What are the responsibilities and job description for the Public Health and Prevention Specialist I position at Texas Department of State Health Services?
Date: Jan 13, 2025
Location:
TEMPLE, TX
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.
Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.
Functional Title: Public Health and Prevention Specialist I
Job Title: Publ Hlth and Prevent Spcl I
Agency: Dept of State Health Services
Department: Region 7
Posting Number: 1974
Closing Date: 02/12/2025
Posting Audience: Internal and External
Occupational Category: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-14
Salary Range: $3,095.33 - $3,285.61
Shift: Day
Additional Shift
Telework:
Travel: Up to 10%
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full Time/Part Time: Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt
Facility Location:
Job Location City: TEMPLE
Job Location Address: 2408 S 37TH ST
Other Locations:
MOS Codes
230X,43EX,43HX,4B0X1,4E0X1,60C,68S,68Z,HM,HS,MED,NAP11,SEI12
Brief Job Description
Under the supervision of the Regional Zoonosis Control Veterinarian, performs professional routine (journey-level) public health duties for the Zoonosis Control program. Provides technical consultation to local health departments, human and animal health care professionals, government officials, community action groups, internal customers, and the public on the treatment, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, rabies risk assessment, and animal control. Serves as a public health resource in increasing public and professional awareness of zoonotic public health issues. Investigates human and animal zoonotic disease incidents, to include obtaining lab/disease reports, reviewing medical records, interviewing patients, and monitoring for case resolution. Collects, enters, and maintains data for program initiatives.
Maintains program equipment and supplies. Develops and disseminates educational materials and public health information. Assists in formulating and updating standard operating procedures for program-specific activities, as directed. Provides support to the program’s Animal Control Officer (ACO) Training Courses. Oversees Animal Control Officer Training Manual sales. Maintains the rabies biologicals program.
Maintains rabies quarantine and shelter inspection data. Uses complex computer systems to develop and maintain program-specific files, reports, maps, and databases. Serves as liaison for the program staff with internal and external customers. Works under moderate supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions (EJFs)
Technical: Responds to verbal and written requests for technical information on zoonotic diseases, rabies control and animal control laws, vector surveillance initiatives, and program-specific policies and procedures, or routes calls to the appropriate subject matter expert. Serves as a public health resource in creating awareness of zoonotic disease and animal-related public health problems and the program’s services and related resources available to address these problems. Keeps the program’s web page current. Develops and assists in disseminating public health information to the community, such as training announcements, public health messages, inspection notices, and summary surveillance and case investigation data. Prepares maps of notifiable disease occurrences for dissemination to the public. Extrapolates data into charts, graphs, and tables, when needed. Collects data. Creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets. Tabulates program productivity for evaluation of the effectiveness of public health program efforts (case investigations, inspections, educational programs, surveillance collections, rabies vaccine distributions, revenues, and expenses). Develops and/or maintains several program-specific databases of stakeholder contact information, vector surveillance data, ACO Training and Manual revenues, and human and animal reportable disease cases ensuring accuracy of data and taking corrective actions as necessary for QA of databases. Enters data on surveillance results or human disease case investigations into secure database sites. Writes or updates standard operating procedures for program-specific activities, as directed. Maintains secure and confidential electronic and hard copy files in compliance with HIPAA. Maintains program equipment, supplies, and initiates orders for program materials. Assists in the inspection and approval process of animal shelters, impoundment, and rabies quarantine facilities. Maintains the animal shelter inspection notification and tracking program. Issues inspection notices for quarantine facilities and animal shelters. Enters data of inspection results, and issues inspection certificates, when appropriate. (40%)
Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control: Consults with stakeholders (local health departments, human and animal health care professionals, government officials, community action groups, internal customers, and the public). Consultative services encompass issues that include, but are not limited to, human and animal rabies risk assessment, human rabies biologicals administration, human and animal rabies prevention vector-borne and zoonotic disease inquiries, zoonotic disease reporting, Texas Health and Safety Code explanations, animal impoundment facility design and management, local ordinance review, and animal control officer and rabies control authority education. Conducts or assists primarily with animal rabies case investigations. Assists with other notifiable condition investigations or outbreaks. Contacts physicians, veterinarians, hospitals, veterinary clinics, animal control officials to obtain information necessary for investigations. Interviews and counsels clients. Reviews human and animal medical, laboratory, and other records. Obtains disease reports, refers disease reports to the appropriate jurisdiction. Enters data from investigations into the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS)-Based System (NBS). Carries out quality assurance of data entered into NBS. Participates in the after hours on-call rotation providing 24/7/365 phone coverage for consultations on zoonotic disease related topics and public health emergencies. (40%)
Education: Reviews applications and enrolls participants attending training courses. Maintains CE and ACO Basic databases. Prepares Animal Control Officer Training Courses’ materials, enters and tracks student and instructor data, and assists with updates of the courses’ PowerPoint slideshow presentations. Assists in teaching courses. Monitors course evaluations and assists with course modifications, when required. Oversees the Animal Control Officer Training Manual sales, including inventory management, manual updates, sales, fee collection, payment processing, and revenue tracking. (10%)
Rabies Biologicals and Program Inventory: Maintains the PHR 7 rabies biologicals program. Assists in monitoring rabies biologicals distributions and documentation. Orders, stocks, and distributes biologicals and associated supplies. Ensures biologicals are maintained and distributed according to Clinic Pharmacy Class D rules. Processes biologicals distribution reports for timely billing. Collects distribution data and submits reports to the agency’s accountants and epidemiologists. Arranges delivery of biologicals to meet public health need, when required. Maintains inventory in the VAOS/PIOS system. (5%)
Special Projects and COOP: Performs related duties as assigned. 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, disease outbreak investigations or field surveillance. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (KSAs)
Knowledge of: State rabies and animal control laws. Common zoonotic diseases, including rabies. Current social, economic, and public health issues. Public health laws and regulations. Medical terminology.
Skill in: Public health work. Case/contact investigation.
Ability to: Interpret public health laws and regulations. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Collect data from various sources, including laboratory reports, medical records, literature, and internet. Effectively use Windows, MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher), Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, People Soft, Arc GIS, and the Internet to create E-mail messages, letters, informational handouts, spreadsheets, databases, database reports, charts, graphs, presentations, maps, web pages, and computer-generated faxes. Write professional correspondence, using correct spelling and grammar. Computers, telephone, printers, scanners, digital cameras, and audio-visual equipment. Oversee a pharmaceutical inventory. Make arithmetical computations. Document, track and distribute funds received. Abide by Department of State Health Services and Department of Health & Human Services and Zoonosis Control policies and procedures. Establish and effectively maintain a positive working relationship with supervisor, co-workers, and the public, and to work with other employees in a cooperative and productive manner that offers quality customer service to both internal and external customers – needs to be a “team player”. Respond to a variety of interruptions, inquiries, complaints, and requests in a positive, flexible manner. Organize and prioritize workload, complete multiple projects, and proactively meet program needs. Protect confidential medical and personnel information.
Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications
Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver’s license, or equivalent license from another state.
Initial Screening Criteria
N/A
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
Nearest Secondary Market: Temple
Location:
TEMPLE, TX
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.
Review our Top 10 Tips for Success when Applying to State of Texas Jobs.
Functional Title: Public Health and Prevention Specialist I
Job Title: Publ Hlth and Prevent Spcl I
Agency: Dept of State Health Services
Department: Region 7
Posting Number: 1974
Closing Date: 02/12/2025
Posting Audience: Internal and External
Occupational Category: Healthcare Practitioners and Technical
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-14
Salary Range: $3,095.33 - $3,285.61
Shift: Day
Additional Shift
Telework:
Travel: Up to 10%
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full Time/Part Time: Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt
Facility Location:
Job Location City: TEMPLE
Job Location Address: 2408 S 37TH ST
Other Locations:
MOS Codes
230X,43EX,43HX,4B0X1,4E0X1,60C,68S,68Z,HM,HS,MED,NAP11,SEI12
Brief Job Description
Under the supervision of the Regional Zoonosis Control Veterinarian, performs professional routine (journey-level) public health duties for the Zoonosis Control program. Provides technical consultation to local health departments, human and animal health care professionals, government officials, community action groups, internal customers, and the public on the treatment, prevention and control of zoonotic diseases, rabies risk assessment, and animal control. Serves as a public health resource in increasing public and professional awareness of zoonotic public health issues. Investigates human and animal zoonotic disease incidents, to include obtaining lab/disease reports, reviewing medical records, interviewing patients, and monitoring for case resolution. Collects, enters, and maintains data for program initiatives.
Maintains program equipment and supplies. Develops and disseminates educational materials and public health information. Assists in formulating and updating standard operating procedures for program-specific activities, as directed. Provides support to the program’s Animal Control Officer (ACO) Training Courses. Oversees Animal Control Officer Training Manual sales. Maintains the rabies biologicals program.
Maintains rabies quarantine and shelter inspection data. Uses complex computer systems to develop and maintain program-specific files, reports, maps, and databases. Serves as liaison for the program staff with internal and external customers. Works under moderate supervision with limited latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
Essential Job Functions (EJFs)
Technical: Responds to verbal and written requests for technical information on zoonotic diseases, rabies control and animal control laws, vector surveillance initiatives, and program-specific policies and procedures, or routes calls to the appropriate subject matter expert. Serves as a public health resource in creating awareness of zoonotic disease and animal-related public health problems and the program’s services and related resources available to address these problems. Keeps the program’s web page current. Develops and assists in disseminating public health information to the community, such as training announcements, public health messages, inspection notices, and summary surveillance and case investigation data. Prepares maps of notifiable disease occurrences for dissemination to the public. Extrapolates data into charts, graphs, and tables, when needed. Collects data. Creates and maintains databases and spreadsheets. Tabulates program productivity for evaluation of the effectiveness of public health program efforts (case investigations, inspections, educational programs, surveillance collections, rabies vaccine distributions, revenues, and expenses). Develops and/or maintains several program-specific databases of stakeholder contact information, vector surveillance data, ACO Training and Manual revenues, and human and animal reportable disease cases ensuring accuracy of data and taking corrective actions as necessary for QA of databases. Enters data on surveillance results or human disease case investigations into secure database sites. Writes or updates standard operating procedures for program-specific activities, as directed. Maintains secure and confidential electronic and hard copy files in compliance with HIPAA. Maintains program equipment, supplies, and initiates orders for program materials. Assists in the inspection and approval process of animal shelters, impoundment, and rabies quarantine facilities. Maintains the animal shelter inspection notification and tracking program. Issues inspection notices for quarantine facilities and animal shelters. Enters data of inspection results, and issues inspection certificates, when appropriate. (40%)
Disease Surveillance, Prevention and Control: Consults with stakeholders (local health departments, human and animal health care professionals, government officials, community action groups, internal customers, and the public). Consultative services encompass issues that include, but are not limited to, human and animal rabies risk assessment, human rabies biologicals administration, human and animal rabies prevention vector-borne and zoonotic disease inquiries, zoonotic disease reporting, Texas Health and Safety Code explanations, animal impoundment facility design and management, local ordinance review, and animal control officer and rabies control authority education. Conducts or assists primarily with animal rabies case investigations. Assists with other notifiable condition investigations or outbreaks. Contacts physicians, veterinarians, hospitals, veterinary clinics, animal control officials to obtain information necessary for investigations. Interviews and counsels clients. Reviews human and animal medical, laboratory, and other records. Obtains disease reports, refers disease reports to the appropriate jurisdiction. Enters data from investigations into the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS)-Based System (NBS). Carries out quality assurance of data entered into NBS. Participates in the after hours on-call rotation providing 24/7/365 phone coverage for consultations on zoonotic disease related topics and public health emergencies. (40%)
Education: Reviews applications and enrolls participants attending training courses. Maintains CE and ACO Basic databases. Prepares Animal Control Officer Training Courses’ materials, enters and tracks student and instructor data, and assists with updates of the courses’ PowerPoint slideshow presentations. Assists in teaching courses. Monitors course evaluations and assists with course modifications, when required. Oversees the Animal Control Officer Training Manual sales, including inventory management, manual updates, sales, fee collection, payment processing, and revenue tracking. (10%)
Rabies Biologicals and Program Inventory: Maintains the PHR 7 rabies biologicals program. Assists in monitoring rabies biologicals distributions and documentation. Orders, stocks, and distributes biologicals and associated supplies. Ensures biologicals are maintained and distributed according to Clinic Pharmacy Class D rules. Processes biologicals distribution reports for timely billing. Collects distribution data and submits reports to the agency’s accountants and epidemiologists. Arranges delivery of biologicals to meet public health need, when required. Maintains inventory in the VAOS/PIOS system. (5%)
Special Projects and COOP: Performs related duties as assigned. 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, disease outbreak investigations or field surveillance. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location. (5%)
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (KSAs)
Knowledge of: State rabies and animal control laws. Common zoonotic diseases, including rabies. Current social, economic, and public health issues. Public health laws and regulations. Medical terminology.
Skill in: Public health work. Case/contact investigation.
Ability to: Interpret public health laws and regulations. Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing. Collect data from various sources, including laboratory reports, medical records, literature, and internet. Effectively use Windows, MS Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher), Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, People Soft, Arc GIS, and the Internet to create E-mail messages, letters, informational handouts, spreadsheets, databases, database reports, charts, graphs, presentations, maps, web pages, and computer-generated faxes. Write professional correspondence, using correct spelling and grammar. Computers, telephone, printers, scanners, digital cameras, and audio-visual equipment. Oversee a pharmaceutical inventory. Make arithmetical computations. Document, track and distribute funds received. Abide by Department of State Health Services and Department of Health & Human Services and Zoonosis Control policies and procedures. Establish and effectively maintain a positive working relationship with supervisor, co-workers, and the public, and to work with other employees in a cooperative and productive manner that offers quality customer service to both internal and external customers – needs to be a “team player”. Respond to a variety of interruptions, inquiries, complaints, and requests in a positive, flexible manner. Organize and prioritize workload, complete multiple projects, and proactively meet program needs. Protect confidential medical and personnel information.
Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications
Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver’s license, or equivalent license from another state.
Initial Screening Criteria
- Experience in the use of Microsoft Office software.
- Experience using a computer to create and maintain Excel spreadsheets or Access databases.
- Bachelor’s degree with a public health, epidemiology, biology, animal science or related major preferred.
- Experience in public health, zoonosis control, disease surveillance, epidemiology, or related field preferred.
N/A
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
Nearest Secondary Market: Temple
Salary : $3,095 - $3,286
