Grant Operations Advisor

Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 57,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligible

Travel up to 5%

Job summary

Texas Department of State Health Services in Austin, TX seeks a Grant Specialist IV to lead technical grant writing, coordination, and administration under the Healthcare Safety Unit. This role collaborates with Data Analysts, Epidemiologists, and external partners to ensure successful and timely grant assignments for federally funded projects.

The position emphasizes SMART writing, performance measures, and comprehensive progress reporting, with telework eligibility and travel up to 5% as part

Qualifications

• Professional experience in research, grants, contracts, budgets, operations, and/or project management is preferred.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public administration, research, health and/or psychological sciences, business administration, IRB, or a related field is generally preferred.
• Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: None, but Project Management, CTCM, CTCD, and/or grant or research-related certifications a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversees grant applications, contracts, budgets, and evaluation plans to ensure timely, high-quality outputs.
• Coordinates cross-functional workgroups to develop program objectives, contracts, statements of work, and budgets.
• Responds to internal and external requests for information and supports grant funders and agency leadership.
• Develops and reviews policies, procedures and rules to meet grant and contract procedures and federal guidelines.

Education

Bachelor’s degree or higher

Job description

Date: Sep 9, 2026

Location: AUSTIN, 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: Grant Operations Advisor

Job Title: Grant Specialist IV

Agency: Dept of State Health Services

Department: HAI Quality Assurance

Posting Number: 21165

Closing Date: 03/10/2027

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Life, Physical, and Social Science

Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $7,600.00

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23

Shift: Day

Additional Shift

Telework: Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 5%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Nonexempt

Facility Location:

Job Location City: AUSTIN

Job Location Address: 1100 W 49TH ST (DHT)

Other Locations:

MOS Codes: No military equivalent

Do you love the thrill of grants, research, and/or developing innovative strategies to answer complex questions? Do have a "can do" attitude, enjoy working on a dynamic team, and thrive under pressure? In this important role, you will work directly with Data Analysts and Epidemiologists and other high-level public health employees on our federally-funded projects to ensure our grant assignments are successful and on time.

The Healthcare Safety Grant Specialist performs technical grant writing, coordination, and administration under the Leadership of the Healthcare Safety Unit and its DSHS partners. The position is a Team Lead responsible for coordinating grant and budget activities, and for providing and supporting essential public health functions. The position will coordinate and collaborate with internal and external partners to analyze projects and costs and prepare budgets for awarded grants, some of which are impromptu. The position will independently develop and train staff on performance measures, timelines, and milestones, using "SMART" technical writing skills. Expert skill writing operationally-defined and quantifiable measures is essential. In addition, this Specialist will continuously prepare progress reports, and complete quality project deliverables by approved timelines. The position is responsible for programmatic operations, policies and procedures, and for evaluating grant activities. Professional and effective written and verbal communication is required. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. To be successful, must be a detail-oriented, self-motivated person who can also be flexible and thrive under pressure to meet the evolving, high profile, and timely needs of the team and State.

(40%) Oversees and assures HSU compliance with all grant applications, contract processes, reporting materials, work plans, and evaluation plans. Tracks activity completion and progress made on grant goals, milestones, and performance measures. Completes business operations activities for section, division, unit, and state-level entities to ensure timely, high quality, and business-saavvy processes and output. Oversees, prepares, or evaluates grant application project plans and special initiatives and timelines and coordinates and oversees the completion of related tasks among appropriate staff and/or other divisions and agencies, as relevant; reviews relevant work completed by other staff; ensures all materials/requirements are completed in a timely manner for HSU management review and final submission. Primary role in grants, contracts, budgets, legislative tasks, and financial tasks for Unit, Section, and Division.

(15%) Oversees cross-functional workgroups composed of internal and external stakeholders to develop program objectives, work plans, contracts, statements of work, purchase orders, and budgets. Serves as a liaison between HSU and other HHS, HHSC, and DSHS Units. Conducts internal work groups of staff, external agency personnel and other appropriate stakeholders as necessary to develop project measures and goals, organizational structure, program objectives, work plans, trainings, and budgets.

(15%) Responds in business and non-business hours to relevant ad-hoc and regular requests for information from internal and external stakeholders, including grant funders, contract agencies, agency leadership, and legislative offices. Oversees grant closeout activities including final reporting to grant funders.

(15%) Develops and reviews policies, procedures and rules for the HSU, Division, and Section, as needed to meet grant and contract procedure and operations needs, including all relevant federal guidelines, and interprets and prepares these in the form of formal guidance to program staff, stakeholders and/or subcontractors.

(15%) Performs other duties as assigned, including but 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. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications: None, but Project Management, CTCM, CTCD, and/or grant or research-related certifications a plus.

Initial Screening Criteria Professional experience in research, grants, contracts, budgets, operations, and/or project management; Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in public administration, research, health and/or psychological sciences, business administration, IRB, or a related field is generally preferred; Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Additional information This position works two days per week in the Austin DSHS Central Office (W 49th St); Working in person two days weekly is non-negotiable. Only travel is intermittent in-person meetings or conferences, if needed. Hours around grant- and team-related deadlines will require some non-business hours work. We are a fast-moving, collaborative, and dynamic group of passionate public health and science professionals who seek a grant and deliverables coordinator and operations expert with similar passion and dedication to join our team.

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 [e-mail].

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 Major Market: Austin