Program Specialist VII

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

About The Position

The Project Management Program Specialist VII for the DFPS Foster Care Litigation and Compliance team reports to the Director for Project Management. This position provides highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services, project management, IT, advisory and technical assistance work. The position performs advanced project management activities, including planning, developing, coordinating, and implementing major agency program(s) relating to court-ordered provisions. Daily activities include providing consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, IT, government agencies, members of the judiciary, community organizations, and/or the general public. Serves as a lead and helps provide direction to others. This position oversees implementation of DFPS program and IT initiatives and ongoing monitoring to ensure adherence to court orders. This position establishes key measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals and reporting the coordination and evaluation of key program activities. This position routinely communicates to DFPS leadership on DFPS project statuses, issues, and risks. The position serves on cross-functional teams and workgroups and provides subject matter expertise and supports project management on key DFPS projects. This position is regularly assigned short and long-term projects and will take an active role as the lead project manager for initiatives that will require increased levels of expertise, overall planning, implementation, coordination, identifying and reporting project-related risks/issues, regular and ongoing reporting, and alignment with DFPS business goals and objectives. This position is responsible for collecting, organizing, analyzing, and preparing material in response to various requests for information that are internal and external to DFPS and may include other state and federal agencies. The position communicates with the community and professional groups to coordinate, improve, and collaborate on various projects and initiatives. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

Knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations related to DFPS, Child Protective Services (CPS) and child welfare practices; of public administration and project management techniques; of statistical analysis processes; of budget processes; of research techniques; of training techniques; and of program management processes and techniques.
Knowledge of IT processes and solutions.
Skill in synthesizing, analyzing and evaluating highly complicated and technical information and translate it easily understandable and concise documents and oral presentations for agency execution, elected officials and the public.
Skill in to identification of project risks and gaps and able to develop creative and workable solutions to complex problems and policy issues.
Skill in interpersonal relationships, including the ability to work with people under pressure, negotiate among multiple parties, resolve conflicts, and establish and maintain effective working relationships with various level personnel in governmental entities.
Proven project management skills.
Proven ability to manage advance complex initiatives with independent judgment including addressing changes in project scope, resources, and budget.
Ability to analyze complex information and develop options and plans to address identified issues.
Ability to plan, direct and assign responsibilities and supervise the work of others.
Ability to present information at training sessions, conferences, or legislative hearings. Proven ability to apply independent judgment in making critical decisions.
Ability to lead and work cooperatively in a team environment
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
Four years or more experience with project management or program management, including performance monitoring and reporting preferred.

Responsibilities

Work is directly related to the management and operations of the Foster Care Litigation and Compliance (FCLC) section reporting to the Director of Project Management.
Oversees a variety of technical, research, planning, policy, program assessments, and administrative activities for FCLC.
Performs advanced project management involving project assessment and approval, research, analysis, planning, development and implementation activities.
Serves as a lead with coordinating the planning and initiation of projects at various levels of completion, monitoring the progress and schedule of projects, identification of project risks, interagency coordination and communicating with project stakeholders, management, and other relevant parties.
Responsible for ensuring major mandates and assignments are implemented and conducted according to state and federal legislative requirements, agency leadership direction and associated program strategy initiatives.
Performs and/or oversees studies and analyses of operations and problems and the preparation of reports of findings and recommendations.
Oversees the compilation and analysis of data and information from various program resources and stakeholders to contribute critical data for shaping program goals, objectives, and priorities.
Evaluates the efficiency and effectiveness of program strategies and initiatives and makes recommendations for improvement.
Ensures compliance with program policies and procedures, statutes, rules, all deadlines and takes corrective action(s) as needed.
Works with internal and external stakeholders to identify risks/issues and develop mitigation strategies including presenting project updates, overviews and obtaining required approvals for new and ongoing projects.
Responsible for investigating and resolving matters of significance on behalf of FCLC leadership.
Advises agency executive leadership on options for project implementation and risk mitigation.
Leads the implementation and ongoing management of complex DFPS program initiatives, legislative requirements and other initiatives associated with DFPS program strategies.
Manages and coordinates the completion of specialized research projects, reports, and issues papers regarding the implementation of legislative mandates affecting DFPS.
Facilitates the development and completion of studies, analyses, assessments and evaluations of legislative and other program initiatives and activities, and develops written findings and recommendations.
Develops special project monitoring tools, communication plans and performance measures to ensure project milestones and deadlines are met.
Participates in cross-program and multi-agency workgroups, conferences and hearings by setting goals and objectives, training development, IT solutions and providing quality work products.
Consults with regional and state office management, regional caseworkers and field staff, DFPS state office program and policy staff, external public and private stakeholders, consumers of child protective services, volunteers, advocates, judges, other social service providers, educational, juvenile justice, workforce development boards and organizations to provide guidance, technical assistance and program subject matter expertise designed to improve outcomes of children and youth involved with DFPS.
Prepares high quality written project reports, updates, summaries, and other documents as assigned or as needed.
Develops and implements effective techniques for evaluating agency programs, identifies the need for new programs or change to existing programs, and provides guidance to staff in the development and integration of new methods and procedures.
Assists management with developing program policies, procedures, standards, and manual and planning program activities in accordance with program objective and goals.
Oversees development of responses to data requests, report development and preparation.
Oversees monitoring efforts to ensure communications, responses and reports are completed and issued within required statutory or other established timeframes.
Consults with public and private agencies involved in programs to resolve problems, identify training needs, and discuss program effectiveness.
Works constructively with team and staff across the division and enterprise to facilitate successful project implementation. Ensures completion of required administrative, informational and performance reports and analyses for the DFPS program strategy function.
Manages the development and preparation of presentations, reports, information, communications, correspondence and responses to requests for information, ensuring quality, consistency, technical and program accuracy and timeliness.
Coordinates the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of materials in response to requests for program information and reports. Produces technical and business written communications and materials involving the analysis and implementation of DFPS legislative requirements, agency and program impact and program reporting processes.
Provides oversight and guidance to ensure reports are completed within established timelines and all related tasks and milestones are achieved while ensuring legislative mandates, administrative rules and procedures, policies, and standards are in compliance.
Ensure division-level implementation of established quality assurance framework, including adherence to standardized tools, processes, and review protocols.
Monitor and validate consistency of quality assurance practices across divisions, identifying gaps in implementation and recommending corrective actions.
Provide consultative guidance to division leadership on strengthening QA framework and aligning practices with organization standards and expectations.
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Benefits

100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
Optional dental, vision, and life insurance—at rates much lower than most private plans
Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

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