Strategic and Legislative Projects Manager

Texas Health & Human Services Commission • Austin, TX

4d • $6,378 - $10,786

About The Position

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) seeks a Strategic and Legislative Projects Manager to perform advanced, senior-level project management work in the Chief Operating Officer Division. The role coordinates the planning and initiation of diverse projects, monitors project progress and schedules, and communicates with stakeholders, management, and other relevant parties. It also serves as the division’s legislative coordinator, including coordinating bill and cost analyses and managing legislative implementation, and leads special projects. The position works under limited supervision with considerable latitude for initiative and independent judgment and may direct, assign, and evaluate project staff.

The manager directs projects using accepted project management methodologies, including initiation, planning, execution, control, and closing. The role develops and oversees project plans, budgets, schedules, resource requirements, cost estimates, deliverables, quality, risks, and performance reporting. Projects may span multiple agencies or the enterprise, and require coordination with executive staff, directors, other government agencies, jurisdictions, and private-sector partners or contractors.

As the division legislative liaison, the manager coordinates legislative responsibilities within the COO and other divisions, including exceptional items, bill assignments and analyses, cost-estimate processes, implementation planning, and tracking. The manager also advises leadership about legislative impacts and division resource needs, prepares executive-level reports and presentations, and may testify before legislative or interested groups. The position is based in Austin, Texas, with travel up to 20%.

Requirements

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university, subject to the stated education substitution allowance.
• At least five years of full-time experience managing legislative, policy, or regulatory projects, including administrative problem analysis and interpretation of complex material; planning, organizing, and coordinating support services or program operations involving a wide range of demands; engagement with internal and external stakeholders; and interpretation of complex written material or analysis in a state or federal agency or local government.
• At least two years of experience preparing reports, briefings, or presentations for executives or government officials.
• Excellent written communication skills, demonstrated through the application and resume.
• Knowledge of agency policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Knowledge and experience in business process redesign and project management techniques.
• Knowledge of Texas budgeting, legislative funding requests and associated processes, the Texas legislative process, and public accountability systems.
• Knowledge of public administration and management, program planning and implementation, quality improvement or quality assurance initiatives, project management, conflict resolution, statistical analysis, and leadership principles and styles.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Project, and Visio.
• Ability to use logic and reasoning to assess alternative solutions and approaches; organize division activities and establish program goals; analyze organizational problems; and communicate effectively in writing and verbally, including drafting, editing, and proofreading.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and trust; explain facts, advocate ideas, negotiate, and collaborate with internal and external individuals and groups.
• Ability to establish priorities, respond to changing priorities, balance change and continuity, and improve customer service within the state-government framework.
• Ability to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; plan, assign, and supervise others’ work; gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; and prepare clear, concise reports.
• Selected applicants must pass a background check and, if applicable, a driver’s record check.
• Employees must complete applicable cybersecurity and communications-system training and follow agency security policies.
• Staff must be familiar with WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 accessibility standards for electronic information resources and accessible content.

Nice To Haves

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI) is preferred.
• Experience in legislative coordination and implementation is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct, develop, and evaluate projects using accepted project management methodologies and industry-accepted practices across initiation, planning, execution, control, and closing.
• Oversee multiple projects concurrently and initiate multi-agency or enterprise-level projects, securing authorization and commitment while demonstrating business need and feasibility.
• Coordinate project deliverables, assignments, and program support initiatives with executive staff, directors, agency staff, other agencies, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate project activities with other state agencies, governmental jurisdictions, and private-sector partners and contractors.
• Develop evaluation criteria for programs, proposals, and other project-related information.
• Analyze needs based on legislation, best practices, performance requirements, and current policies and procedures.
• Develop project budgets, schedules, work plans, resource requirements, cost estimates, and projections.
• Serve as the division-level legislative liaison, coordinating legislative responsibilities, exceptional items, bill assignments and analyses, cost-estimate criteria and processes, implementation planning, and tracking.
• Develop and implement plans to communicate project methodologies and processes to interested groups and team members.
• Facilitate and participate in meetings and make presentations to department, division, agency, and multi-agency groups.
• Oversee final reporting requirements for related projects and, when needed, testify before legislative and interested groups about project status and matters of public interest.
• Monitor and manage project quality and costs to ensure deliverables meet project specifications and are completed within budget.
• Adjust project schedules and targets as needs or financing change; oversee tracking, reporting, and analysis of performance targets.
• Identify project risks and develop mitigation and avoidance strategies; identify and research barriers.
• Analyze trends and work with COO directors, managers, and customers to maintain high levels of customer service.
• Advise leadership on legislative impacts and advocate for division resource needs.
• Compile and distribute project information, status reports, and budget expenditure information.
• Prepare and present executive-level reports and reference materials; create documentation procedures for original project plans; compile and evaluate data for reports.
• May direct, assign, and evaluate the work of project staff.
• Perform related work as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% paid health insurance for the employee and 50% paid coverage for eligible family members.
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus 401(k) and 457 savings plans.
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave.
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance at rates described as lower than most private plans.
• Flexible spending accounts for health and dependent-care expenses.
• Employee discounts, including gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment.
• Potential eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness.

What This Job Offers

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