Program Assistant

The Harris Center for Mental Health and IDD; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Robust retirement plan

Cell phone discounts

Headspace subscription

Job summary

The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) seeks an experienced Program Assistant to support the department with administrative and secretarial tasks on-site. The role interfaces with providers, vendors and staff to coordinate facility maintenance, emergency preparedness, supply purchasing and staff scheduling.

Responsibilities include data management, on-site training, access coordination, and ensuring 24/7 paraprofessional coverage while upholding

Qualifications

• 3 years of related work experience.
• Demonstrates the ability to deliver professional customer service in a collaborative environment with many stakeholders.
• De‑escalation and behavior management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Communicates professionally with callers, patients, staff and visitors.
• Maintains program databases and spreadsheets tracking admissions, discharges, census and incidents.
• Coordinates duties and maintains accurate accounting for facility repairs and work orders, ordering office and program supplies, and inventory control.
• Compiles and enters data for paraprofessional leave time in KRONOS and ensures 24/7 paraprofessional coverage.
• Maintains staff and consumer safety and adheres to policies and procedures.
• Contributes to suicide care and prevention with a trauma-informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

Skills

MS Word

Outlook

Excel

Access

PowerPoint

HIPAA

Verbal communication

Customer service

Interpersonal skills

Problem-solving

Education

High School Diploma or GED

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Brief Description

The Harris Center for Mental Health and Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD), known as "The HARRIS CENTER," is seeking an experienced Program Assistant to join our team. The Program Assistant utilizes a combination of administrative and secretarial skills to support the department. This position will interface with internal and external providers and vendors. Primary duties include on‑site coordination of facility maintenance, emergency response/disaster preparedness, supply/food purchasing and delivery, paraprofessional schedules/coverage, and liaising with external vendors as necessary. The Program Assistant will respond to routine requests and use judgment and initiative (with supervisory consultation) to determine necessary response/action in non‑routine situations.

Your Role In Action

• Communicates and works with callers, patients, staff and visitors appropriately, demonstrating a professional, polite and culturally sensitive manner.
• Possesses strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Works collaboratively with agency stakeholders to fulfill requests and share required information.
• Provides new paraprofessional staff with orientation and on‑site training.
• Obtains additional access required for on‑site job responsibilities (e.g., med carts, lab access) for designated staff.
• Maintains program databases and spreadsheets tracking admissions, discharges, census and incidents.
• Coordinates duties and maintains accurate accounting for facility repairs and work orders, ordering office and program supplies, and inventory control.
• Compiles and enters data for all paraprofessional leave time in KRONOS (enter work schedule) and ensures 24/7 paraprofessional coverage of the department.
• Complies with Harris Center policies and procedures and contractual requirements including punctuality, attendance and access to the facility.
• Maintains staff and consumer safety.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.
• Contributes to suicide care and prevention by embracing our values and applying a trauma‑informed approach rooted in safety, trust, choice, collaboration, and empowerment.

Education

• High School Diploma or General Education Diploma.
• Bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from a four‑year college or university preferred.

Experience

• 3 years of related work experience.
• Demonstrates the ability to deliver professional customer service in a collaborative environment with many stakeholders.
• De‑escalation and behavior management experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and Excel.
• Knowledge of HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, and effective interaction at all levels within the organization.
• Critical thinking, problem‑solving and listening skills.
• Well‑developed interpersonal, organizational and collaborative skills with a desire to provide a high level of customer service.
• Ability to maintain absolute confidentiality of all work‑related matters.

About Us

The Harris Center is the state‑designated Local Mental Health Authority and Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Authority serving Harris County, Texas. As the largest behavioral and developmental disability care center in Texas, the Harris Center provides care to over 90,000 people and has an annual budget of over $300 million. Staffing 2,500 employees, we serve more than 40 languages and provide a full continuum of services at 80 sites across Harris County.

What Else You Should Know

• This posting is associated with position #70365.

What We Have To Offer

The Harris Center offers a competitive salary and a suite of benefits designed to enrich your life professionally and personally. Benefits include a robust retirement plan with generous company matching, a prior service credit that accelerates paid time‑off accrual, cell phone discounts, entertainment deals through Tickets at Work, a free Headspace subscription, an Employee Assistance Program, and student loan forgiveness programs for qualifying employees.