analysis, evaluation and reporting of communicable and chronic disease data.

Manages a team of epidemiologists that respond to food-borne, respiratory, vaccine-preventable, emerging infectious, environmental and occupational health conditions. Serves in leadership roles for the Regional Epidemiology and Regional Health and Medical Operations Center teams. Operates with minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions

PROGRAM MANAGER (35%) - Serves as Epidemiology Program Manager. Directs epidemiology and surveillance activities and functions.  Coordinates with local health entities. Oversees infectious disease surveillance and investigation activities for communities and/or counties that do not have a local health department. Makes team assignments, manages the on-call schedule, and evaluates performance of epidemiology team members. Develops job descriptions, performs interviewing and leads the hiring selection processes. Provides orientation, education, assures continued training, and program accountability for team members. Adheres to all Human Resources policies, including performance evaluations timelines.

PREPAREDNESS & RESPONSE (35%) - Participates in Public Health emergency monitoring and response. Provides leadership in public health preparedness projects pertaining to epidemiology. Pursues actionable intelligence on potential threats and how the region could respond better. Gathers epidemiological information during a response to help set objectives. Works on multidisciplinary teams to accomplish work products.

Contributes to the development, writing, interpretation, and implementation of public health preparedness guidelines, protocols, and plans. Develops and maintains knowledge and skills in public health preparedness. Assumes an active role in the regional incident command structure (ICS) during public health emergencies and/or exercises.

Outbreak Investigations and Epidemiology Subject Matter Expert (25%):

Leads outbreak investigations for high consequence infectious diseases and infectious disease-related disasters. Serves as a regional subject matter expert on epidemiology and maintains effective internal and external partnerships. Plans, initiates, develops and directs advanced epidemiologic investigations. This may include usage of NEDSS, EHRs, ESSENCE, other surveillance programs, and statistical software. Participates in workgroups and committees to address special topics including Epidemiology-Bioterrorism workgroup, and workgroups for statewide enhancement of infectious disease surveillance. Monitors and analyze disease incidence within the region to rapidly detect and address disease outbreaks or bioterrorism events. Leads preparation and dissemination of communicable disease surveillance reports. Plans, establishes, and monitors the timeliness of various (active, syndromic, sentinel) surveillance activities and reporting systems in collaboration with DSHS central office programs and local health entities. Works with local health entities as a technical resource and to coordinate regional epidemiologic data collection and analysis.

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 advanced principles and methods of epidemiology and related biostatistics necessary for epidemiologic investigations, public health surveillance, investigations, and studies.

Knowledge of word processing (Word), electronic mail (Outlook), and presentation (PowerPoint) software and personal computer in a network environment.
Knowledge of mapping, graphic, and statistical software packages (e.g., Word, Access, Excel, Epi lnfo, PowerPoint, ArcGIS, STATA, R NEDSS, EHRs, ESSENCE, other surveillance programs, and statistical software).

Skill in the application of administrative and analytical methods and techniques within the framework of local, regional, and state public health organization to achieve program goals.

Skill in analyzing and synthesizing information into executive level reports.

Skill in writing and editing complex documents.

Skill in mathematical computation and advanced statistical analyses.

Skill in training and making public presentations.

Skill in program and team management, including managing change.
Skill in clear and effective oral and written communication with a wide range of audiences and forums, including interpersonal, public presentations, and publications.

Ability to apply the concepts of public health practices and epidemiology.

Ability to organize and prioritize workload and meet deadlines.

Ability to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively verbally and in writing.

Ability to be flexible, dynamic, creative and open to change.

Ability to work on Multidisciplinary teams and in partnership with other programs.

Ability to adhere to all privacy regulations.

Ability to interpret laboratory findings, physical signs/symptoms, and diagnostic test results from medical charts.

Ability to collect and evaluate facts and use analytical processes to draw meaningful conclusions.

Ability to approach problems, where no protocol exists, in a logical and proactive manner.

Ability to provide leadership and technical advice on epidemiologic issues, disaster-related disease surveillance, and epidemiologic approaches to disease threats.

Ability to work effectively as an individual and as part of an interdisciplinary team.

Ability to work discretely and maintain confidentiality.

Ability to travel on short notice to respond to a disaster or emergency.

Ability to advise and train other staff in standard techniques for planning, conducting, and reporting epidemiologic investigations.

Ability to design, analyze, and write reports on data from web-based surveys.

Registration Or Licensure Requirements

Texas Class C Driver's license.

Initial Selection Criteria

• Master's level degree (MPH, MSPH) or equivalent degree in epidemiology, biostatistics or a relevant field required.
• Experience as a team leader in epidemiology or public health related work, or leading large case investigations, required.
• At least 3 years field work experience in Epidemiology, public health surveillance, or related experience required.
• Public Health Epidemiology management experience preferred.

Additional Information

This position is 100% in-office at 5425 Polk Street, Houston 77023.

PLEASE NOTE: The posted salary range is the full range for this position. Agency salary policy, budget and candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer. Typically, salary offers are at or near the midpoint of the range, depending on qualifications or other factors.

Your application must be complete. It must contain dates of employment, job titles, name of employer, name and phone number of supervisor, and a description of duties performed in a way that specifically demonstrates you meet the initial selection criteria at minimum. Missing information may lead to disqualification. Resumes are not a substitute for the information requested on the application.

An in-basket exercise will be required at the time of the interview.

Flexibility in work hours may be required by DSHS for this position. Occasional overtime and extended hours may be required. Position is also required to serve as part of the after-hours on-call team. The current policy allows for on call duty additional leave awards.

Candidates must be able to travel independently and adhere to agency travel policies. Travel required from main work location in Houston across the 16 counties in Public Health Region 6/5S and to other locations, as necessary, in the State of Texas, including the DSHS main campus in Austin. Travel is usually scheduled in advance to allow for advance planning. 

For information about DSHS visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website (dshs.texas.gov).

In addition to rewarding, meaningful work, DSHS offers a variety of benefits, which can be found at https://ers.texas.gov/Benefits-at-a-Glance, and generous leave. A list of State of Texas holidays is available at: http://www.hr.sao.texas.gov/Holidays.

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