Youth Camp Program Specialist

About the role

The Youth Camp Program Specialist performs highly advanced (senior-level) environmental sanitation work for youth camp and public health sanitation programs under the team leadership of the Youth Camp & Public Sanitation (YCPS) Coordinator and the supervision of the Environmental Hazards and Public Sanitation (EHPS) Operations Branch Manager. This role serves as the Youth Camp and Campus Program for Minors Programs Specialist and works with the Playground Safety and Medical Waste Treatment Technologies programs. They serve as DSHS liaison with the Youth Camp Advisory Board to coordinate bi-annual meetings and oversee the review of applications for vacant committee membership positions.

Responsibilities

• Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
• Performs highly advanced (senior-level) environmental sanitation work for youth camp and public health sanitation programs under the team leadership of the YCPS Coordinator and the supervision of the EHPS Operations Branch Manager. Serves as the Youth Camp and Campus Program for Minors Programs Specialist and works with the Playground Safety and Medical Waste Treatment Technologies programs. Serves as DSHS liaison to the Youth Camp Advisory Committee, coordinates bi-annual meetings and oversees the review of applications for vacant committee membership positions. Coordinates program activities with department staff, regional field staff, Regional and Local Health Operations Division, local health officials and key stakeholder organizations to review operational processes and procedures, identify barriers, and execute solutions as needed to ensure that program regulations are implemented effectively. Develops policies and standard operating procedures for each program. Updates DSHS Youth Camp program website as needed. Answers questions, complaints, and provides rule guidance to regional field staff and regulated industry. Conducts joint inspections for training purposes and to provide backup to regional inspection program when required.
• Reviews Youth Camp initial applications to ensure applicants meet licensing requirements. Assigns inspections in the Versa Regulatory (VR) system to regional field staff and forwards recommendations for issuance to Licensing Branch in a timely manner. Reviews and endorses routine inspection reports for Youth Camps to ensure fair and uniform application of the regulatory standards using Microsoft Word and Excel. Reports may include following-up with camp operators on Corrective Action Plans. Prepares and presents cases involving Youth Camps for escalated enforcement as needed. Serves as the Operations Branch liaison with Compliance Section for Compliance Review Committee (CRC) meetings and informal conferences.
• Receives, reviews, and approves Youth Camp and Campus Program for Minors Sexual Abuse and Child Molestation Awareness Training and Examination Programs. Maintains a current list of approved programs online. Reviews, documents, and responds to complaints regarding potential sexual abuse or molestation at licensed Youth Camps, keeping the YCPS Coordinator and Branch Manager in the loop as appropriate. Assigns complaints in the VR system to regional field staff regarding Youth Camps for investigation and review.
• Serves as subject matter expert regarding Youth Camps and Campus Program for Minors to coordinate any rule revision projects with program staff and assist in developing agency cost estimates and bill analysis during legislative sessions. Oversees the development of rules packages, ensuring participation by stakeholders, legal counsel, and program staff to develop rule language. Works closely with the Environmental Rules Coordinator to develop proposed rules packages. Directs teams in developing goals, strategies, time frames, priorities, and plans for implementing state legislation and rules. Reviews and evaluates draft rule products of teams to ensure that goals are achieved. May present rule packages to Health and Humans Services Executive Council.
• Serves as backup to the YCPS as needed, providing program support for the public swimming pools and spas, interactive water features, artificial swimming lagoons, public nuisances, and other public health sanitation regulations under Health and Safety Code Chapters 341, 343, and 757.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Branch Manager to meet the needs of the Branch and Section. Duties also include participating in emergency response training and performing emergency response activities as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge and comprehension of state and federal statutes and regulations affecting youth camps under Health and Safety Code, Chapter 141 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 265, Subchapters B & N.
• Knowledge and comprehension of state and federal statutes and regulations affecting public health sanitation, including swimming pools and spas, interactive water features, artificial swimming lagoons, public nuisances, and other public health issues under Health and Safety Code, Title 5 Chapters 341 & 343 and Title 9 Chapter 757 and Texas Administrative Code Chapter 265, Subchapters K, L, and M.
• Knowledge of environmental sanitation principles and practices, state and federal public health laws, and public health organization structures and functions.
• Knowledge of legislative procedures and agency rule-making processes.
• Skills in understanding and interpreting relevant statutes and regulations.
• Skills in reviewing technical inspection, investigation, or audit reports to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Skills in technical, writing, training, teaching, public speaking, and risk communication.
• Skills in the use of various software programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Skills in managing multiple and competing priorities.
• Ability to oversee environmental and public health programs, to develop and implement policies and procedures, to evaluate laws and ordinances, and to supervise the work of others.
• Ability to conduct inspections and investigations, to prepare concise reports, and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to assemble, correlate, and analyze data and facts to develop reports and to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to communicate technical information effectively, and to prepare and present highly technical information to professional groups and the public.
• Ability to adhere to agency policies and procedures.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision and to make sound decisions.
• Ability to work effectively and cooperatively with co-workers, teams, supervisor, managers, the regulated community, the public, and professionals at all levels of government and industry.
• Ability to be tactful and diplomatic in adverse situations.
• Ability to travel as necessary to attend technical training courses, to perform outreach, to perform inspections, and to conduct training and evaluations of field staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in natural science or a related field.
• Current registration as a Professional Sanitarian in the State of Texas.
• Minimum of three years of full-time experience in conducting inspections and investigations in environmental sanitation work.

Skills

• Understanding and interpreting relevant statutes and regulations.
• Reviewing technical inspection, investigation, or audit reports to ensure compliance with regulations.
• Technical, writing, training, teaching, public speaking, and risk communication skills.
• Use of various software programs, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Managing multiple and competing priorities.
• Conducting inspections and investigations, preparing concise reports, and communicating effectively.
• Assembling, correlating, and analyzing data and facts to develop reports and devise solutions to problems.
• Communicating technical information effectively and preparing and presenting highly technical information to professional groups and the public.
• Adhering to agency policies and procedures.
• Working independently with minimal supervision and making sound decisions.
• Working effectively and cooperatively with co-workers, teams, supervisor, managers, the regulated community, the public, and professionals at all levels of government and industry.
• Being tactful and diplomatic in adverse situations.
• Travelling as necessary to attend technical training courses, perform outreach, perform inspections, and conduct training and evaluations of field staff.

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).