Public Health & Prevention Specialist II

Location: Temple, TX

About the role

Under the general supervision of the Tuberculosis (TB) Program Manager, this position performs complex, journey-level public health work to support regional operations. The primary focus is fiscal and contract administration, including budgeting, monitoring expenditures, and coordinating vendor contracts for TB surveillance, containment, and patient care. This role also serves as the regional Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) Coordinator, managing clinic assignments, follow-up tracking, data entry, and quality assurance for high-risk individuals. Additionally, the position provides logistical support for procurement, inventory control, and distribution of supplies and equipment, and assists with field operations such as TB contact investigations and community mass screenings.

Responsibilities

• Budgeting and Contracting Support (30%):
  • Reconciles internal program financial spreadsheets with agency accounting systems.
  • Maintains the TB Program Expenditures log and all financial records related to program spending.
  • Prepares quarterly, semiannual, and annual budget reports for the TB Program Manager and assists with fiscal planning and forecasting.
  • Supports recruitment and establishment of vendor contracts for professional services (medical evaluations, radiography, laboratory testing).
  • Develops, updates, and monitors contract expenditure tracking logs monthly.
  • Processes vendor invoices and tracks them through to final payment.
  • Establishes and maintains relationships with contracted service providers, local budget analysts, and agency accounts payable and contract management teams.
  • Provides technical assistance to vendors regarding contract status, referrals, billing reports, and outstanding invoices.
• Electronic Disease Notification (EDN) Coordinator (25%):
  • Oversees receipt and follow-up tracking of high-risk immigrant and refugee referrals through CDC's EDN system.
  • Manages quality assurance monitoring to ensure timely clinical evaluation of arrivals.
  • Performs data entry, status updates, and closures within the EDN system and the National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS).
  • Collaborates with regional public health staff, local health departments, and healthcare providers to coordinate continuity of care.
  • Maintains organized electronic tracking logs using Microsoft Excel and specialized public health databases.
  • Provides technical, non-clinical assistance and workflow training on EDN and NEDSS protocols.
• Logistical Support for TB Program and Regional Clinics (20%):
  • Procures, tracks, and distributes supplies and equipment for regional tuberculosis services.
  • Maintains accurate inventory logs and coordinates distribution of assets to the regional nursing program.
  • Participates in planning and developing TB educational initiatives, including securing venues and managing event supplies.
  • Assists with the regional Respiratory Protection Program, TB contact investigations, community mass screenings, and transporting clients to the Texas Center for Infectious Disease (TCID).
• Administrative (20%):
  • Prepares correspondences, reports, and updates TB-related clinical forms and contact lists using Microsoft Office and Adobe Acrobat.
  • Assists the TB Program Manager in formulating regional TB processes and procedures, updating manuals, and organizing in-services, workshops, and conferences.
  • Organizes office functions including filing systems, security and confidentiality protocols, supply inventory logs, and records disposition.
• Other duties as assigned (5%):
  • Participates in disaster response, recovery, or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation as required.

Requirements

• Two years’ experience in communicable disease surveillance, tuberculosis prevention and control, public health program operations, or public health data management.
• Experience providing training, technical assistance, education, or team leadership (preferred).
• Willingness to travel up to 20% of the work week (typically within the normal workday; overnight travel is infrequent).
• Must possess a valid Class C Texas driver's license or equivalent from another state.

Skills

• Knowledge of basic epidemiology, tuberculosis epidemiology, transmission, and surveillance, including screening of high-risk populations.
• Knowledge of budgeting, public accounting principles, purchasing, storage, and inventory control.
• Knowledge of current social, economic, and public health issues, laws, agency rules, and regulations.
• Skill in using personal computers, modern web browsers, Adobe Acrobat Pro DC, and Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access) for data entry, file maintenance, and report generation.
• Skill in organizing, gathering, and maintaining public health records and data files.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining professional, collaborative relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Skill in developing and delivering educational or training materials.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and adhere to data security and HIPAA standards.
• Ability to prepare, submit, and track vendor invoices accurately and within deadlines.
• Ability to maintain accurate inventory records for supplies and equipment.
• Ability to analyze regional public health needs and communicate effectively with diverse groups.
• Ability to work under limited supervision, exercise independent judgment, and meet project deadlines.

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).

Pay

Salary range: $3,409.83 - $4,252.00 per month.

Schedule

• Full-time, regular position.
• Day shift.
• Up to two days of telework may be available after a six-month probation period.