Position Description
Position Overview:
Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and motivated professional to join her team to further transform the way we do government. As a member of the County Judge’s policy team, the Deputy Policy Director will work with the Policy Director, Policy Advisors, and other staff members to develop and implement the County Judge’s policy agenda, liaise with experts from across the country in the issue areas of importance to the office, and use evidence and research to inform the direction of the Judge’s actions and advocacy. The Deputy Policy Director will primarily support the Policy Director in managing and reviewing the work of policy team members, who are responsible for leading policy initiatives and projects from ideation to fruition on various issues such as flood control, climate resilience, criminal justice reform, mental health, affordable housing, and early childhood development.
About the Harris County Judge:
Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million, rivaling the size of the entire state of Louisiana. Judge Hidalgo functions as the CEO of Harris County and presides over the Harris County Commissioners Court, the County's governing body. Along with four County Commissioners, the County Judge directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services such as justice administration, flood control, infrastructure, and housing. Judge Hidalgo also serves as Harris County’s Director of Emergency Management.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Advance the professional development of the Policy Advisors and Policy Fellows through consistent mentorship, performance evaluations, and regular feedback cycles. This includes establishing and maintaining regular one-on-one meetings with Policy Advisors to identify opportunities to advance their professional goals.
- Support the Policy Director in managing Policy Advisors and Policy Fellows who provide research and analytical support for various policy initiatives and priorities. This includes working with the policy team to develop Judge Hidalgo’s positions on policy and legislative matters, and supporting the Policy Advisors’ efforts to drive initiatives from ideation to implementation.
- With the Policy Director, provide direction and project management support to strategic initiatives of the CJO led by Policy Advisors, ensuring alignment with Judge Hidalgo’s policy priorities.
- Oversee the implementation of key county-wide initiatives and programs by working with other court office / precinct leadership and staff, department directors, and department staff by providing strategic guidance and if needed, project management support.
- Support the Policy Director and senior leadership by overseeing and facilitating CJO processes to prepare for regular Commissioners Court meetings, the county’s regular business meeting, by reviewing and providing thoughtful, detailed feedback on Policy Advisor policy memos, briefings, and materials, and supporting the Policy Director in preparing for briefings with Judge Hidalgo and senior leadership.
- Regularly work with the Communications and External Affairs teams to inform and engage the public on policy positions and initiatives, and support liaising across teams.
- Co-lead internal policy team meetings by drafting meeting agendas and reserving conference rooms, as needed, to support clear bi-directional communication channels across teams.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net .
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Requirements
Required Supporting Documents:
- Cover letter
- Resume
- Writing sample
Education And Experience
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
- Minimum five (5) years of experience in relevant positions with increasing responsibility.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in a role managing people.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Facilitate and oftentimes lead clear communication with the policy team to provide up-to-date information and maintain morale throughout the team.
- Ability to work effectively with a team as well as autonomously with accountability.
- Ability to translate complex concepts into plain oral or written language, and a distinctly excellent ability to write, edit, and organize policy information very clearly
- Highly organized, with high proficiency in project management and a proven ability to meet multiple deadlines and balance numerous projects in a fast-paced and changing environment. This includes keeping tasks and projects organized to ensure that work is completed seamlessly and at a consistent level of quality.
- Ability to work cross-departmentally, work within multidisciplinary teams, oversee projects to completion, and measure results.
- Ability to develop successful working relationships with governments at every level throughout Harris County, Texas, and the United States.
- Should have an ability to adapt to and lead through change.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences
- A preference for graduate degrees related to government, public policy, public administration, law, or a related field.
- Minimum two (2) years of experience in a role managing people, with a preference for full-time direct reports and experience with managing professional development processes.
- Experience working for elected officials.
- Experience working across multiple public policy issues.
- Experience responding to emergencies, including natural disasters.
General Information
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:
- Regular Full-time
- Monday - Friday | 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
- Requires the ability to work outside of normal business hours, including weekends, on a frequent basis.
Salary:
- Depends on Qualifications
- Based on 26 Pay Periods
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.