Job Summary

The Strategic Advisor will facilitate Travis County Health and Human Services in furthering the Court’s vision of providing advanced leadership and strategic planning around HHS emerging issues and opportunities. This executive position will serve as a key advisor reporting directly to the County Executive. Travis County Health and Human Services is a dynamic governmental agency that proudly serves the Austin/Travis County community by helping people with life’s basic needs and pathways to self-sufficiency.

HHS has recently established the new position of Strategic Advisor, reporting directly to the County Executive. This is a unique opportunity to work very closely with the County Executive on several new and exciting initiatives within the HHS department. People with exceptional leadership, intellectual talent and curiosity and who have high-level experience driving strategy, policy development and change, will find this position of particular interest. HHS serves Travis County residents with diverse programming across multiple social services domains. Our programs and our people are often recognized at the state and national levels as providing very creative and impactful programming to our constituents. This position will help with strategic monitoring and improvements at the department. This position will serve in a key role within the Executive Management Team, providing advanced leadership and strategic planning around HHS’ emerging issues and opportunities.

The successful candidate will be a change agent across the diverse domains of the department’s sphere of service and influence. The Health and Human Services department continues to expand its presence in the community, and we are shifting our orientation to how and where we are developing our programs and presence in Travis County. The Strategic Advisor will lead and prepare HHS for a formal Strategic Planning process, identify opportunities for becoming more nimble and resourceful in how we execute our programming.The Strategic Advisor will provide recommendations regarding essential methodologies and provide feedback to the County Executive for potential future changes in the department’s structure, program development and policies. The Strategic Advisor will make suggestions regarding departmental re-organization, as well as driving the evolution and efficiencies across our programming and areas of focus.

As HHS continues to evolve and expand, the position of Strategic Advisor is necessary to inform, advise and consult with the County Executive on:

• Applicable Federal, State, Local and County laws, rules, regulations and applicable Health and Human Services standards, and emerging best practices, and,
• Policies, practices, procedures and research related to Health and Human Services programming and initiatives.
• Research and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports, advising the County Executive on emerging issues, opportunities and efficiencies, and,
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, executives of outside agencies and partners, community stakeholders, other County employees and the general public.
  
  

Through vigorous program evaluation and ongoing analysis of data, performance measures and other analytics related to the HHS mission, the Strategic Advisor will serve as a key leader in making recommendations for the implementation of evidence-based strategies and programming.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification is within the Management job family. Reports directly to the HHS County Executive. This classification may require a flexible work schedule in order to meet the needs of the department.

Duties And Responsibilities

• Communicates effectively, drafts and edits documents and other written products for the County Executive.
• Assesses HHS public communications and makes recommendations to better communicate with Travis County HHS stakeholders.
• Facilitates strategic planning and department reorganization discussions and efforts.
• Facilitates collaborations with government partners, such as the Joint Subcommittee of the City, County and AISD.
• Supervise employees in the County Executive’s office, such as the Administrative Associate and Senior Planner.
• Monitors strategic plan implementation and project assignments to ensure progress on goals across the department.
• Conducts research regarding policies and regulations and makes recommendations on policy and procedural changes.
• Conducts assessments related to health and human services initiatives
• Makes policy recommendations based on cumulative assessments..
• Makes recommendations for streamlining policies, procedures, program requirements, evaluations, long standing reports.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:

Advanced degree in a social science-related field, sociology, political science, business intelligence, or related field of study AND three (3) years’ experience implementing advanced research methods in the field, academia, or an equivalent combination of education and field experience. Advanced analytic publications or equivalent work-related products.

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

Valid Texas Driver’s License.

Preferred:

Master’s-level or higher education in a social science-related field, sociology, political science, business. Experience in change management.

5 years of leadership/supervisory experience.

Knowledge of:

• Analytical and critical thinking skills.
• Change management
• Best practices related to health and human services.
• Developing and maintaining tools to provide guidance and transparency to a wide array of individuals and audiences.
• Federal, State, Local and County applicable laws, rules, regulations and applicable health and human services standards and procedures.
• Standard practices in area of assignment.
• Budget development, preparation, and monitoring.
• Computer equipment to include word processing, spreadsheets, databases and a variety of software packages.
• Business letter writing, grammar and punctuation, and report preparation.
  
  

Skill in:

• Analyzing data related to health and human services
• Developing and maintaining products and tools to provide guidance and transparency to a wide array of individuals and audiences.
• Directing and managing others, including team building.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Training, managing and evaluating the work of others.
• Developing and monitoring budgets.
• Preparing and making presentations.
• Both verbal and written communication.
  
  

Ability to:

• Coordinate, plan and prioritize multiple data projects simultaneously.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks and organize diverse activities.
• Collaborate across multiple divisions.
• Communicate effectively regarding HHS programming with a range of stakeholders with varying levels of understanding of the department.
• Present to a range of audiences both internal and external, as well as to members of the public.
• Direct, motivate, train, develop and evaluate staff.
• Reason and make judgments and decisions.
• Work effectively and courteously under high pressure circumstances.
• Research and prepare a variety of memorandums or reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, attorneys, judges and the general public.
  
  

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-15 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. May work some holidays, some nights, some weekends

Location: 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX 78701

Department: Health & Human Services

Criminal background check, driving, education, and employment verification are required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.