Children's Mental Health Planning Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Children's Mental Health (CMH) Planning Specialist will perform research, planning, and data analysis to help inform program development, improvement and monitoring of Children's Mental Health Programs. This position will perform highly advanced (senior level) consultative services and implementation for programmatic technical assistance and ongoing management of complex Children's Mental Health program initiatives, coordinate and implement risk assessments and compliance activities, and respond to legislative and external inquiries and requests. Under the supervision of the Director of Children's Mental Health, the CMH Planning Specialist will perform highly advanced project management work and collaborate with multiple departments within Behavioral Health Services (BHS) and coordinate with internal and stakeholders who interface with Children's Mental Health activities and programs. This position may work on special projects as continued policy and rule needs arise. Assumes a strong leadership role in the management of staff working on the project, along with the development of policies and procedures, reports, studies, legislation, and guidelines. May direct, assign, and evaluate the work of other staff. Other job duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Knowledge of project management practices, tools, techniques, and theories applicable to mid-to-large-sized scope projects.
• Knowledge of Texas legislative process and proposed bill analysis.
• Knowledge of related state and federal laws, regulations, policies, rules and requirements.
• Knowledge of State government organization, administration, management, and operating practices.
• Knowledge of state of Texas procurement principles and practices.
• Knowledge of computer equipment and software, including the use of Microsoft Office programs which includes project planning, word processing, spreadsheet, database, and presentation software programs.
• Knowledge of Children's Mental Health Programs and the Texas Resilience and Recovery Model.
• Knowledge of Utilization Management in the public and private delivery system.
• Knowledge of process improvement or quality assurance systems.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, budget management and human resource management.
• Skill in conceptualizing and anticipating issues while applying critical thinking to solve problems.
• Skill in performing detailed analysis of proposed legislation to include budgets, procurement opportunities, and business impacts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in order to represent the agency with internal and external stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.
• Skill in identifying problems, evaluating alternatives, and implementing solutions.
• Skill in writing analyses, documentation, proposals, plans, policies, procedures, standards and reports.
• Skill in communication and public speaking.
• Skill in managing multiple and competing priorities.
• Ability to exercise flexibility in accommodating shifting priorities, demands, and schedules.
• Ability to work with internal and external staff at varied levels of organization.
• Ability to deal tactfully with a diverse group of people in a professional manner.
• Ability to coordinate and assist in leading and facilitating project teams and other meetings.
• Ability to be organized, capable of rapidly isolating and resolving risks and issues, and have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to be self-directed and able to work independently while facilitating the efforts of multiple cross-functional teams.
• Graduation with a Bachelor's Degree in human services or a related field is required.

Nice To Haves

• Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) certification preferred, and may be required within first 12 months of hire.
• Master's degree in public health, public administration, psychology/sociology, social work, or related field preferred.

Responsibilities

• Uses professional project management tools and methodologies to defines the scope of a project in collaboration with leadership, including goals and objectives; creates detailed work plans which identify and sequence the activities needed to successfully complete the project; determines the resources (time, staff, equipment, etc.) required to complete the project; develops a schedule for project completion that effectively allocates the resources to the activities; reviews project schedules, timelines and milestones with leadership and all other staff that will be affected by the project activities; revises the schedule as required; and determines the objectives and measures upon which the project will be evaluated at its completion.
• Provides complex consultative services, coordination and technical assistance related to billing andcontract oversight. Plan to implement, and monitor Children's Mental Health programs. Works closely with community-based providers and local mental health authorities/local behavioral health authorities to inform programmatic improvement. Monitors provider contracts and provides data analysis to establish program improvement. Works closely with Contract Management Unit  and other departments with Behavioral Health Services to develop statements of work for providers and develop operational processes and procedures to adhere to programmatic standards.
• Oversees, plans, directs, and implements program process improvement and continuous program improvement efforts. Interprets historical, current, and projected data to identify problems, causes, and areas for which procedural or system improvement is indicated. Develops, reviews, evaluates, advices management, and receives approval for recommendations for improvement. Implements approved recommendations.
• Creates new or revised solutions that effectively meet program area needs for automation of business processes as necessary, may include establishing new web pages, public facing data dashboards, and automating specific reporting requirements. Creates business and conceptual specifications for systems enhancements; and provides functional and technical expertise to ensure proper IT architecture/design decisions. Identifies inaccurate, incomplete, or otherwise flawed designs throughout the project lifecycle and provides suggestions for alternative approaches.
• Performs other duties as assigned and may assign, delegate, coordinate work of the Children's Mental Health team.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees
• defined benefit pension plan
• generous time off benefits
• numerous opportunities for career advancement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees