Program Specialist

Job Summary

About the role

This position is located in Richmond, CA and offers a hybrid work environment including both remote and office centered work. The standard for hybrid work is a minimum of four days per week in-person and up to one teleworking day per week. The amount of telework is at the discretion of the Department’s operational business needs and subject to change at any time consistent with the CDPH Telework Program.

Responsibilities

• Applies professional or research concepts to perform analysis of data and systems pertaining to highly complex projects, policies, initiatives, processes, and functions (e.g., analysis of grant budget spend down needs for program; development of tracking system for expenditure estimates and spend down; research style guides and best practices for publications, fact sheets, educational handouts, trainings and slide presentations).
• Analyzes, develops, and leads a variety of policies, projects, programs and issues, research initiatives and new or changing systems and programs; develops and recommends new Branch procedures and policies (e.g., independent development, design and execution of Branch manuscript development process, TB Branch intranet and extranet; analysis and distribution of TB resources, including available/recommended trainings and publications/webinars for staff).
• Develops and leads Branch and statewide meetings, senior staff meetings and monitors, updates, and provides strategic revisions to TB Branch workplan and California TB Elimination Plan. Provides high-level and confidential organizational support for grant preparation and submission and for a variety of stakeholder meetings.
• Independently responds to urgent and time sensitive requests across the Branch, communicates with local health department officials and staff on complex topics that require substantial subject matter expertise, independently research, develop, and design programmatic documents, in addition to supporting meeting logistics, such as reserving meeting rooms and setting up equipment and logistics.
• Develops independent responses to executive leaders in other agencies and develops initiatives and complex presentations (e.g., original research and collection of data to analyze TB Elimination Plans for health equity measures and subsequent presentation of findings at national meetings; original design of research and survey instruments and analysis of frequency of mental health/behavioral health conditions among persons with TB in California; development of health equity statement outlining initiative to reduce health inequities for statewide TB Elimination Plan; development of presentations that synthesize progress of TB elimination in California demonstrated by quantitative and qualitative measures) as well as highly visible correspondence and sensitive communications, including documents of a highly technical nature.
• Gathers, assembles, and research analytical and factual data on assigned problems and issues to prepare reports and/or analyses summarizing information on the assigned issues and commenting on other significance for internal or external constituents.
• Creates, develops, and implements long and short-term strategic communications and organizational plans and/or projects, in alignment with CDPH and UCSF brand identity standards as posted at identity.ucsf.edu, to meet TB Elimination Plan measures and develop health equity partnerships and related communications materials.
• Prepares, edits and modifies documents including research reports, manuscripts, presentations and proposals. Provides expertise in preparing complex documents for clearance through governmental offices. Functions as a lead resource on clearance process and challenges, such as clearance delays and need for a formal process to notify primary/secondary authors for clearance documents when we are nearing time factors.
• Serves as program specialist for TB elimination and the TB Cooperative Agreement HRD focal point in planning and collaboration with program/project staff. Leads development of recommendations and guidelines and designs new systems for programs and initiatives. Participates in the development and revision of standard operating procedures and guidelines. Formulates and operationalizes timelines and timely completion of Branch wide activities.
• Schedules meetings and oversees and manages Branch Chief’s calendar. Coordinates a variety of information technology needs for branch staff, as needed; responds to requests from the Division and Office of Public Affairs. Independently develops new systems to ensure human resource needs for new staff are met which may include ensuring trainings are completed, information technology resources are available and orientation documents are developed and accessible.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training
• At least three years of experience in the field of tuberculosis disease, control and prevention
• Knowledge of common organization- or research-specific and other computer application programs
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing
• Ability to use discretion and maintain all confidentiality
• Analytical/problem-solving skills
• Strong skills in analyzing, researching and synthesizing large amounts of data for preparing sound and relevant proposals/analyses
• Ability to multi-task with demanding timeframes
• Strong policy analysis techniques
• Ability to use sound judgment in responding to issues and concerns
• Ability to take, edit and disseminate high quality notes in meetings with technical/medical content
• Expert in Microsoft Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Access, Visio
• Knowledge of communications design tools, including InDesign, Canva, and video editing software