Healthy Texas Women Program Specialist

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Brief Job Description:

The Program Policy team within the Medicaid and CHIP Services (MCS) Office of Policy seeks a highly qualified candidate to fill the position of Healthy Texas Woman Program Specialist (Program Specialist V). MCS is driving by its mission to delivering quality, cost-effective services to Texans. This position makes a significant contribution to MCS’s mission by developing programmatic policy requirements for  the Healthy Texas Women (HTW) program and related women’s health initiatives. HTW offers women's health and family planning services at no cost to eligible women in Texas.

The position will work closely with HTW project stakeholders and other agency partners and have exposure to other Medicaid programs and services.

The position provides subject matter expertise to agency staff, governmental agencies, community organizations, provider organizations, advisory committees, and the general public. Other responsibilities include:

• Leads implementation and ongoing management of HTW and Medicaid program initiatives;
• Oversees the development of HTW and Medicaid program policy, including contract, administrative rule, manual, and procedural requirements;
• Identifies and propose solutions to program needs;
• Assists in ensuring compliance with HTW and Medicaid statutes, rules, and program policy, and contract requirements;
• Prepares high quality written reports, correspondence, and other documents; and
• Analyzes program policies and legislation.

The ideal candidate thrives in an environment that emphasizes: teamwork to achieve goals, excellence through high professional standards and personal accountability, curiosity to continuously grow and learn, critical thinking for effective execution, and integrity to do things right even when what is right is not easy.

The position interacts routinely with MCS leadership, other HHSC staff, other state and federal agencies, HTW providers, and advocacy groups. The position will work under limited supervision, with latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy.

(25%) Develops and revises HTW governing documents including waivers, state rules, policies, and contract amendments within Texas Medicaid.

(20%) Conducts research, analysis, and evaluation of complex program and policy issues and initiatives, including inquiries received through the HTW mailbox. (20%) Develops or implements projects or special initiatives related to Texas Medicaid and HTW.

(15%) Coordinates with and speaks to internal and external stakeholders as a subject matter expert on HTW.

(15%) Develops high quality written project updates, summaries, reports, executive presentations, bill analyses, and other documents.

(5%) Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of:

• State and federal health care-related laws and regulations related to women’s health, Medicaid, and/or CHIP.

Skill in:

• Effective verbal and written communication, including adjusting communications to fit the intended audience.
• Researching, analyzing, evaluating, and interpreting complex federal and state legislation, program, policy, and operations issues. 
• Translating policy and technical information into easily understandable and concise documents and oral presentations.
• Developing creative and workable solutions to complex problems and policy issues.

Ability to:

• Lead or contribute to complex projects that require dynamic thinking, persistence, analytical problem solving.
• Navigate complex and dynamic systems and organizations.
• Develop, amend, and interpret program policies, rules, and contract requirements related to Medicaid and CHIP Services.
• Exercise sound judgment with limited data and working independently with limited direction.
• Work cooperatively and effectively in a team environment.
• Negotiate competing interests of multiple parties, resolve conflicts, and establish and maintain effective working relationships.
• Adapt to and implement creative and workable solutions to complex problems.
• Use Microsoft Office Suite applications such as Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel.
• Work with diverse groups of people, including stakeholders, that have a variety of opinions. 

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

N/A

Initial Screening Criteria:

• Candidate must meet one of the following: 
  • High school diploma and at least five years of full-time work experience in a health and human services field;  
  • Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and at least one year of full-time work experience in a health and human services field; or 
  • Master’s degree from an accredited college or university in public health, public administration, public affairs, social work, or closely related field.  

Preferred criteria:

• Experience or education in a field focusing on the delivery of healthcare, public health, state government, social work or other related field.
• Demonstrated experience with developing advanced deliverables, reports, or other technical writing work products.

Additional Information:

Additional information about the HTW program can be found on the 2024 edition of the Texas Medicaid Pink Book.

HHSC is a qualifying organization for the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments. 

Additional benefits of joining the MCS Office of Policy include:

• Leadership commitment to invest in and foster your professional growth or knowledge of the Texas Medicaid program and your career advancement.
• Having a profound impact to the lives of thousands of Medicaid clients that depend on Texas Medicaid throughout Texas.
• Being on the ground level of healthcare policy implementation, including the opportunity to work closely with stakeholders such as federal partners, providers, advocates, managed care organizations, and other healthcare contractors.
• Engagement with the Texas legislative process to analyze and inform legislators of potential impact of proposed bills.
• Being part of a team at the forefront of interpreting, implementing, and developing policy that has statewide impact.
• The opportunity to learn and engage with multiple domains of the healthcare delivery system, including managed care, fee-for-service, federal/state Medicaid partnerships and other activities related to the administration of the Medicaid program.

The final salary offer is dependent on factors such as Human Resources policies and available budget.   

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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 to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.