CHI Legislative Liaison

Texas Health & Human Services Commission•Austin, TX

55d•Hybrid

About The Position

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. Performs highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work. Additionally, performs complex management or oversight of activities for the legislative activities of the Community Health Improvement (CHI) division under the general direction of the Associate Deputy Commissioner (ADC). Works with considerable latitude using initiative and independent judgment to facilitate the streamlining of systems and processes within CHI, leading to development of best practices that have direct implications to public health practice. Serves as the primary contact for Government Affairs and, in coordination with Government Affairs, members of the Legislature and their staff; other state agencies, other DSHS Divisions and Offices; stakeholders; CHI supported Advisory Committees, and members of the public. Works with the ADC to set priorities and provide direction to CHI Division sections. Develop guidelines and procedures for CHI regarding coordination of legislative analyses and assignments. Ensures timely assignment and completion of actions and represents the Division on adhoc workgroups and committees. Prepares documents, papers and briefings for ADC, deputy commissioner, commissioner, and HHS leadership. Coordinates analysis, planning, implementation, and monitoring of legislation. Coordinates, reviews and revises CHI's legislative input, analysis, tracking and activities. Coordinates with and makes assignments to Section Legislative Liaisons. Provides oral and written policy analyses/reports. Carries out special projects assigned by ADC. To perform these job duties, this position may require working extra hours outside of regular business hours, as needed, to meet defined deadlines and support the agency's mission critical reporting requirements.

Requirements

Knowledge of program policies within the Community Health Improvement (CHI) Division.
Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations relevant to all program areas within CHI.
Knowledge of program and policy planning, development, implementation and evaluation.
Knowledge of editorial and information dissemination concepts and practices and of basic informational research techniques and applications.
Knowledge of Texas and federal legislative and regulatory processes, policies and procedures.
Skill in strategic planning and goal-setting.
Skill in the use of computer for word processing and spreadsheet applications.
Skill in conducting and facilitating meetings.
Ability to serve as a lead worker providing guidance to others
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts and data and to devise solutions to operations problems and translate the impact on operations
Ability to translate complex programmatic information into a form comprehensible to the general public.
Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
Ability to plan, assign, and/or supervise the work of others.
Ability to analyze proposed legislation and its policy and fiscal impact on programs.
Ability to plan, prioritize, schedule, assign and monitor completion of assignments.
Ability to verbally communicate complex information to a variety of audiences.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly, concisely and effectively in writing.
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
At least 2 years experience with the Texas Legislative process including compiling, evaluating, and presenting statutory language, bill analyses, and financial impact statements for state agencies.
At lease one year experience reviewing, analyzing, and approving external documents and reports for accuracy and compliance with agency standards.
At least one year of experience coordinating legislative and Government Affairs assignments across multiple areas

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Represents and acts on behalf of the ADC within CHI on policy and planning of Division programs and in relation to other DSHS organizational units and agency leadership as delegated.
Provides high-level consultative services to the Deputy Commissioner; senior DSHS staff; Government Affairs; CHI staff; and other Texas and federal agencies to analyze, plan, implement and monitor effective public health programs and services.
Works closely with Division, Section and Program staff to facilitate and coordinate assignments and high-priority items that affect CHI programs.
Composes and edits responses.
Maintains ongoing communication and coordination with CHI staff and conducts meetings as needed.
Works closely with Division Directors and staff to assure reports are submitted timely and are accurate.
Oversees the completion of correspondence for CHI, as well as reports and studies required by legislation, in consultation with the Sections, Associate Commissioner, Government Affairs and Legal Counsel.
Represents the ADC when needed on executive workgroups and committees such as Strategic Planning, Continuity of Operations planning, and legislative and interagency workgroups to respond to questions, assess impact on Division programs and complete assignments.
Carries out and oversees special projects as requested by the ADC.
Coordinates Division activities related to legislative and appropriations issues.
Coordinates with CHI programs, other Divisions, Government Affairs and other agencies on legislative analysis, cost estimates, and tracking for the Division.
Coordinates with programs on monitoring of mandates and ensuring their effective implementation.
Oversees and participates directly in activities related to appropriations issues and rulemaking associated with legislation.
Coordinates with program staff to prepare a written communication, including DSHS legislative initiatives and reports submitted to the Texas Legislature, as well as briefing materials for the Associate Commissioner and senior DSHS staff.
Provides substantive policy analysis and recommendations on a variety of policy and legislative issues and special projects, including legislative initiatives, federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals and program rules.
Develops and implements project management principles and processes to ensure timely and effective delivery of Division services and responses.
Assures that best practices are followed for conducting process improvement activities for community health projects.
Facilitates alignment and coordination of Division programmatic functions with agency/HHS strategic goals and objectives, developing priorities and standards for achieving objectives of the CHI programs.
Facilitates high-level response appropriate to Division involvement with inter- and intra-agency activities related to health policy priorities and the implementation of program activities.
Identifies opportunities for the Division to further strategic goals and develops recommendations to improve the overall relationship between the Division and internal and external stakeholders.
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.

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).

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