Strategic Initiatives Deputy Director IV

TX-HHSC-DSHS-DFPS • Austin, TX

33d

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. What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save. Here’s what you get as a full-time employee: 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 You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster. You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure Brief Job Description: Performs highly advanced (senior-level) managerial and strategic planning work as the Deputy Director of Strategic Initiatives. Responsible for leading agencywide strategic planning, coordinating high-priority initiatives, developing long-range goals, and overseeing governance and reporting structures for DFPS leadership. Provides strategic guidance to the Commissioner and Executive Team; directs cross-division planning and improvement efforts; and oversees division operations, budget activities, and staff. Serves as the Strategic Initiatives Director in the Director’s absence and represents DFPS in executive, interagency, and legislative settings. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Requirements

• Ability to maintain the security and integrity of the infrastructure per Governor Abbott Executive Order GA-48.
• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to program activities and/or business functions; and the principles and practices of public administration and management.
• Skill in designing and facilitating strategic planning sessions, workshops, and executive-level decision-making processes.
• Skill in managing complex, multi-year strategic initiatives involving multiple divisions, external stakeholders, or state agencies.
• Ability to lead collaborative planning efforts and coordinate strategic activities across large, complex organizations.
• Ability to translate executive direction and legislative mandates into actionable strategies and long-range plans.
• Skill in establishing plans and setting objectives and goals that support an overall business strategy.
• Ability to direct and organize program activities and/or business functions; to establish goals and objectives that support the strategic plan; to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions; to develop and evaluate policies and procedures; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to supervise the work of others.
• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Eight years of progressively responsible professional experience, including:
• Five years leading complex, multi-stakeholder projects or initiatives, and
• Three years of supervisory or formal leadership experience.
• Experience in strategic planning, organizational improvement, or agency-level program management.
• Experience relevant to the functions of the Strategic Initiatives Division, such as facilitation, policy development, executive coordination, or cross-program project oversight.
• Experience and education may be substituted for one another.

Responsibilities

• Plans, designs, and facilitates executive and stakeholder strategy sessions to establish agency priorities, align leadership, and drive informed decision-making across DFPS programs and divisions.
• Leads the development and execution of long-term, agencywide strategic and high-priority initiatives, including multi-year projects that span multiple program areas and require coordination with internal and external stakeholders.
• Oversees the development, production, and implementation of the DFPS Annual Plan, including goal setting, initiative development, cross-division coordination, and alignment with the DFPS Strategic Plan, Commissioner priorities, and legislative requirements.
• Coordinates enterprise planning and strategic alignment with other state agencies to ensure DFPS priorities are represented in statewide initiatives, rulemaking, and policy development.
• Develops and maintains agencywide governance structures, including prioritization frameworks, initiative tracking systems, and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress of strategic initiatives and inform executive leadership.
• Provides strategic guidance and recommendations to the Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners, and Executive Team, ensuring data-informed decision-making and alignment of major initiatives with agency goals, legislative direction, and operational capacity.
• Manages and directs the development and implementation of Strategic Initiatives policies, procedures, and best practices for program operations.
• Directs the planning and coordination of major improvement activities of the department.
• Directs development of agency-wide planning and reporting documents and monitoring the impact of implementation.
• Oversees the preparation and dissemination of reports, studies and information relating to Strategic Initiatives operations and programs.
• Reviews and approves all expenditures for the department, ensuring allowability and funding availability.
• Oversees the development, preparation, and dissemination of reports to communicate information and changes, and develop recommendations for program changes to improve agency performance.
• Oversees process and program evaluations through project management and program coordination in order to improve and enhance DFPS operations and service delivery using qualitative and quantitative data.
• Provides objective recommendations for improvements and assist program areas with the reengineering of business processes to improve client outcomes.
• Works with the Deputy Commissioner to oversee the implementation of the agency’s mission as related to Strategic Initiatives.
• Develops improvement processes to address agency needs.
• Identifies systemic issues, policy conflicts, knowledge and process gaps and deficiencies, and oversees implementation of program improvements.
• Establishes and implements long-term program performance, policy and program goals and objectives consistent with the agency’s mission and strategic plan.
• Identifies and develops ways for the Strategic Initiatives department to meet these established goals.
• Responsible for the development, guidelines, and implementation of Strategic Initiatives policy and procedures for DFPS.
• Provides oversight to ensure compliance with agency and fiscal policy meeting state and federal requirements.
• Provides information and represents the Strategic Initiatives division at hearings and legislative meetings with the Legislative Budget Board, the Governor's Office of Budget and Planning, the Senate Finance Committee, the House Appropriations Committee, and the agency’s Council.
• Oversees and facilitates intra-agency and external workgroups, meetings, and committees to support agency program initiatives as well as federal and state regulatory directives.
• Coordinates cross-agency strategic efforts with HHSC and other state partners, ensuring DFPS perspectives and priorities are represented in statewide planning, rulemaking, and interagency initiatives.
• Provides guidance, coordination and support in the development and coordination of the agency’s Legislative Appropriations Requests (LAR) and operating budgets for the Strategic Initiatives division.
• Prepares financial responses to legislative inquiries and other financial information requests on behalf of the Strategic Initiatives division.
• Establishes priorities, standards, and measurement tools for determining progress in meeting goals for Strategic Initiatives initiatives.
• Coordinates and evaluates budget and evaluations, to include developing and implementing strategic policies for Strategic Initiatives.
• Serves as the subject matter expert and point of contact to agency executives on key strategic initiatives related to Strategic Initiatives.
• Provides input on strategic communications that impact the agency.
• Provides direction on Strategic Initiatives strategy and execution.
• Leads, directs, and supervises staff, to include following established HR policy and procedures.
• Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others.
• Participates in the employee evaluation process.
• Encourages and recommends appropriate training development and/or initiates disciplinary actions, as necessary.

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees