Policy and Special Projects Coordinator

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Job Description:

Performs advanced (senior level) and complex project management work associated with service delivery rules, policy, and regulations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. Work involves coordinating the planning, initiation, and completion of diverse projects at various levels of completion, monitoring the progress and schedule of projects, and communicating with project stakeholders, management, and other relevant parties. May direct, assign, and evaluate work of project staff. Develops and implements plans to communicate project methodology and processes to interested groups and team members. Identifies potential project risks and difficulties and designs strategies to mitigate or avoid them. Compiles, tracks, and distributes project information, status reports, and budget expenditures. Coordinates project activities with other state agencies, governmental jurisdictions, or private sectors partners and contractors. May oversee multiple projects concurrently. Identifies issues, resolves problems, and initiates projects for program improvement in alignment with goals and objectives. Serves as a liaison/point of contact for internal and external stakeholders. Coordinates state legislative activity for the WIC Program, including bill review and tracking, writing bill analyses and cost estimates in collaboration with Program subject matter experts, and reporting on legislative impacts. Monitors federal legislative activity that impacts the WIC Program. May testify before legislative and interested groups on project status and other issues of public interest.  Applies extensive knowledge of rules and federal regulations governing the WIC program, nutrition services delivery issues and trends. Applies advanced skills in policy analysis and the drafting and revision of policies and procedures. Works under general direction of the WIC Strategic Initiatives Manager and the Program Services Unit Director, with extensive latitude for use of initiative and independent judgment. Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

Essential Job Functions:

(20%) Oversees the preparation of the annual WIC State Plan grant submission to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), including project planning, stakeholder engagement, and coordination with WIC subject matter experts (SMEs). Coordinates with the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Federal Funds Office as applicable for submission of State Plans and other grant initiatives. Provides highly advanced consultative services regarding WIC regulations. Oversees small project planning for writing and revision of WIC operating policies and procedures, coordinates with SMEs as needed to identify procedural gaps, makes technical suggestions for policy and procedures, and ensures compliance with state and/or federal requirements and document accessibility requirements.

(20%) Coordinates special projects for the WIC Program; leads the response to and implementation of special requests and assignments from the WIC Director, the Family Health Services Department, or the Chief Program and Services Office.  Examples include participation in task forces, committees, inter- and intra-agency work groups, leading and facilitating work groups as needed, composing, and editing complex reports, and developing project charters. Initiates special project grant applications and leads the implementation, ongoing management, and evaluation of grant projects. Represents the WIC Program related to all policy development and enhancement of client service delivery. Provides complex, advanced technical assistance, and subject matter expertise to others as applicable to the project including assessments of compliance with rules, laws, and regulations, identification of issues, and implementation of solutions. Identifies and evaluates service delivery integration/coordination opportunities and issues. Makes recommendations for program adjustments in policy to meet the parameters of the project. Makes recommendations and leads the implementation of operational changes in compliance with state and federal law. Develops complex and detailed reports regarding WIC services and activities, overseeing the progress on goals and objectives and cost/benefit analyses. Leads the evaluation of projects to assess effectiveness and program trends or barriers. Conducts presentations to internal and external stakeholders.

(20%) Serves as liaison/point of contact for the WIC Program to USDA Southwest Regional Office, the National WIC Association,  the Texas Association of Local WIC Directors (TALWD), other State agencies and other Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) Offices/Departments including the Chief Program and Services Office, Family Health Services Department, HHSC Office of Chief Council Open Records Office and Legal Services Division, HHSC Federal Funds Office, HHSC Records Management Office, HHSC Rules Coordination Office, and the HHSC Office of Inspector General (IG) relating to WIC rules and policy.

(20%) Oversees state legislative activity for the WIC Program, including bill review and tracking, writing bill analyses and cost estimates in collaboration with Program SMEs, and reporting on legislative impacts. Monitors federal legislative activity that impacts the WIC Program. Oversees and ensures timely responses to all requests by legislators (state and federal) and other public officials, such as the United States Department of Agriculture. Leads the implementation and evaluation of legislative mandates, regulations and laws. May serve as a resource witness for the WIC Program at legislative committee hearings. Oversees and leads the implementation of program delivery changes after each reauthorization of the WIC program by the US Congress via amendments to the Child Nutrition Act (42 USC).

(15%) Oversees and coordinates with Unit and Branch Managers all activities related to Management Evaluations conducted by USDA, including the development of formal response and corrective action plans to address findings. Oversees and leads the implementation of WIC Program Sunset Review assignments. Oversees all rulemaking for the Texas Administrative Code.  Oversees formal rule response projects that document the agency response to proposed and enacted federal rules that impact the WIC Program. Oversees the program response to all subpoenas and coordinates with local providers to ensure client confidentiality is maintained and upheld when subpoenas are served at the local level. Serves as the Office Records Management Coordinator, which includes maintaining the WIC Program’s USDA, legal, and policy files and responding to requests for public information. 

(5%) Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate pattern shift assignment and or location.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required:

Knowledge of project management theories and practices applicable to projects that may be highly complex in scope; and local, state, and federal laws and regulations relevant to the administration of the project.

Knowledge of health and human service programs, services, and procedures.

Knowledge of local, state, and federal rules, policies, regulations, and laws relating to WIC.

Knowledge of the process for formal rulemaking in Texas.

Knowledge of policy and procedure development, implementation, evaluation and maintenance.

Knowledge of writing in plain language and document accessibility requirements.

Skill in project management monitoring, in addressing changes in scope and budget, and in the use of computer and applicable software.

Skill in communicating knowledge effectively to a variety of audiences, both verbally and in writing.

Skill in teamwork and in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with people at various levels of expertise.

Skill in developing, evaluating, implementing, and interpreting policies, procedures, and rules.

Skill in writing analyses, proposals, plans, policies, procedures, standards, and reports.

Skills in formatting documents to meet accessibility standards.

Skill in problem solving, conflict resolution, and negotiation.

Ability to manage project activities; to establish project goals and objectives; to exercise sound judgement in making critical decisions; to analyze complex information and develop plans to address identified issues; to demonstrate negotiation and facilitation skills; to identify project risks and gaps; to prepare reports; to communicate effectively; and to direct, assign, and evaluate the work of project team members.

Ability to work under limited supervision, exercise independent judgment, set priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to shifting technical and political developments in an environment of broad consultative management.

Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and evaluate multiple projects, often concurrently.

Ability to plan, organize, schedule, assign, and monitor completion of assigned projects.

Ability to lead diverse teams, often with competing priorities.

Ability to present information to a variety of audiences, verbally and in writing, and to communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively.

Ability to adapt to change or modify behavior in response to changes in situations or priorities.

Ability to analyze systems and procedures.

Ability to gather, assemble, correlate, and analyze facts; to devise solutions to problems and prepare concise yet often complex reports.

Ability to produce quality work within short deadlines.

Initial Selection Criteria:

• Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university (experience may substitute for education on a year-to-year basis). Master’s degree in public affairs, public health, or related field preferred.

• Two years of experience working in nutrition or public health policy analysis, including researching, interpreting, and analyzing complex federal and state policies and legislation.

• One year of experience performing project support or project management functions at a local, state, or federal government, or healthcare or non-profit organization.

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Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

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.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS 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.

Pre-Employment Checks and Work Eligibility:

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer:

This position may be eligible for telework.  Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.