Program Specialist IV - Contracts

Texas Department of State Health Services; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 48,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Telework eligibility

Job summary

Texas Department of State Health Services, Immunization Unit, is seeking a Program Specialist IV to manage complex immunization contracts. The role involves planning, coordinating, and monitoring contract work, providing expert guidance to program managers and contractors, and ensuring compliance with contract terms.

The position requires a bachelor’s degree and experience in contracts or grants, with telework eligibility and travel up to 15%.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Professional experience in contract or grant development, management, monitoring, or evaluation work.

Responsibilities

• Plan, develop, and implement programmatic work related to Immunization Unit contracts.
• Provide consultative services and technical assistance to ensure contract requirements are clear and complied with.
• Coordinate activities with Contract Management Section and Procurement and Contracting Services to monitor contracts.

Skills

Contract management

Budget analysis

Data analysis

Public health programs

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Outlook

Word

Excel

Teams

Access

Job description

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: Program Specialist IV - Contracts

Job Title: Program Specialist IV

Agency: Dept of State Health Services

Department: Immunization Unit

Closing Date: 08/27/2026

Salary Range: $4,263.16 - $5,521.16

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Telework: Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 15%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

Job Description

Program Specialist IV

Works independently under the general direction of the Immunization Unit Operations Group Manager. Performs highly complex, senior level consultative services and technical assistance work. Plans, develops, and implements programmatic work related to Immunization Unit contracts. Provides consultative services and technical assistance to Public Health Region Immunization Program Managers and contractors to ensure contract requirements are clear and complied with. Coordinates programmatic pieces of contracts and requests for proposals. Monitors contractors for compliance with contracts. Coordinates activities with the Contract Management Section and Procurement and Contracting Services. Assists in the planning, coordinating, and monitoring of cooperative agreement/grant related activities and monitoring expenditures associated with the cooperative agreement/grant. Works on special projects as directed by the Immunization Unit Director or Operations Group Manager. Works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Essential Job Functions

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

(40%) Provides advanced, complex consultative services and technical assistance to Public Health Regions (PHR), local health departments (LHD), Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC), and other contractors for reimbursements approvals and reconciles amount invoiced against contract amounts. Assists with financial and programmatic language for contracts and requests for proposals in coordination with the appropriate Immunization Unit program area with input from stakeholders. Works closely with Contract Management Section (CMS) and operations financial team to monitor awarded amount against reimbursement requests to ensure reimbursement requests are not over approved contract amount. Review reimbursements request to ensure items are within the approved contract for each entity’s agreement. Provides guidance to staff in the development and integration of new contract purchase orders encumbrances and payment process documentation as they are implemented. Consults with PHRs, LHDs, FQHCs, and Immunization Unit staff to plan and implement effective programs and services and to ensure consistency statewide. Conducts all work related to contracting as assigned by the Operations Group Manager and the Contracts and Grants Team Leader, and CMS. Develops performance measures and review criteria. Develops statements of work for contractors. Working with Immunization Unit subject-matter experts (SMEs), develops work plans for some contractors. Serves as a subject matter expert for Immunization Unit contracts. May plan and present at statewide technical assistance meetings. Documents standard operating procedures related to contracts.

(35%) Oversees and conducts reviews to determine contractor compliance with contracts reimbursement requests are reconciled. May conduct contractor compliance reviews (including on-site reviews). Provides technical assistance to Public Health Regions for contractor compliance reviews. Oversees the completion of required contractor performance reports and ensures that information is communicated to contractors for quality improvement. Reviews contractor vouchers and monitors contract expenditures on a monthly basis. Recommends appropriate changes and actions based on contractor performance monitoring and reviews. Works with Immunization Unit SMEs and Public Health Regions to identify and resolve problems related to contracts. Develops and updates policy and procedure manuals, develops standard operating procedures, develops reports for contractors and for program use, and develops evaluation and other tools related to Immunization Unit contracts. Develops evaluation techniques and tools for monitoring contractor compliance and the delivery of immunization services. Conducts reviews to ensure compliance with laws, regulations, policies, and procedures. Analyzes operations and makes appropriate recommendations for improvement. Organizes, analyzes, and reports data related to contracts using Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and Access. Evaluates findings from across the state, reviews and evaluates information on service delivery systems and activities, identifies gaps in resources, and recommends improvements. Works with contractors, PHR staff, Immunization Unit SMEs, and CMS to develop action plans for improvement.

(15%) Working with the Immunization Unit Operations Group Manager, the Contracts and Grants Team Leader, and the CDC Public Health Advisors, assists in the development, management, and monitoring of immunization cooperative agreements PO encumbrances and expended amounts and other administrative grants tasks as assigned. May assist with creating performance measures and targets; preparing budget justifications; developing work plans, goals, objectives, and activities; testing new procedures for efficient reviews, summaries, and tracking procedures; developing supporting documentation required for the cooperative agreement/grants; coordinating and tracking the development, review, completion, and submission of required cooperative agreement/grant reports, including the Mid-Year and Annual Reports; tracking progress toward performance measures and other deliverables; tracking grant budget expenditures; and collecting and analyzing performance measure, deliverable, budget, and other data related to grants for tracking purposes and process improvement.

(5%) Other duties as assigned that relate to contracts and monitoring of contractors. Makes presentations related to contracting and other duties of the Immunization Business Operations, Grants, and Policy Unit.

(5%) 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.

Registration Or Licensure Requirements

• Valid driver’s license.
• Requires Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) Certification within 12 months of employment. Must maintain certification while in this position.

Knowledge Skills Abilities

• Knowledge of immunization program and essential public health services.
• Knowledge of state and federal laws, regulations, policies, procedures, and/or processes relating to contracts administration, payment, and accounting.
• Knowledge of public administration and management techniques.
• Knowledge of contracts, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of data analysis, program planning, and implementation.
• Skill in developing measures or indicators of program performance, problem solving techniques, and procedures to monitor and evaluate progress.
• Skill in contract development and monitoring.
• Skill in using personal computer application software such as Microsoft Office applications (e.g., Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams, and Access) or similar programs.
• Skill in written and oral communication, including the ability to make public presentations and write technical information in an understandable format.
• Ability to devise solutions to problems.
• Ability to interpret legal documents such as contracts.
• Ability to develop, research, interpret, and evaluate policies and procedures.
• Ability to research, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and data.
• Ability to prepare concise reports.
• Ability to assess and manage priorities and meet deadlines.
• Ability to effectively work with individuals, groups, and stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate effectively.

Initial Selection Criteria

• Graduation with a bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Professional experience in contract or grant development, contract or grant management, contract or grant monitoring, or evaluation work.

Additional Information

Must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship. Full salary range may not be offered due to budget limitations. Applicants selected for an interview will be required to complete an in-basket exercise. This position will initially be working in the office for a minimum of two months until training is completed and will be eligible for telework after training is completed. Hours for this position will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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