Manager (Austin)

WHO WE ARE:
Texas Workforce Commission connects people with careers across the state. While we are based in Austin on the north lawn of the Texas State Capitol, we have offices statewide. We're a Family Friendly Certified Workplace with great work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and development, and fantastic benefits. This position is located at 1117 Trinity St., Austin, TX.

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:
The Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment department is hiring a Policy, Planning & Evaluation Manager (Manager IV) to oversee the Policy, Planning, and Evaluation team. The manager will perform advanced (senior-level) managerial work administering the daily operations and activities of an agency’s business function, division, or department. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. 

The ideal candidate is an experienced and organized leader who leverages highly advanced communication, management, and analytical skills to lead the team responsible for various policy, planning, and evaluation activities related to the RESEA program. The manager must not only be an expert in research methodology and policy synthesis, but also an agile team leader who can prioritize and manage resources, eliminate operational silos, and translate dense data into clear executive decisions. If you are an experienced and innovative leader with rigorous analytical capability, strategic policy acumen, and excellent organization and project management skills, this position could be the perfect match for you.

YOU WILL BE TRUSTED TO:
- Manage the day-to-day activities of a team responsible for policy, planning, research, evaluation, and the continuous improvement of the RESEA program.
- Guide the preparation of administrative reports, state plans, federal waiver requests, and responses to federal audit reviews.
- Oversee the development of all data analysis and reporting activities, including the development of performance reports and dashboards. 
- Use data and program metrics to guide policy recommendations and decisions and to tell the story of the RESEA program in Texas.
- Develop short and long-term strategies and goals for the administration of assigned projects.
- Collaborate with other divisions, universities, and other state and federal government agencies on the research and evaluation of the RESEA program.
- Brief TWC executive management, Commissioners and their staff, and Local Workforce Development Board executives regarding program and policy issues, and coordinate with internal and external stakeholders. 
- Evaluate program effectiveness, develop service delivery guidelines, provide expert guidance on program issues, and develop action plans for operational improvement.
- Represent the department and TWC at meetings, conferences, and seminars, and serve on committees.
- Perform related work as assigned.

YOU QUALIFY WITH:
- Five years of full-time experience in the development, implementation, or interpretation of policies and procedures in a public or private agency, one year and six months 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:
- Experience in developing policies, guidance, and standard operating procedures for a government program.
- Superior communication skills, both written and verbal.
- Ability to analyze complex statutes, federal/state regulations, and proposed legislation to determine operational impacts, compliance risks, and strategic opportunities.
- Experience crafting policy frameworks, administrative rules, and waiver requests that balance statutory compliance with practical, user-centered program delivery.
- Proven track record translating high-level executive visions and legislative directives into multi-year strategic plans with clear, measurable milestones.
- Skill in managing competing initiatives and shifting priorities.
- Deep grounding in research design, qualitative/quantitative evaluation methods, logic models, and performance measurement frameworks.
- Aptitude for leveraging modern reporting tools (e.g., Power BI dashboards, automated reporting pipelines) to convert complex datasets into scannable insights.
- Demonstrated expertise evaluating program efficacy, cost impacts, and return on investment (ROI) to inform resource allocation and legislative budget requests.
- Ability to lead specialists (policy analysts, data analysts, marketing specialists) by fostering intellectual rigor, constructive debate, and clear accountability.
- Comfort operating without exhaustive guidance, with the poise to make defensible, evidence-based recommendations under tight deadlines.
- Expertise in balancing workloads across the team, identifying bottlenecks, and dynamically shifting resources as urgent legislative or executive requests arise.
- Ability to create an environment where team members feel safe to ask questions, admit mistakes, challenge assumptions, and pitch innovative solutions.

YOU GAIN: 
- A Family Friendly Certified Workplace
- Competitive salary: $7,790.32 - $8,179.83/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 15% 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.