Job Description
MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
Core Values:
We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.
Position Overview: The Department of Authorizing and Policy cultivates innovative, high-quality learning opportunities. The department oversees the agency’s work on charter schools, virtual/hybrid schools, local accountability systems, and other aligned initiatives.
The Director of Policy and Operations plays a critical leadership role in the department serving as the leader for all department policy matters related to the legislature, rule-making, and the State Board of Education. The director also provides support and leads efforts that maximize processes and builds a strong and inclusive team culture to help the Department of Authorizing and Policy achieve agency and department-level goals. This includes monitoring performance against objectives, providing regular feedback to division and department leadership, planning for and facilitating collaborative meeting structures, and ensuring strong communication structures and routines with staff. Work involves managing the department’s budgets, supervising department-wide Public Information Act response functions, supervising rule coordination, publishing required annual reports, as well as coordination and analysis of legislative and SBOE items.
The Director of Authorizing Operations will work closely with the Deputy Associate Commissioner of Authorizing and Policy on priority projects and initiatives to strategically align resources, as well as provide leadership and coordination to improve systems and processes to enhance department operations. The Director of Policy and Operations will work under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgement, reporting directly to the Deputy Associate Commissioner.
Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.
1. Rule Coordination:
- Ensures alignment and cross-collaboration with all applicable rule chapters in the Texas Administrative Code through coordination of amendments and review of rule sections involving charter schools, district partnerships, virtual education, and local accountability systems.
- Coordinates the development and adoption of administrative rules including drafting and revising rules, submitting appropriate documents for posting in the Texas Register, organizing public meetings, and responding to comments offered by public prior to final rules.
- Provides leadership for all legislative matters including tracking of legislative bills, draft analysis, fiscal notes, and legislative data requests.
- Coordinates the creation and submission of applicable SBOE items and related documentation.
- Oversees the design and production of required reports about charter schools and charter school authorizing.
- Works with department staff to maintain a knowledge and data management structure that aligns with office and agency level priorities.
- Oversees all the activities regarding Public Information Requests, ad hoc data requests, and general inquiries for the department, ensuring all inquiries are assigned to the appropriate staff, closed out with appropriate divisions in the agency, and tracked for documentation purposes.
- Manages flow of projects within the department and establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with staff across the agency.
- Work with department staff to align performance management activities with ADU and agency cycles.
- Develops and manages complex administrative functions for department, including management of two direct reports.
- Establishes priorities for support staff, ensuring staff is utilized efficiently, implements effective performance management and ensures direct reports are supported to achieve outcomes.
- Maintains department websites and ensures content is correct and up to date.
- Develops and recommends annual operating budget for department.
- Serves as primary liaison for various human resources related duties.
- Plans for and support facilitation of key collaboration meetings including department meetings.
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
- Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in education or policy sector. Experience working in policy analysis, charter schools, or team management preferred. Project management experience is required.
- Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.
- Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to public education, including both the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code, preferred
- Prior experience interpreting statutes and regulations, preferred
- Excellent oral and written communication skills
- Meticulous attention to detail with the ability to produce high-quality work in a dynamic work environment
- Strong prioritization, time management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities at once and meet deadlines
- Skill in breaking down complex information, asking questions, synthesizing, and analyzing and preparing concise reports and exhibits using Microsoft Office suite
- Ability to provide technical assistance to school districts, agency staff, government agencies and the public
- A strong customer-service mindset with a focus on engaging both internal and external stakeholders
- A professional demeanor and positive attitude to foster effective working relationships
- A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve
- Commitment to engage in a collaborative, results-oriented team environment
As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.
To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.
This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.
No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.
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