Legislative Relations Reports Specialist

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Legislative Relations/Reports Specialist (Program Specialist VII) performs highly advanced legislative and consultative and technical assistance work for the Cross Division Coordination Office (CDC) in the Behavioral Health Services (BHS) Department. The Specialist performs complex management and oversight of legislative and communications activities and serves as the official BHS legislative reports coordinator. Works with minimal supervision with extensive latitude using initiative and independent judgment to streamline legislative and communication systems and processes leading to process improvement and best practices. Oversees the collection and analysis of materials in response to requests for program information. May serve as a primary contact on governmental affairs, legislative matters, policy inquiries, coordination of department rules development, HHSC executive and inter-departmental inquiries, communications, and open records. Sets priorities and direction on legislative matters. Under the guidance of the CDC Legislative and Rules Director, the Specialist manages completion of assignments timely and accurately. Oversees and performs the analyses of legislation; provides guidance to staff. Implements CDC guidelines and procedures on legislative and communication assignments. Serves on ad-hoc workgroups and committees. Coordinates program inquiries and tracks the development of performance, administrative, legislative reports, implementation plans, exceptional items and legislative initiative documents. Utilizes project management practices to organize and complete assignments. Tracks BHS and agency legislative reports and serves as the department legislative reports coordinator tracking reports milestones, conducting quality reviews of reports documents, routing reports documents to leadership and other departments within the agency for approvals and entering all BHS report into the agency’s Legislative Reports Tracking System. Maintains the BHS Legislative Reports SharePoint page that is accessible to all of BHS as a resource. Prepares documents, executive memorandums, papers and briefings. Provides oral and written policy analyses/reports. Prepares leadership for speaking engagements, developing talking points, including development of presentations and informational materials for legislative testimony. Carries out special projects assigned. Works closely with BHS leadership, the management team, Government and Stakeholder Relations, HHS Communications and the Chief Program and Services Office and other areas. May assign the work of others.

Requirements

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 legislative and appropriations process.
Knowledge of federal and state health and human services legislation and the organization of federal, state, and local health programs.
Knowledge of the major functions of mental health and intellectual developmental disabilities initiatives and policy development.
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 establish and maintain effective working relationships.
Ability to analyze and develop health policy issues and products.
Ability to handle a wide range of tasks with multiple deadlines in an effective manner without jeopardizing deadlines and desired outcomes or milestones.
Ability to translate complex programmatic information into a form comprehensible to the general public.
Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures.
Ability to work in high profile and fast -paced environment.
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 communicate complex information clearly, concisely, and effectively in writing or verbally to a variety of audiences.
Skill in reviewing and preparing a variety of written documents with attention to detail and to make recommendations.
Skill in organizing and presenting complex information.
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.
Skill in project management.
Bachelor's degree in associated field required.

Nice To Haves

Experience with the Texas legislative process preferred.
Experience with agency routing and reporting processes preferred.
Experience in mental health, substance use, or other state administered programs preferred.
Experience with basic project management knowledge preferred.

Responsibilities

Coordinates legislative and department-wide legislative report tracking and assignments between the BHS Department Cross Division Coordination Office (CDC), the BHS programs, Governmental and Stakeholder Relations, HHS Communications the Chief Program and Services Office., the Chief Public Affairs Office, Office, the Office of Chief Counsel, and the Chief Policy and Regulatory Office.
Manages time effectively to ensure work is prioritized and time sensitive assignments are handled accordingly.
The Specialist is responsible for making assignments to BHS programs and managing responses ensuring responses are timely and accurate.
Develops working relationships with BHS management team and program staff.
Leads legislative activities as assigned.
Conducts thorough review of documents ensuring quality, consistency, accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with BHS Cross Division internal procedures.
Utilizes project management practices to organize assignments and meet due dates.
Tracks program areas progress on legislative mandates to ensure effective implementation.
Coordinates legislative issues and rulemaking associated with legislation in the Cross Division office.
Plans, develops, and provides direction on department policy issue papers and reports, including legislative initiatives, special reports and interim studies submitted to the Legislature, as well as briefing materials.
Provides substantive analysis and recommendations on a variety of legislative and communications issues, including legislative initiatives, federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals, and program rules.
Seeks consultation and technical assistance from the Director as appropriate.
Uses critical thinking to solve problems and makes recommendations.
Escalates issues to CDC Director.
Coordinates legislative communications in CDC across and outside of the BHS Department.
Provides direction, guidance, and assistance on development of communications materials, including executive memoranda, legislative reports, briefing documents, meetings, and correspondence.
Coordinates or prepares speaking materials, talking points, presentations, and research for leadership.
Works with the BHS programs to develop and establish communication protocols related to legislative matters and ensures they are followed.
Reviews all work for accuracy before routing for further approval or submittal.
Develops external communication and legislative training materials and coordinates legislatively mandated report development.
Works with the CDC colleagues on responding to questions, assessing impact on programs, and completing assignments.
Coordinates development of routine and non-routine progress reporting to include high priority program and legislative projects, management action items, legislative implementation, operational plans and quarterly business reports, progress updates, and ad-hoc assignments.
Maintains information related to reporting items, utilizes knowledge of BHS programs, and harnesses staff expertise to streamline expedient and accurate development of reporting documents.
Develops processes to report information consistently and accurately.
Updates the CDC legislative/communications tracking log, legislative reports tracking log and Legislative Reports SharePoint page to manage workload and keep CDC informed of the status of assignments in the office.
Uses the management report to ensure assignments are completed in a timely manner.
Seeks extensions as appropriate.
Attends weekly CDC meetings, discusses issues and makes recommendations.
Conducts staff training on legislative processes and procedures.

Benefits

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

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