Senior Policy Advisor

Date: Apr 11, 2025

Location: AUSTIN, TX

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.

Hiring statewide!

Job Description:

Join Our Dynamic Team!

Are you passionate about making a difference, creating efficiencies, and innovating current practices? Are you ready to take on a new challenge?

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our growing and successful program that prides itself on a person-centered culture and collaborative environment where your voice and perspective matters. If you thrive in dynamic settings and you want to contribute to our mission to keep Texans healthy and safe, apply today to join Health Care Regulation (HCR)!

HCR-regulated providers include:

• Abortion facilities
• Ambulatory surgical centers
• Birthing centers
• Chemical dependency treatment facilities
• End-stage renal disease facilities
• Freestanding emergency medical care facilities
• General and special hospitals
• Chemical dependency counselors
• Sex offender treatment providers
• Limited services rural hospitals
• Narcotic treatment clinics
• Private psychiatric hospitals
• Crisis stabilization units
• Special care facilities

The Senior Policy Advisor (Program Specialist VII) performs complex and highly advanced (senior-level) policy and rule analysis, advisement, development, implementation, and evaluation related to HCR-regulated providers and HCR work. The Senior Policy Advisor is responsible for the duties described below in the essential job functions.

The starting pay for this role is $7,438.29 monthly (i.e., $89,259.53 annually), which is a market rate salary.

The Senior Policy Advisor works:

• Within the HCR department in the Regulatory Services Division (RSD) of the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC)
• Under the HCR Policies and Rules Unit (PRU) Director’s supervision
• Independently under minimal supervision with extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment
• Collaboratively with PRU team members who are under the HCR PRU Director’s and PRU Manager’s supervision and with others across HCR and HHSC

The Senior Policy Advisor will also collaborate with clinical and non-clinical internal HHSC stakeholders including:

• HCR Licensing
• HCR Compliance
• HCR Training and Quality Assurance
• HCR Strategic Operations
• HCR Architectural Review
• HHSC Communications
• HHS Rules Coordination Office
• RSD Enforcement
• RSD Complaint Incident and Intake
• HCR and RSD Executive Leadership

The Senior Policy Advisor may also provide editorial and content-related feedback to PRU and HCR staff on work products and assignments and support PRU staff during the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation phases, based on the Senior Policy Advisor’s subject matter expertise and work related to other PRU staff work.

Essential Job Functions:

EJ1: Project Development, Leadership, and Management (30%)

• Serves as the lead researcher, analyst, developer, and advisor on a variety of high-priority projects assigned by the PRU Director.
• Remains updated on and informed of relevant state and federal laws, regulations, best practices, and policies concerning the licensing and regulation of HCR-regulated providers in Texas and across the United States.
• Successfully delivers high-quality work products and recommendations in a timely manner by effectively prioritizing and planning, conducting research, analyzing data and other relevant information, identifying risks, formulating recommendations, coordinating with others, facilitating workgroups and discussions, developing draft work products informed by data and stakeholder input, and monitoring progress toward meeting all assigned deadlines.
• Collaborates with HCR Strategic Operations staff as needed on intra- and inter-departmental projects and special assignments impacting multiple units within HCR or other areas of HHSC.
• Develops and proposes practical and attainable project development plans, recommendations, and implementation timeframes for assigned high profile and high priority work products and projects.
• Demonstrates professionalism, resilience, emotional intelligence, and confidence in addressing feedback or information to ensure consistency and accuracy in the Senior Policy Advisor’s and PRU work products, responses, and assignments.

EJ2: Program Planning, Evaluation, and Risk Assessment (30%)

• Assists the PRU Director with researching, planning, developing, marketing, monitoring, managing, implementing, and evaluating complex, high-profile, and high-priority PRU and HCR program initiatives.
• Researches policy, process, and procedural innovations, industry standards, and best practices in the PRU and HCR fields of work to enhance and improve overall PRU customer service delivery to internal and external stakeholders in efforts to further improve the quality, efficiency, consistency, and accountability of HCR regulatory activities and to promote the health, safety, and wellbeing of Texans.
• Effectively communicates, facilitates, and guides collaborative discussions with internal and external stakeholders to collect and analyze information, evaluate program effectiveness, identify potential process improvements, and work with others to improve PRU, HCR, and HHSC practices and processes.
• Analyzes and evaluates the effectiveness of HCR practices and the PRU unit’s delivery of program operational services to other units within HCR by critically and objectively reviewing current practices and conducting research and program assessments to identify problems, issues, gaps, risks, inefficiencies, inconsistencies, opportunities for improvement or increased efficiency, and whether current practices align with best practices, industry standards, policies, rules, statutes, and HHSC legal guidance.
• Based on research findings, identifies best practice, evidence-based, and solution-focused options and recommendations where PRU and HCR could make improvements through written and verbal communications. On leadership approval, effectively implements the change.

EJ3: Legislative Analysis, Information Coordination, and Reporting (20%)

• Reviews and analyzes state and federal legislation to identify potential impacts on internal and external stakeholders relating to the legislation’s passage and implementation.
• Develops and presents best practice, evidence-based, and solution-focused implementation recommendations to PRU and HCR leadership for high profile and high priority enacted legislation.
• Serves as the main PRU point of contact when receiving and responding to legislative, media, and other external inquiries and requests by vetting responses for accuracy and consistency with HHSC and HCR policy, Texas statute, and HHSC and federal rules to provide timely responses to all stakeholders.
• Effectively and efficiently collects and coordinates program information and timely responds to report requests by collecting, organizing, analyzing, and preparing information and materials.

EJ4 Team Leadership and Support (20%)

• Provides accurate, informed, and vetted information to internal and external stakeholders.
• Serves as a team lead and professional resource for HCR staff regarding PRU projects and initiatives.
• Provides consultative services and technical assistance to PRU and HCR staff regarding matters falling within the Senior Policy Advisor’s knowledge, skills, and subject matter expertise or related to the Senior Policy Advisor’s assignments and work products.
• May also serve as the PRU Director’s designee, including:
  • Attending meetings on the Director’s behalf.
  • Serving as a resource witness during legislative session.
  • Reviewing and providing editorial and content-related feedback on PRU staff’s work products and assignments to ensure work products are accurate, of high quality, compliant with applicable HHSC and HCR policies and procedures and state and federal regulations; align with program and leadership objectives and goals; minimize program integrity risks; and maximize stakeholder outcomes.
  • Supporting PRU staff during the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation phases of PRU work products.
  • Overseeing the daily work and assignments of any future interns working for the unit.
• Performs related work as assigned and attends work on a regular and predictable schedule.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

• Valid drivers license required.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Public administration and management techniques, team dynamics, and effective leadership principles.
• Business operations including cross-functional collaboration, data management, metrics and reporting, organizational change and communications, and operations and implementation.
• Data processing techniques and computer databases.
• Techniques and methodologies for research and project management.
• The HCR program; applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and best practices relevant to HCR; and state and federal legislation related to HCR and its implications.
• Facilitation best practices and principles.
• Program evaluation methods and performance metrics as well as assessment techniques to identify program effectiveness and inefficiencies.
• Industry standards and innovations in PRU and HCR operations.
• Problem-solving techniques, processes, and best practices.
• Policy, compliance, and regulatory frameworks governing HCR practices as well as consultation strategies and methods in a policy advisory context

Skill in:

• Demonstrating initiative, leadership and working independently and as part of a team.
• Providing consultative services and technical assistance to team members and in reviewing and providing edits and constructive feedback on technical documents, materials, reports, and work products to ensure quality, consistency, efficiency, and accountability.
• Clearly, effectively, and professionally communicating verbally and in writing to multi-level stakeholder groups, including using appropriate grammar and punctuation, plain language, and active voice.
• Working collaboratively with and coordinating with diverse stakeholders with a wide variety of personalities and communication styles; providing excellent customer service; and demonstrating emotional intelligence and diplomacy.
• Maintaining professionalism and emotional intelligence when receiving, processing, responding to, and addressing feedback.
• Facilitating stakeholder meetings, workgroups, and discussions, including communicating and guiding collaborative discussions effectively.
• Developing, synthesizing, and articulating evidence-based recommendations.
• Using a computer and applicable software.
• Project management and planning, including developing and proposing feasible project plans, timelines, and recommendations.
• Prioritizing, organizing, managing, and monitoring one’s individual workload, including prioritizing, planning, and producing project deliverables within identified timelines and deadlines.
• Conducting research; collecting, organizing, assembling, correlating, and analyzing relevant data, facts, and information; and preparing reports based on findings.
• Conducting detailed program assessments and evaluations; identifying and creating programmatic, operational, and procedural efficiencies; devising feasible and practical solutions to complex problems; and innovating where opportunities exist.
• Risk identification and mitigation strategies.
• Reviewing and analyzing legislative proposals for potential impact assessment.

Ability to:

• Research, interpret, analyze, plan, organize, develop, implement, and evaluate various types of written materials including policies, procedures, handbooks, manuals, rules, stakeholder guidance letters and memos, work tools and supporting materials, reports, and presentations.
• Analyze and evaluate current policies, practices, processes, procedures, and program performance to identify strengths, risks, problems, inefficiencies and potential areas for improvement.
• Learn and serve as a subject matter expert on HCR adopted policies and procedures; policy and rule development processes; and local, state, and federal laws related to Health Care Regulation.
• Learn and convey information regarding HHSC programs, policies, procedures, rules, and service delivery processes.
• Statistically analyze data and clearly communicate statistical information and research findings verbally and in writing in a professional and understandable format.
• Identify and provide best practice, evidence-based, solution-focused options and develop actionable recommendations based on data and stakeholder feedback.
• Lead high-priority projects, effectively monitor project progress and adapt plans as necessary.
• Mentor team members and support PRU staff throughout a project’s life cycle.
• Develop, market, implement, and evaluate complex program initiatives and demonstrate mature business skills.
• Identify program performance measures and indicators.
• Ensure information is accurate and compliant with regulations and policies.
• Analyze legislation to identify potential programmatic issues relating to the implementation, improvement, and/or expansion or reduction of program funding and develops and presents best practice, evidence-based, and solution-focused recommendations for consideration.
• Serve as a key point of contact for legislative inquiries and responses and coordinate efficiently in response to legislative reporting requests.
• Serve as a lead worker by offering guidance and direction while adhering to leadership and organizational goals and objectives.
• Represent the PRU Director in meetings and during legislative sessions.
• Foster a collaborative environment that maximizes stakeholder engagement and project success.

Initial Screening Criteria:

• Experience in leading business activities, editorial work, and providing guidance and/or direction to others.
• Bachelor and/or Master of Public Administration, Public Policy, Public Health, human services, English, human resources, organizational development, education or related field is preferred, but previous related experience, including leading business activities, editorial work, and providing guidance and/or direction to others may be substituted on a year-for-year basis for the required education, with a maximum substitution of four years.
• Excellent written communication skills as observed by spelling, grammar, detail, and completeness of information provided on the state application.
• Experience in project management (either informal or formal) preferred.

Some statewide travel may be required to gather information on policy and rule needs and to represent HHSC, RSD, HCR, and PRU at various stakeholder meetings.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.