Continuing Quality Improvement Team Lead

Job Description:
Program Specialist V
Under the general direction of the Group Manager, serves as the Team Lead in the Continuing Quality Improvement (CQI) Group. Perform advanced (senior-level) consultative program monitoring, evaluation, and technical assistance in Tuberculosis (TB) prevention and care activities. Activities include Hansen’s Disease (HD) and Binational TB (BNTB) programs across the State of Texas focusing on performance measures, all essential components of a TB program, and process improvement strategies. Work involves planning, developing, and implementing. Design and build program performance and evaluation activities using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Framework for Program Evaluation as a resource. Serves as a subject matter expert on Chapter 89 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and Title 25, Chapter 97 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) relating to TB screening and reporting activities in correctional and detention facilities in the State of Texas. Works to oversee and coordinate Team review of local and regional TB programs’ evaluation progress toward meeting state and national TB performance measurements in the DSHS Annual Progress Report. Works to coordinate, lead, and/or participate in formal on-site reviews of 30 local health departments and eight public health regions. Leads monitoring of 56 program evaluation sites and 92 contracts actively within the CQI Team’s assigned jurisdiction and provides contract monitoring updates to the DSHS Contract Management Section (CMS), as needed. Develops guidelines and techniques to enhance program evaluation skills and competencies of Hansen’s disease and TB program staff throughout the State of Texas. Prepares special reports and correspondence. Assesses training needs and provides technical assistance to regional and local health departments to strengthen TB program design and performance within the framework of the essential components for tuberculosis control and prevention. Represents the state on program evaluation workgroups coordinated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Essential Job Functions:
EJF #1 – 35% Performs Team Lead Activities. Provides guidance, instruction, direction, and leadership to the Continuing Quality Improvement Team to meet expectations established by the CQI Group Manager. Implement strategies that team members use to achieve project timelines and process improvement benchmarks that contribute to the growth of the TB Program. Provide guidance and mentorship to team members to ensure timelines or critical deadlines are met. Provides routine updates on progress, delays, and achievements of the team and reports results to the Group Manager. Plans, organizes, and implements control of TB project-related activities, including project management, quality control, and timely delivery. Lead the team in delivering and performing high-level quality assurance reviews and recommended strategies for identified issues and risks. Develop and maintain a CQI Team Standard Operation Procedure Manual. Review project processes and day-to-day key deliverables and provide guidance, and instruction to ensure excellence in customer services for the TB program's internal and external stakeholders. Acts as a lead subject matter expert on correctional TB program, process improvement, and program evaluation activities. Provide, as needed, new employee training on the fundamental aspects of program evaluation and quality assurance of TB Program and Correctional TB program activities to support staff development into subject matter experts. Works with the team to maintain program evaluation standards and update existing publications as required. Motivates the team to use their knowledge, skills, and abilities to achieve shared goals. Participates in conducting various trainings, including webinars, new staff orientation, etc., in ensuring consistent practices statewide. May participate in the preparation, development, review, or revision of legislation affecting the program upon request of the supervisor. Assist with reviewing, editing, or leading the CDC Cooperative Agreement grant updates, BNTB TB Work Plan manual, and DSHS TB Work Plan.

EJF #2 – 30% Leads TB Program Evaluation Activities. Implements program evaluation goals and objectives for the Hansen's Disease and TB/BNTB Programs through activities such as DSHS Annual Progress Report, cohort, desktop, and onsite reviews. Coordinates implementation and monitoring of the TB program's progress in meeting strategic initiatives. Develops and coordinates evaluation activities to assure consistency in the delivery of Hansen's Disease and TB/BNTB services in Texas. Coordinates programmatic review and technical assistance to public health regions and local health departments to assure compliance with tuberculosis program standards and policies through the DSHS Annual Progress Report. Continuously assesses for areas needing process improvement and makes recommendations to advance program operations. Coordinates, schedules, leads, and/or participates in selected onsite reviews from 30 local health departments and eight public health regions. Leads monitoring of 56 program evaluation sites, and 92 contracts with updates to the DSHS Contract Management Section (CMS), as needed. Design and implement strategies to monitor cohort/desktop/onsite reviews, including data collection and analysis, and monitor program outcomes in response to findings.

EJF #3- 30% Leads TB Program Quality Assurance Activities. Leads quality assurance activities and monitoring of TB screening and reporting practices for Chapter-89 designated correctional and detention facilities. Provides lead subject matter expertise on correctional TB program guidelines and recommendations using the DSHS Tuberculosis Standards for Texas Correctional and Detention Facilities document, Chapter 89 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC) and Title 25, Chapter 97 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) statutes. Oversee the data integrity of correctional TB reports by maintaining and monitoring an internal database. Develop and provide performance reports on reporting and screening activities of Chapter 89-designated facilities upon request of the supervisor. Perform quality assurance review of Monthly Correctional TB Screening Plans (TB-) on a routine basis and route them to the TB Controller for final approval. May participate in the preparation, development, review, or revision of legislation affecting the correctional TB program upon request of the supervisor. Represent the team as a leader or designee on cross-team workgroups such as the National Tuberculosis Coalition of America (NTCA) or with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) and Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) on evaluative and contractual projects related to correctional TB.

EJF #4 – 5% Performs Other Duties as Assigned. Other duties as assigned include but are 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 location.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge of public health and epidemiology of Tuberculosis
Knowledge of program evaluation
Knowledge of current principles and practices of process improvement, continuous quality improvement
Knowledge of quality assurance
Knowledge of Texas public health laws, including those regarding notifiable conditions
Knowledge of Chapter 89 of the Health and Safety Code (HSC)
Knowledge of Title 25, Chapter 97 of the Texas Administrative Code (TAC)
Knowledge of Tuberculosis control and prevention policies and procedures
Knowledge of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health
Knowledge of customer service philosophy, displaying the ability to provide customer-friendly services to agencies and the public
Skilled in effective communication, including public speaking for small and large audiences
Skilled in conflict resolution and problem-solving
Skilled at decision making
Skilled in the facilitation of meetings
Skilled in using Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TEAMS, Outlook
Skilled in working with large datasets (including data entry, data management, and analysis)
Skilled in organizing and writing reports using business English grammar and a professional/business writing style.
Skilled in conducting program oversight and evaluation
Skilled in developing and maintaining effective working relationships across organizational lines Ability to maintain flexibility with assigned tasks or shifting priorities (change management)
Ability to lead multiple projects with varying deadlines (project management)
Ability to be detail-oriented
Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with managers, co-workers, the public, and professional groups. Ability to maintain confidential material
Ability to abide by Texas Department of State Health Services, Standards of Conduct, and policies and procedures ability to be resourceful and apply initiative to assigned tasks with limited supervision
Ability to prioritize workload
Ability to take initiative
Ability to exercise independent judgment in evaluating situations and making recommendations Ability to provide constructive and critical feedback and guidance to programs
Ability to identify problems and formulate solutions by developing/implementing logical, effective, and realistic solutions.

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