Senior Program Advisor - Crisis Services

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS•Austin, TX

4d•$5,099 - $8,305•Hybrid

About The Position

The Senior Program Advisor - Crisis Services performs highly advanced, senior-level project management, data governance, strategic coordination, and technical advisory work across multiple program areas within the Crisis Services Unit of Behavioral Health Services (BHS). This position works under minimal supervision of the Crisis Services Unit Director and Associate Director, exercising considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment within established agency priorities. Strong analytical, writing, and organizational skills are required. Work involves leading and coordinating complex, cross-program initiatives that support Crisis Services system performance, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. Responsibilities include managing unit-level projects; coordinating work across Crisis Services Unit program areas, other BHS divisions, HHSC sections, and external partners; interpreting and synthesizing policy and data; and supporting leadership priorities aligned with the BHS strategic plan, HHSC strategic plan, and the Statewide Behavioral Health Strategic Plan. Work includes establishing and formalizing project management and data governance structures for Crisis Services initiatives, including development of standards, workflows, performance measures, and documentation to support consistent implementation and accountability across programs. The position emphasizes the use of formal project management and continuous improvement practices and data-informed decision-making to support operational oversight, performance monitoring, and executive reporting, including legislative and external requests. This position focuses on system-level coordination rather than direct program operations, with emphasis on aligning program design, policy, data standards, and performance measurement across the Crisis Services continuum. The Senior Program Advisor supports identification of system gaps, operational risks, and improvement opportunities and develops actionable recommendations to strengthen access, utilization, quality, and continuity of crisis services. The Senior Program Advisor supports Crisis Services leadership by ensuring accurate, timely, and actionable information is available for executive decision-making. The position leads or supports consultative services and technical assistance; performs and synthesizes complex qualitative and quantitative analyses; prepares executive-level briefings, reports, and research products; contributes to the development and revision of policies, procedures, and guidance; and represents HHSC in cross-functional workgroups, committees, and public forums related to Crisis Services initiatives. Performs related work as assigned

Requirements

Degree in public health, psychology/sociology, social work, public affairs, or a related field from an accredited college or university required.
Experience in direct provision or management/administration of public mental health service required.
Knowledge of: Local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and guidance related to behavioral health and crisis services.
Knowledge of the Texas public behavioral health system, including publicly funded crisis service delivery models.
Knowledge of project management methodologies, change management principles, and continuous quality improvement frameworks.
Knowledge of data governance, performance measurement, and program evaluation concepts, including appropriate use of administrative and operational data to support oversight, accountability, and leadership decision making.
Knowledge of legislative processes, reporting requirements, and executive information needs related to behavioral health programs.
Knowledge of public sector policy development, program administration, and system planning.
Skills In: Advanced project management, including planning, coordinating, monitoring, and delivering complex, cross program initiatives.
Skill in analyzing and interpreting qualitative and quantitative data and synthesizing information from multiple sources to inform leadership decisions.
Skill in developing, writing, and editing executive level briefings, correspondence, reports, presentations, and other high visibility documents.
Skill in facilitating collaboration among cross functional teams and stakeholders with diverse roles, priorities, and perspectives.
Skill in managing multiple competing priorities and producing accurate, high quality work within accelerated timelines.
Skill in communicating complex policy, operational, and data related issues clearly and effectively to both technical and non technical audiences.
Ability to: Work independently with minimal supervision while exercising sound judgment and discretion in complex, sensitive, or high visibility matters.
Ability to lead and coordinate system level initiatives that span multiple program areas, organizational boundaries, and external partners.
Ability to establish and formalize project management and data governance structures that support consistency, accountability, and sustainability across programs.
Ability to interpret and apply statutes, regulations, policies, and guidance to program design and operational decision making.
Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze information to identify system gaps, operational risks, and improvement opportunities.
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal partners, external stakeholders, and leadership at all levels.
Ability to take a solution focused, data informed approach to problem solving and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Experience using complex data sets
Experience managing large systems change initiatives preferred.
Familiarity with Texas Administrative Code and Texas Health and Safety Code preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads senior level project management and cross program coordination for Crisis Services initiatives. Leads complex, high impact projects that span multiple Crisis Services Unit program areas and intersect with other BHS divisions, HHSC sections, and external partners. Serves as Project Manager for unit level initiatives, developing and maintaining project charters, scopes, timelines, work plans, risk mitigation strategies, and deliverables. Provides regular project status updates to unit leadership and proactively identifies issues requiring escalation or leadership decision making. Applies formal project management methodologies to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with agency priorities. (30%)
Establishes and leads data governance, analytics, and performance management activities. Establishes and formalizes data governance structures for Crisis Services initiatives, including development of data standards, documentation, workflows, performance measures, and quality controls. Coordinates with Decision Support Services (DSS), Quality, Compliance, and Performance (QCPI), HHSC IT and program staff to define data requirements and reporting expectations. Performs and synthesizes complex qualitative and quantitative analyses to support program oversight, system performance monitoring, policy development, and executive decision making. Supports development, review, and submission of administrative, operational, and legislative reports related to Crisis Services. (25%)
Supports policy alignment, program oversight, and system improvement across the Crisis Services continuum. Assists Crisis Services leadership in interpreting and analyzing state and federal statutes, regulations, and guidance affecting crisis services. Supports assessment of operational, fiscal, and system impacts of proposed policy or program changes. Identifies system gaps, operational risks, and improvement opportunities and develops data informed recommendations to strengthen access, utilization, service quality, and continuity of crisis services. Contributes to the development, revision, and quality assurance review of policies, procedures, contracts, guidance, and implementation materials. (20%)
Coordinates executive communications, briefings, and responses to internal and external requests. Leads or supports the development of high quality executive level briefings, correspondence, memoranda, analyses, reports, presentations, and talking points related to Crisis Services initiatives. Coordinates the collection, organization, analysis, and review of materials in response to external inquiries, including legislative requests. Ensures products are accurate, timely, consistent, and aligned with agency standards, leadership direction, and published guidance. (15%)
Represents the Crisis Services Unit in cross functional and external forums. Represents the Crisis Services Unit in internal BHS and HHSC workgroups, cross division initiatives, and external councils, committees, or stakeholder meetings as assigned. Serves as a liaison between Crisis Services and internal and external partners to facilitate coordination, information sharing, and alignment of initiatives. Provides oral presentations and written materials as appropriate and supports collaborative problem solving across diverse stakeholders. (10%)