Social Services Applications Director

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

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About The Position

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our 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. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

The Director of Information Technology (IT) Social Services Applications reports to the Chief Product Officer - TIERS/MES. This position is accountable for end-to-end system operations, delivery, compliance, and performance for the Texas Integrated Eligibility Systems Redesign (TIERS) portfolio. This role ensures stable, secure, and reliable systems while executing approved product roadmaps aligned with enterprise priorities. This position leads internal teams and vendor partners, manages risk, and serves as the primary point of accountability for portfolio outcomes.

This position leads a diverse group of IT professionals who support the Access and Eligibility Services (AES) program area. The scope of this IT team includes the full range of software development lifecycle activities, project management and execution, contract management, and budget management, as well as contract technical oversight of large contracts such as those for software development and infrastructure operations. This position performs management activities including providing direction and guidance to Social Services Applications team members (including Manager level positions), establishing priorities, and driving the execution of strategic and tactical roadmaps established by IT and program leadership. This position also oversees the day-to-day operations of staff to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of IT systems and services. This position works with minimal supervision and has significant opportunity for initiative and independent judgment. This position plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others.

Requirements

• Knowledge of advanced datacenter and cloud-based services infrastructure, platforms, systems, information technology management, and applications development methodologies.
• Knowledge of modernized software development tools and best-in-class Agile and Lean SDLC methods, principles and practices.
• Knowledge of Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles and practices, distributed user interface environments, multiple Relational Data Base Management Systems, monitoring and performance management utilities; network and security protocols with related communication and security components; contemporary Web technologies, email clients, and a variety of other supported applications used for processing Fee for Service and capitated rate claims.
• Advanced knowledge of multiple computer-based systems, information technology management, and systems development methodologies including programming languages, systems analysis, and system testing. Must understand the relationships between TIERS and the Medicaid Management Information Systems as related to provider enrollment, client eligibility, and claims payment, including the multiple technologies supporting these intricate systems.
• Knowledge of software quality assurance and automated testing strategies, tools, technologies, processes and methods.
• Senior level management skills and abilities in an advanced information technology environment, preferably in government and public service.
• Team-oriented interpersonal and communications skills.
• Exemplary servant leadership skills and a proven track record of building large-scale, web-based applications using modernized tools, methods, and principles.
• Ability to organize, direct and manage large, complex technology software development environments, multiple concurrent projects, multiple large groups of diverse and highly skilled technical professionals.
• Experience managing or overseeing large-scale contracts with resource and technology suppliers.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives in support of agency and statewide strategic plans, and to monitor and measure progress against, and deliver to defined objectives.
• Ability to identify and analyze very technically complex problems/issues, evaluate alternatives, develop effective solutions and oversee planning and implementation.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, with technical and business staff, contractors, suppliers, executive management, auditors and the State Legislature, easily adapting to the needs of each individual audience.
• Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree in Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field. Experience and education may be substituted for one another on a year for year basis.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in IT or operations management, with at least 3 years in a leadership role
• Experience in governance, compliance, or risk management for technology systems

Nice To Haves

• Experience in operational oversight of enterprise or emerging technologies
• Experience managing complex IT systems in a heavily regulated industry
• Prior public sector or regulatory compliance experience
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or PMI-ACP certifications are helpful but not required.
• Lean Six Sigma is also helpful but not required.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for the performance, reliability, and delivery of the TIERS portfolio. Serve as the primary decision-maker for day-to-day operational and delivery matters. Ensure alignment with enterprise strategy, product direction, and policy objectives.
• Ensure system uptime, performance, and responsiveness meet established service levels. Lead incident management, root-cause analysis, and corrective action planning. Oversee defect management and technical debt reduction.
• Execute approved product roadmaps, enhancements, and releases on schedule and within scope. Coordinate development, testing, deployment, and release activities across teams and vendors. Manage dependencies and integration points with other enterprise systems.
• Lead and hold vendors accountable for performance, quality, and contractual obligations. Collaborate with portfolio governance on contract execution and vendor escalations. Ensure vendor work aligns with architectural standards and delivery expectations.
• Lead, develop, and support managers and staff within the portfolio. Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement. Partner with Security, Architecture, Governance, and Program stakeholders to achieve outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal and state requirements. Maintain continuous audit readiness and address findings promptly. Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, technical, and delivery risks.

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: Director