APS Policy Specialist

WHY WORK FOR DFPS?

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 citizens of Texas. DFPS is not only a qualifying organization for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program but also offers excellent health benefits, special discounts on many products and services through the Discount Purchase Program, longevity pay, generous paid leave, access to the Wellness program, lifetime retirement annuity, Texa$aver 401(k) and 457 Programs under the Employees Retirement System of Texas.

Functional Title: APS Policy Specialist 
Job Title: Program Specialist VI 
Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc 
Department: APS Performance & Policy Dev 
Posting Number: 7440 
Closing Date: 08/11/2025 
Posting Audience: Internal and External 
Occupational Category: Protective Services 
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-23 
Salary Range: $5,098.66 - $8,304.83 
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Shift: Day 
Additional Shift:  
Telework: Not Eligible for Telework 
Travel: Up to 50% 
Regular/Temporary: Regular 
Full Time/Part Time: Full time 
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt 
Facility Location:  
Job Location City: AUSTIN 
Job Location Address: 4900 N LAMAR BLVD 
Other Locations: Abilene; Alamo; Alice; Alpine; Alvin; Amarillo; Anahuac; Andrews; Angleton; Anson; Aransas Pass; Archer City; Arlington; Athens; Atlanta; Austin; Bacliff; Ballinger; Bandera; Bastrop; Bay City; Baytown; Beaumont; Bedford; Beeville; Bellville; Big Spring; Boerne; Bonham; Borger; Bowie; Brady; Breckenridge; Brenham; Brownfield; Brownsville; Brownwood; Bryan; Burnet; Caldwell; Cameron; Canton; Canutillo; Carlsbad; Carrizo Springs; Carrollton; Carthage; Center; Centerville; Childress; Clarksville; Cleburne; Cleveland; Coldspring; Columbus; Conroe; Copperas Cove; Corpus Christi; Corsicana; Crockett; Crosby; Crystal City; Cuero; Cypress; Daingerfield; Dallas; Decatur; Del Rio; Denton; Dickinson; Dumas; Duncanville; Eagle Pass; Eastland; Edinburg; El Paso; Elgin; Elsa; Ennis; Fabens; Falfurrias; Floresville; Fort Stockton; Fort Worth; Fredericksburg; Gainesville; Galveston; Garland; Gatesville; Georgetown; Giddings; Gilmer; Goliad; Gonzales; Graham; Granbury; Grand Prairie; Grapevine; Greenville; Hallettsville; Hamilton; Harlingen; Haskell; Hearne; Hemphill; Hempstead; Henderson; Hereford; Hillsboro; Hondo; Houston; Humble; Huntsville; Hurst; Irving; Jacksonville; Jasper; Johnson City; Jourdanton; Karnes City; Katy; Kaufman; Kerrville; Killeen; Kingsville; Kingwood; Kirbyville; La Grange; Lake Jackson; Lake Worth; Lamesa; Lampasas; Lancaster; Laredo; Levelland; Lewisville; Liberty; Linden; Littlefield; Livingston; Llano; Lockhart; Longview; Lubbock; Lufkin; Lumberton; Madisonville; Marble Falls; Marfa; Marlin; Marshall; Mcallen; Mckinney; Mercedes; Meridian; Mesquite; Mexia; Midland; Mineola; Mineral Wells; Mission; Monahans; Mount Pleasant; Mount Vernon; Nacogdoches; Navasota; New Boston; New Braunfels; Odessa; Orange; Palestine; Pampa; Paris; Pasadena; Pearland; Pearsall; Pecos; Perryton; Pharr; Pittsburg; Plainview; Plano; Pollok; Port Arthur; Port Lavaca; Presidio; Quitman; Raymondville; Refugio; Richardson; Richmond; Rio Grande City; Robstown; Rockwall; Rosenberg; Round Rock; Rowlett; Rusk; San Angelo; San Antonio; San Benito; San Juan; San Marcos; San Saba; Schertz; Seguin; Seminole; Seymour; Sherman; Silsbee; Sinton; Snyder; Socorro; Sonora; South Houston; Stephenville; Sugar Land; Sulphur Springs; Sweetwater; Taylor; Temple; Terrell; Texarkana; Texas City; The Woodlands; Tomball; Trinity; Tyler; Uvalde; Van Horn; Vernon; Victoria; Waco; Washington; Watauga; Waxahachie; Weatherford; Webster; Weslaco; Wharton; Wichita Falls; Woodville; Zapata 
MOS Codes: No direct military equivalent. 
 
 
 

Brief Job Description:

The position reports to the Policy Manager for Adult Protective Services and performs highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work, requiring specialized knowledge in the development and achievement of the goals of the Adult Protective Services program. The position serves as an APS Policy Specialist and is a member of the APS Policy Team.
Work involves developing plans and policies, establishing objectives, developing procedures and priorities for accomplishing them, and organizing program activities, analyzing their outcomes and producing complex documents. The position appropriately handles sensitive or confidential information and trains others. The position provides information and serves as an expert resource regarding Adult Protective Services policies, practices, and strategic issues to other professionals and lay persons in order to further the interests of the program. The position interacts routinely with Texas Department of Family and Protective Services staff, including state office managers, state office directors, district directors, program administrators, and supervisors; legislative staff; external organizations and groups; other state and federal agencies; and the general public.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs):

• Uses analytical thinking to research and draft changes to statute, rule, policy, procedure, and other related documents. Demonstrates a strong ability to analyze programmatic problems and reach logical conclusions. Develops drafts which are well researched using a variety of resources such as management expectations, legal opinions, field input, relevant HHS programs, or APS programs from around the country. Produces well written letters, memos, policies and other documents with few grammatical errors in a timely manner. Demonstrates strong grammar and usage skills.
• Provides consultation and expert advice to APS staff, other agencies, organizations, and the public about APS statute, rule, policy, and procedure. Interacts routinely with district and state office APS staff, other state agencies, external stakeholder groups, and various other organizations. Responds quickly to all verbal and written communications. Ensures responses to questions from field staff and external stakeholders are correct, clear, and thorough. When serving as a liaison to a group outside APS, keeps internal stakeholders informed of developments affecting their job functios. Effectively communicates complex information in user-friendly terms.
• Serves as expert regarding program policy, procedures, and best practice. Serves as a subject matter expert and provides technical assistance, training, written guidelines, and interpretation of policy and procedures to both agency staff and external stakeholders.        
• Completes special projects as assigned by the APS Policy Manager and other members of the APS leadership team. Plans, organizes, and completes projects in the shortest, most efficient manner. Establishes clear project goals and objectives, including the timeframes for completing major milestones. Sets realistic timetable to keep projects on target and on time. Keeps management fully informed of a project’s progress. Ensures projects are completed according to established expectations for quality and timeliness. When deadlines must be renegotiated, ensures reasons for delay are clearly explained, and new deadlines are achievable.
• Analyzes legislation for impact on APS and related programs. Completes legislative assignments such as bill analysis, hearing reports and cost estimates. Analyzes legislation timely and thoroughly and reaches logical conclusions. Writes reports that clearly and effectively explain the analysis.
• Remains accountable for the successful completion of all required agency trainings. Successfully completes all required agency training outlined in policy and maintains current knowledge and professional development in support of the DFPS mission.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of APS State Office. Readily accepts additional duties to support state office and enhance agency goals.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

None required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

• Knowledge Texas laws relating to Adult Protective Services.
• Knowledge of Health and Human Services Commission programs and services.
• Knowledge of other DFPS programs and services.
• Knowledge of gerontology, the dynamics of the aging process, and special issues of people who are aged or having a disability.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships.
• Skill in effective verbal and written communication.
• Ability to apply a critical and analytical approach to problem solving and the ability to prioritize and mange multiple responsibilities.
• Ability to create and present information at training sessions, conferences, or legislative hearings.
• Ability to understand and explain new information effectively and quickly.
• Ability to manage short and long-term projects.

Initial Screening Criteria:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university. Five years of full-time experience in the field of protective, regulatory, or administrative services; or consultative, supervisory, managerial, social service, professional or technical work which must include: analysis of work problems having an administrative aspect and interpretation of complex written material; or planning, organizing, and coordinating requirements for support services or program operations where a wide range of demands are involved, including interpretation of complex written material or Texas Department of Protective Services experience.

Current employment at Texas Adult Protective Services is required.

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by 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. 

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS 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/DFPS 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.