Deputy Director, Special Projects

Organization: TEXAS EDUCATION AGENCY

Position Overview: The Curriculum Standards and Student Support Division’s Special Projects team carries out the State Board of Education’s review and revision process for the K-12 curriculum standards known as the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills, or TEKS. The Director of Special Projects coordinates the work of the special projects team and performs advanced managerial work, including providing direction, guidance, and leadership in the strategic planning and coordination of activities related to general curriculum law and rule, particularly with respect to Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 74, and the state graduation requirements. Additionally, this position’s work includes composing, editing, and reviewing advanced technical documents such as bill analyses, legislative reports, SBOE agenda items, internal and external policy communications, and curriculum standards.

The Director of Special Projects reports to the Senior Director of the Curriculum Standards and Students Support Division within the Office of School Programs, closely partnering with the division’s management team and staff from other divisions to provide support and guidance for programs required by state law or rule. The director will also be responsible for planning, supervising, and evaluating the work of approximately 5 team members.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, tailored cover letter, 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. Curriculum Standards Review and Adoption: Effectively leads, trains supports, and guides the administration of the State Board of Education’s TEKS review and revision process to develop and maintain high-quality content standards. Maintains calendar of TEKS reviews and trains staff for project specific tasks.
2. Stakeholder Engagement and Technical Support: Leads outreach, engagement, and communication events and activities in support of collaboration and support for key stakeholders. Works with staff to support budget, reimbursements, contracts, and travel. Oversees changes to website.
3. Legislative and SBOE Support: Effective leads, guides, and supports work during and between legislative sessions, including completing and reviewing bill analyses and preparing reports and responses to legislative requests, and coordinating activities related to SBOE meetings, including agenda item development and preparation of agenda items and supporting documents for meetings. Assists deputy director in organizing project planning.
4. Curriculum Programs: Provides direction, clarification, and oversight of communications and resources to support the implementation of curriculum-related programs, initiatives, and activities including TSDS PEIMS data elements, the academic achievement record, and machine-readable TEKS.
5. Team Management and Supervision: Leads, supervises, and develops a team of approximately 5 employees and ensures staff has the necessary resources to meet all performance management expectations.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in the administration, management, and direction of education programs, professional development, and/or curriculum development
• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience

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
• Ability to direct and organize program activities and establish program goals and objectives that support the program area
• Experience planning, assigning, and supervising the work of others
• Experience with project management and program evaluation techniques and tools
• Advanced skill in data analysis and maintaining and working with databases and tracking systems
• In-depth knowledge of academic standards
• In-depth knowledge of education law and rule including about current state graduation requirements with direct knowledge of Texas Education Code, Chapter 28, and Texas Administrative Code, Chapter 74 preferred
• Understanding of and ability to communicate intent of state law and rule and to predict possible impact of proposed policy changes and to provide unbiased guidance and information to the public regarding issues related to kindergarten-grade 12 education
• Effective and professional verbal and written communication skills aligned with accepted styles and guidelines, including developing appropriate guidance documents and effective presentations and effectively reviewing and editing the written work of others
• Ability to foster effective working relationships with a variety of individuals and groups, internal and external to TEA

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.

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.

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