The Senior Advisor, School Programs reports to the Deputy Commissioner within the Office of School Programs, which provides foundational support for the education of PK-12 students in Texas. The Senior Advisor sets and executes the policy strategy, legislative and rulemaking activities on behalf of the Office, as well as oversees the team responsible for interagency coordination. The Senior Advisor serves as a key leader within the agency and collaborates and interacts regularly with senior stakeholders within the agency and in the field, including elected officials, districts, and other stakeholders in support of student outcomes. The nature of this role requires seasonal presence in Austin during State Board of Education (SBOE) meetings and legislative session, as well as additional dates as requested. Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates. 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. Essential Functions. Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned .. Policy, Legislation, and Rulemaking Activities: Develop, lead, and implement the agency’s policy strategy across school programs. Provide policy guidance, consultative support, and lead rulemaking activities on behalf of the office. Serve as the agency’s key subject matter resource witness for the legislature. Coordinate legislative session work, including development of resource and briefing documents, respond to legislative requests, preparation of bill analyses and fiscal estimates, and attends committee meetings as a resource witness. Lead implementation efforts for newly passed legislation following each legislative session. Coordinate rulemaking activities on behalf of the office. Establish relationships with State Board of Education (SBOE) members, prepare SBOE items, and represent the office at SBOE meetings. Provide internal direction and support on officewide structures for information preparation and sharing related to policy, legislation and rulemaking .. Interagency Leadership and Oversight: Oversee TEA’s strategic direction that supports planning and stakeholder alignment, including institutions of higher education, workforce partners, governmental agencies, and task force assignments. This work includes representing TEA on the following interagency efforts related to Early Childhood (Texas Quad Agency Child Care Initiative, Governor’s Task Force on the Governance of Early Childhood Education and Care, Texas Early Childhood Interagency Work Group, Texas Early Childhood Integrated Data System), College, Career, and Military Preparation (Tri-Agency Workforce Initiative), as well as other interagency efforts as needed. Manage TEA’s designated liaison of interagency groups, and represents TEA in senior executive forums, boards and committees. Provide internal direction on officewide structures for information preparation and sharing related to interagency work .. Team Management: Develop and manage a highly engaged and detail-oriented team. Ensure team members have clear priorities and plans that are aligned to division, office and agency goals. Manage effective office operations and administrative processes. Ensure teams and individuals are supported, engaged, and retained. Support effective communication with external stakeholders and facilitate effective internal collaboration and information-sharing. Minimum Qualifications - Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university - Experience: At least eight (8) years of experience in state-level policy, legislation, rulemaking, large-scale system leadership, supervisory and/or administrative roles. Demonstrated experience managing through multiple layers of leadership in a complex organization, using lateral influence, with accountability for strategic direction, performance, and talent development required. - Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience. Other Qualifications - Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military - Experience in education policy preferred - Exceptional personnel management skills, including skill in vision-setting and coaching - Experience authentically engaging stakeholders and leveraging feedback for continuous improvement - Ability to create and engage in a collaborative, results-oriented team environment - Data-driven decision maker with the ability to structure ambiguity into actionable, value-added plans - Excellent written and verbal communication skills - Superior project and time management ability - Ability to handle multiple and shifting priorities and juggle competing priorities and drive team towards results - Demonstrated understanding of the processes and challenges of school districts, charter schools and educational service centers and practices to create system-level change - A track record of performance and successful implementation across multiple concurrent projects - A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve