Department Specialist, Policy & Planning (Program Specialist IV)
- Texas Education Agency
- Austin, TX, USA
- May 05, 2026
Job Description
Organization: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY
Primary Location: Texas-Austin
Work Locations: Texas Education Agency (701TX-WBT) 1701 NORTH CONGRESS AVENUE Austin , 78701
Job: Office and Administrative Support
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
State Job Code: 1573
Salary Admin Plan: B
Grade: 20
Salary (Pay Basis): 4,263.16‐5,521.25(Monthly)
Number of Openings: 1
Overtime Status: Exempt
Job Posting: May 5, 2026, 12:33:47 AM
Closing Date: May 16, 2026, 7:59:00 AM
Description
MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
Core Values:
• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.
New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.
This is a 10-day posting, which will close on May 15, at 11:59pm.
Position Overview: The Texas Education Agency is responsible for oversight of the primary and secondary education of over 5.5 million students in Texas public schools. A strong, aligned strategic plan is critical to successfully achieving our vision to prepare the public-school students in Texas for success in college, career, or the military. The Division of Policy and Planning supports department of Educator Preparation, Certification, and Enforcement (EPCE) by leading rulemaking, policy development, and strategic planning efforts that are data driven, transparent, and aligned with statutory and agency priorities.
Reporting to the Director, Policy & Planning, the Department Specialist, Policy and Planning performs highly complex, senior level work supporting department operations. Work involves planning, supporting, and overseeing several functions such as human resources, budgeting, travel coordination, communications, Public Information Requests (PIRs), and complaints management. This person works under limited supervision with moderate latitude for independent judgment.
Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.
Please note that a resume 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.
1. Public Information Act Requests and Complaints management: Oversee PIR responses for EPCE department; Ensure responses are accurate and timely; Oversees, coordinates communications for Complaints Management in EPCE. Coordinate with PIR staff to ensure EPCE teammates are informed of updated legislation and agency policies.
2. Budget Management: Monitors and evaluates EPCE operational budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with priorities and compliance with agency and state fiscal requirements. Manage purchase requisitions, supply needs, payments and shipping.
3. Travel Coordination: Manage and Coordinate travel for the EPCE Senior Leadership Team and SBEC Board members; prepare Travel Authorization requests and Expense Reports for submission in a timely manner, provide TCAPPS support, and collaborate with TEA Travel to ensure agency rules and regulations are followed.
4. Operational Support: Support EPCE department's Human Resources functions such as recruitment, onboarding and onboarding processes in collaboration with division directors and TEA HR division. Coordinates department-wide employee engagement strategy. Promote team building and a positive workplace culture, assist with professional development opportunities. Oversee EPCE contributions to internal and external written communications such as newsletters, websites, social media, etc. Supports efforts to improve EPCE related content on TEA's website.
5. Special Projects: Completes projects related to agency initiatives including legislative implementation as assigned by the Unit Director and/or Associate Commissioner of EPCE. This involves initial project planning, ongoing progress monitoring and post-implementation project evaluation for Commissioner rules.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least two (2) years of experience in progressively responsible experience in managing an office, supporting executive staff, and financial management. Experience with MS Office Suite (SharePoint, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook 365) is required.
• Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
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
• Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of a computer and applicable software
• Knowledge of Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code provisions related to educator preparation, certification, investigations, and enforcement
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and prioritize staff workload and balance competing priorities
• The requirements and processes for adopting administrative rules
• Skill in effective oral and written communication of complex materials
• Ability to self-reflect and continuously improve; adapt to unexpected tasks and stressful situations
• Demonstrated ability to work under intense me pressure with competing priories
• Skill in effective management of multiple projects
• Demonstrated ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups
• A strong customer-service mindset with a focus on engaging both internal and external stakeholders
• Work under minimal supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment
As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.
To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.
This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.
To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Employment at TEA page .
No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "[email protected]" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.
Primary Location: Texas-Austin
Work Locations: Texas Education Agency (701TX-WBT) 1701 NORTH CONGRESS AVENUE Austin , 78701
Job: Office and Administrative Support
Employee Status: Regular
Schedule: Full-time
Standard Hours Per Week: 40.00
Travel: Yes, 5 % of the Time
State Job Code: 1573
Salary Admin Plan: B
Grade: 20
Salary (Pay Basis): 4,263.16‐5,521.25(Monthly)
Number of Openings: 1
Overtime Status: Exempt
Job Posting: May 5, 2026, 12:33:47 AM
Closing Date: May 16, 2026, 7:59:00 AM
Description
MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.
Core Values:
• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.
New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.
This is a 10-day posting, which will close on May 15, at 11:59pm.
Position Overview: The Texas Education Agency is responsible for oversight of the primary and secondary education of over 5.5 million students in Texas public schools. A strong, aligned strategic plan is critical to successfully achieving our vision to prepare the public-school students in Texas for success in college, career, or the military. The Division of Policy and Planning supports department of Educator Preparation, Certification, and Enforcement (EPCE) by leading rulemaking, policy development, and strategic planning efforts that are data driven, transparent, and aligned with statutory and agency priorities.
Reporting to the Director, Policy & Planning, the Department Specialist, Policy and Planning performs highly complex, senior level work supporting department operations. Work involves planning, supporting, and overseeing several functions such as human resources, budgeting, travel coordination, communications, Public Information Requests (PIRs), and complaints management. This person works under limited supervision with moderate latitude for independent judgment.
Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.
Please note that a resume 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.
1. Public Information Act Requests and Complaints management: Oversee PIR responses for EPCE department; Ensure responses are accurate and timely; Oversees, coordinates communications for Complaints Management in EPCE. Coordinate with PIR staff to ensure EPCE teammates are informed of updated legislation and agency policies.
2. Budget Management: Monitors and evaluates EPCE operational budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with priorities and compliance with agency and state fiscal requirements. Manage purchase requisitions, supply needs, payments and shipping.
3. Travel Coordination: Manage and Coordinate travel for the EPCE Senior Leadership Team and SBEC Board members; prepare Travel Authorization requests and Expense Reports for submission in a timely manner, provide TCAPPS support, and collaborate with TEA Travel to ensure agency rules and regulations are followed.
4. Operational Support: Support EPCE department's Human Resources functions such as recruitment, onboarding and onboarding processes in collaboration with division directors and TEA HR division. Coordinates department-wide employee engagement strategy. Promote team building and a positive workplace culture, assist with professional development opportunities. Oversee EPCE contributions to internal and external written communications such as newsletters, websites, social media, etc. Supports efforts to improve EPCE related content on TEA's website.
5. Special Projects: Completes projects related to agency initiatives including legislative implementation as assigned by the Unit Director and/or Associate Commissioner of EPCE. This involves initial project planning, ongoing progress monitoring and post-implementation project evaluation for Commissioner rules.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least two (2) years of experience in progressively responsible experience in managing an office, supporting executive staff, and financial management. Experience with MS Office Suite (SharePoint, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook 365) is required.
• Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.
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
• Skill in understanding and processing information, in the use of office equipment, and in the use of a computer and applicable software
• Knowledge of Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code provisions related to educator preparation, certification, investigations, and enforcement
• Demonstrated ability to recognize and prioritize staff workload and balance competing priorities
• The requirements and processes for adopting administrative rules
• Skill in effective oral and written communication of complex materials
• Ability to self-reflect and continuously improve; adapt to unexpected tasks and stressful situations
• Demonstrated ability to work under intense me pressure with competing priories
• Skill in effective management of multiple projects
• Demonstrated ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts
• Strong project management skills and attention to detail
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups
• A strong customer-service mindset with a focus on engaging both internal and external stakeholders
• Work under minimal supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment
As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.
To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.
This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.
To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Employment at TEA page .
No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "[email protected]" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.
About Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency is the state agency that oversees primary and secondary public education in the state of Texas. It helps deliver education to more than 5 million students.
The Texas Education Agency will improve outcomes for all public school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems
