The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is responsible for protecting the unprotected — children, elderly, and people with disabilities — from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. DFPS accomplishes this responsibility by employing over 12,000 workers who live up to the agency's Mission, Vision, & Values in service to the 27 million citizens of Texas.
WHY WORK FOR DFPS?
DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives the remaining balance on college student Direct Loans after making 120 qualifying monthly payments, but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, a lifetime monthly retirement annuity as well as Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas. An additional benefit you will receive is 12 days of paid annual leave, 12 sick days, and the potential to earn up to four days of administrative leave each year. Your annual paid leave accrual increases as your tenure increases.
DFPS MANAGEMENT CONSULTING
The DFPS Management Consulting Group assists agency leadership improve the efficiency, effectiveness, and outcomes of their operations and programs to support the agency’s mission. Our team of highly skilled and experienced consultants provide professional advice and expertise to DFPS programs and support divisions.
The Management and Project Consultant performs advanced (senior-level) professional administrative and policy analysis work. Work involves coordinating and implementing organizational studies and evaluations, reviewing systems and procedures, coordinating work simplification studies, and reviewing operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. May supervise the work of others. Works under limited supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
***Telework: Per current agency policy, this position may telework up to three days per week.
Essential Job Functions:
Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.
- Coordinates, plans, and directs organizational studies of work problems.
- Coordinate agency projects, including (but not limited to) program operational reviews, management studies, and process improvement.
- Assist project lead with planning efforts that impact DFPS that may include the agency’s five-year strategic plan, and any other DFPS program area requesting assistance with planning.
- Assumes lead role to plan evaluation projects involving a single business unit within the organization.
- Prepare clear, concise reports with recommendations to inform leadership decisions.
Advises management on agency studies by identifying priorities and defining study scope, purpose, objectives, time frames, and resource requirements.
- Through appropriate research, prepare project charter to establish the scope of projects requested by the business unit including the goals, objectives, and desired outcomes.
- Consults with the business unit to advise on the direction, updates, and challenges of the project.
Designs, evaluates, recommends, and approves changes to forms and reports.
- Evaluate internal operations to design and recommend changes for improving the workflow process, including developing forms to assign, track and report on projects.
- Design report templates that ensure readability and flow for the desired audience, including program and executive level staff.
Reviews and evaluates new or improved business and management practices for application to agency programs or operations.
- Review and evaluate agency business practices to identify opportunities more efficient and effective operations.
Reviews and evaluates recommendations for improvement and corrective action to standardize or improve organizational systems.
- Ensure that recommendations are addressed in an action plan that will subsequently become part of the DFPS business planning process.
- Review and evaluate corrective actions to determine if the actions have led to increased efficiency and effectiveness.
Develops solutions to organizational issues and concerns, develops organizational change strategies and plans, and/or conducts training for their implementation.
- Research innovations, best practices, emerging trends and draft solutions to organizational issues when conducting a review.
- Work with operational or program staff to identify and develop opportunities for business process improvement.
Interprets historical, current, and projected data to identify problems, causes, and areas for which procedural or system changes are indicated.
- Analyze any pre-existing data sources (quantitative and qualitative) and identifying possible trends.
- Contribute to the design and implementation of survey tools and other tools to gather data to identify problems.
Reviews comprehensive technical records and reports that present and interpret data, identifies alternatives, and makes and justifies recommendations.
- Review, analyze and interpret project specific data to identify issues and develop feasible recommendations for improvement.
- Research alternative solutions to problems to support possible recommendations applicable to the agency’s mission and goals.
Develops new or modifies existing administrative program policies, procedures, goals, and objectives.
- Coordinate efforts to develop evaluation plans; identify priorities, define the purpose and scope of study, and ensure clear articulation within these plans of the evaluation subject and program.
Evaluates industry developments and makes recommendations for possible agency application.
- Support efforts to research, survey and/or interview other states and industry leads to identify best practices to support more efficient and effective agency operations.
Performs related work as assigned.
- Works under limited supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.
- May occasionally represent the team at meetings and performs other related work as assigned.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
- Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations, administrative rules, program policies, procedures relevant to DFPS program areas and the Texas legislative process.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management, including experience with direct supervision of professional level staff strategic planning, human resources management, and project management; and process improvement methods and feedback strategies, including client and staff survey tools.
- Knowledge of program areas with the ability to provide subject matter guidance, consultation and leadership to program staff.
- Knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration and management.
- Skill in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Skill in the operation of a computer and applicable software.
- Ability to manage business function, division, or department activities.
- Ability to establish goals and objectives.
- Ability to devise solutions to administrative problems.
- Ability to develop and evaluate administrative policies and procedures.
- Ability to prepare reports.
- Ability to communicate effectively.
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
None.
Initial Selection Criteria:
- Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in business administration, political science (or government) or a related discipline is preferred.
- Preference will be given to applicants with a graduate degree in public administration or a related field with relevant work experience.
- Experience in conducting management studies in the public sector using quantitative and qualitative analysis.
- Experience managing projects and implementing process improvements.
- Experience in providing subject matter guidance, consultation and leadership to program staff.
- Experience in writing reports for diverse audiences including senior and executive management; developing and interpreting policies, statues, and regulations.
- Preference will be given to applicants with experience in data analysis.
Additional Information:
- Applicants must provide information relevant to the required experience for this position in the special training/skills/qualifications and/or job history sections of the State of Texas job application. ALL fields on the application must be COMPLETED. This includes, but is not limited to, previous salary, previous supervisor, and reason for leaving previous position.
- Candidates invited for an interview are required to bring two writing samples in conjunction with a paid employment position listed in their application. One sample must be a report on project planning activities and/or projected results, the second must be a presentation communicating results of workgroup activities or project initiatives, directions for assignments or new initiatives, and/or other complex information.
- Candidates may also be given a analytical assessment at the interview.
- If selected, candidate must be able and willing to provide current and previous work references before a final offer of employment is extended.
- Resumes are not accepted in lieu of the State of Texas job application.
- Agency salary policy, program area budget, and a candidate’s qualifications will dictate final salary offer.
- PLEASE NOTE: This position is not 100% remote. This position will be required in accordance with agency telework policy, presently at least two days per week, to report in person to 4900 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78751.
MOS Code:
SEI15 8852 8870
As a state agency, DFPS is required Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS 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.
