Policy and Innovation Program Management Specialist II

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

1d • $6,378 - $10,786 • Hybrid

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals. This is a complex (journey-level) program management specialist role. Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Employees at this level may work more independently than those at the previous level, may routinely assist other staff in performing work of greater complexity, and may identify, assess, and propose potential program improvements. The position works in-office, but is eligible to telework two days a week.

Requirements

• Knowledge of project/program management theories and practices; project/program costing, estimating, and scheduling; systems and procedures used to evaluate project/program performance; and local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of the project/program undertaken.
• Skill in project/program management, scheduling, resource allocation, and budgeting; and in the use of a computer and applicable software.
• Ability to provide leadership and motivate others, to monitor project/program status, to prepare and/or analyze project cost estimates, to exercise sound judgment in making critical decisions, to analyze project/program-related information and develop plans to address identified issues and risk, to prepare reports and charts, to communicate effectively orally and in writing, and to oversee the work of others.
• Ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure.
• Requires dual certification as Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) and Certified Texas Contract Developer (CTCD).
• Experience in methods analysis, management, or organizational development work.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration or a related field is generally preferred.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.
• Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.
• State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.
• As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
• DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .
• In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Nice To Haves

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework in business administration or a related field is generally preferred.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Responsibilities

• Manages a program throughout its life cycle by defining goals, objectives, and controls.
• Oversees the full life cycle of contracting operations across all DFPS programs by defining goals, establishing measurable objectives, and developing controls that ensure alignment with, policy, training, reporting, internal control, and quality standards.
• Monitors contract program implementation across regional and state-level operations to ensure consistency with strategic priorities and DFPS requirements by reviewing deliverables, analyzing performance data, and facilitating ongoing communication with program staff and contract managers.
• Defines agency criteria for the evaluation and mitigation of financial and administrative contracting risk by developing risk assessment tools, establishing performance thresholds, and coordinating with contract managers, fiscal staff, and program leadership.
• Leads the development, interpretation, and implementation of contract management policies and procedures by collaborating with DFPS program leadership, legal counsel, fiscal oversight teams, and external stakeholders to ensure policies align with state and federal regulations, agency objectives, and funding guidelines.
• Establishes objectives and goals for process improvement initiatives related to contract oversight and support by collaborating with program leadership, procurement teams, and subject matter experts to identify operational inefficiencies, compliance gaps, and performance risks across the contract lifecycle.
• Provides guidance and training to staff and stakeholders to support understanding of contract management and consistent application of contract policies by developing and delivering targeted training sessions, technical assistance, and resource material.
• Manages program planning, including the development, implementation, and documentation of processes for specific programs involving departmental or cross-functional teams focused on the delivery of new or existing programs, operations, or service offerings.
• Leads contract management planning and coordination efforts by developing, implementing, and documenting standardized processes that support new and existing DFPS programs by working collaboratively with internal stakeholders, program leadership, contract managers, legal and finance staff, to identify needs, define workflows, and build practical procedures that ensure consistency across regions and contract types.
• Collaborates with departmental and cross-functional teams to ensure alignment with contract management goals, compliance with policies and effective resource utilization by regularly engaging with program staff, legal counsel, procurement, finance, and regional contract managers to coordinate contract-related efforts across DFPS.
• Facilitates cross-functional collaboration to define contract management objectives, scope, timelines, and deliverables to ensure that fiscal considerations, policy requirements, training strategy, and/or service standards are integrated throughout each phase of the program.
• Develops contract management tools and resources for the use of contract management staff to improve consistency, compliance, and efficiency by designing and maintaining standardized templates, checklists, guidance documents, and job aids for DFPS contract managers and oversight staff.
• Ensures staff are kept informed of changes to policies and procedures by delivering timely communication and implementing capacity-building initiatives to monitor and update DFPS policies, state contracting requirements, and federal regulations, and is responsible for translating those changes into clear, actionable guidance.
• Manages communications with stakeholders to ensure that they are appropriately informed of and aligned with program updates, changes, and risk.
• Coordinates and manages stakeholder communications to ensure timely and accurate dissemination of contract management updates, policy changes, training opportunities, fiscal impacts, and quality initiatives by serving as the primary point of contact for contract-related communications with DFPS and across partner agencies and providers.
• Develops clear, consistent messaging to maintain transparency and alignment with contract management policies, goals, and expectations across all stakeholders by identifying key policy priorities, upcoming changes, and strategic goals related to contract management and translates them into accessible, plain-language communications tailored to internal staff, leadership, and external partners.
• Establishes communication protocols and engagement strategies that promote collaboration and understanding among internal teams, leadership, and external partners.
• Ensures that program decisions are made in accordance with program requirements; other applicable rules, policies, and procedures; and the agency’s strategic objectives.
• Reviews and interprets contract requirements, rules, and policies to ensure that all decisions align with DFPS objectives, regulatory guidelines, fiscal limitations, and/or contractual obligations during implementation or when questions of policy interpretation arise.
• Collaborates with cross-functional teams, including fiscal analysts, contract managers, policy staff, internal and external stakeholders, and contract oversight leadership to support informed, compliant decision-making throughout the contract management life cycle.
• Provides training and technical assistance to staff and stakeholders to reinforce understanding of decision-making protocols, procedural updates, and/or the strategic intent behind program initiatives.
• Evaluates reports and data requirements to ensure compliance with agency standards and applicable rules.
• Monitors decision outcomes and conducts quality assurance reviews to ensure decisions are implemented accurately, meet intended goals, and align with contract standards for accountability, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
• Develops in-depth technical and non-technical knowledge of programs to mitigate problems.
• Develops comprehensive technical and operational knowledge to contracts and contracting programs across DFPS, including fiscal structures, contract terms, service delivery models, applicable policies, and procedures, and both DFPS and HHSC technical systems.
• Builds subject matter expertise across both internal processes and external stakeholder needs to effectively identify, anticipate, and respond to complex contract management challenges and risks.
• Applies program knowledge to support continuous improvement, offering recommendations to enhance workflows, strengthen contract oversight, improve staff training, and/or ensure program objectives are met efficiently and effectively.
• Recommends, develops, and manages the development of program standards and tools.
• Recommends and develops contract standards that align with DFPS policies, fiscal guidelines, contract requirements, and strategic objectives to ensure consistency and compliance across contract oversight operations.
• Leads the creation of tools and resources, including templates, guidance documents, training materials, and performance dashboards, to support contract implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders such as fiscal, policy, quality assurance, and/or training teams to ensure tools and standards are practical, user-friendly, and responsive to contract oversight needs.
• Facilitates and maintains relationships between internal and external stakeholders, vendors, internal divisions/departments and senior management to achieve performance goals, contract compliance, customer satisfaction, and quality service delivery.
• Facilitates strong working relationships with internal departments, external stakeholders, vendors, and senior leadership to support effective communication, collaboration, and alignment with contract oversight goals and priorities.
• Coordinates cross-functional efforts to ensure performance targets, contract deliverables, fiscal responsibilities, and/or policy requirements are clearly understood and met by all involved parties.
• Performs related work as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service
• Options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level