Director of Unemployment Insurance (Austin)

Are you looking to combine your passion for public service with your managerial acumen at a state agency that makes a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Texans each year? Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) is looking for a Director of Unemployment Insurance (Director VII). This Austin-based position oversees the part of the TWC executive management team that provides temporary, partial income replacement to eligible individuals who have lost jobs through no fault of their own.

WHO WE ARE:
TWC has a noble public service mission: we connect people with careers all over the state. While our headquarters are in Austin, we operate statewide to provide critical workforce programs, administer unemployment benefits, and deliver services that strengthen Texas communities. We are proud to be a Family Friendly Certified Workplace offering work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and professional development, and fantastic state benefits.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, now or in the future, for this position. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals currently on H-1B, F-1 (OPT/CPT), or H-4 visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

WHO YOU ARE:
We are seeking an experienced, visionary, and collaborative executive leader to serve as our Director of Unemployment Insurance (UI). In this mission-critical role, you will provide strategic executive leadership and operational oversight for the division responsible for delivering billions of dollars in unemployment benefits to eligible Texans during times of job loss.

The ideal candidate brings proven executive acumen in large-scale public administration, extensive knowledge of state and federal unemployment insurance statutory frameworks, and a demonstrated record of leading high-volume operational teams through transformation and continuous improvement. You excel at building strong, trust-based partnerships. You prioritize team development, staff retention, succession planning, and transparent change management to ensure customer-centric, timely, and equitable service delivery.

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 
The Director of Unemployment Insurance performs highly advanced managerial and operational work providing strategic direction, guidance, and governance across all UI operations and planning. Work involves establishing division-level strategic plans, goals, and performance standards; developing and evaluating policies, procedures, and rules; managing multi-million-dollar administrative budgets; and directing major operational units including claims intake, adjudication, benefits payment, tax compliance coordination, and customer care centers. Works under minimal supervision, with extensive latitude for the exercise of initiative and independent judgment.

YOU WILL BE TRUSTED TO:
-  Direct, organize, and administer all programmatic activities, operational workflows, and business functions of the Unemployment Insurance Division to ensure timely and accurate benefit administration for Texans.
- Establish division goals, operational priorities, and performance measurement tools to implement the agency's strategic plan, state standards, and U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL) requirements.
- Develop, review, and approve divisional operating budgets and major expenditures, ensuring full compliance with state and federal funding allocation requirements.
- Lead and inspire a multi-tiered workforce of over 1,000 employees located across the state; prioritize workforce planning, timely recruitment, comprehensive onboarding, employee engagement, and professional development to bolster staff retention and morale.
- Champion a division-wide culture of continuous process improvement, operational throughput, and modern change management best practices across customer service centers and processing units.
- Serve as the agency’s principal executive authority and advisor on UI statutes, federal regulations, administrative rules, and precedent decisions.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

YOU QUALIFY WITH:
- Experience: Eight (8) years of full-time experience in the oversight and direction of an agency program, or in strategic planning and policy development and implementation; five (5) years of which must have been in an administrative management or supervisory capacity.
- Relevant academic credits may be applied toward experience qualifications for this position.

YOU ARE A GREAT FIT WITH:
- Proven executive experience directing large, complex public-sector programs, divisions, or operations subject to rigorous federal and state regulatory oversight, especially background with a workforce agency in a highly populated state pursuing economic growth.
- Demonstrated track record of leading large, multi-tiered teams through organizational change, customer experience transformation, and system modernization, while maintaining a laser focus on meeting performance standards..
- Strong financial and resource management acumen, with experience overseeing extensive operating budgets and federal grant allocations.
- Exceptional executive communication, negotiation, and public presentation skills, including experience testifying at legislative hearings or presenting to governing boards/commissions.

YOU GAIN: 
- A Family Friendly Certified Workplace
- Competitive salary: $17,083.34 /month 
- Defined Retirement Benefit Plan 
- Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts 
- Medical Insurance 
- Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave 
- Additional benefits for active employees can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.

Duty involves up to 25% travel within the state of Texas.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com  to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf 

HOW TO APPLY: 
To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or on Taleo (Job Search). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, now or in the future, for this position. This includes, but is not limited to, individuals currently on H-1B, F-1 (OPT/CPT), or H-4 visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.