COUNTY COMMISSIONER, PRECINCT 1 - SENIOR POLICY ADVISOR

Acceptable Experience and Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public or Business Administration, or a related field, from an accredited university or college, and five (5) years of experience in public policy and/or public sector administration in an administrator, financial, analytical, or consulting role in a large multi-functional organization, to include two (2) years of public policy research experience at an executive level; with two (2) years of supervisory experience. 

Or any equivalent combination of experience and training which provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.

Certificates, Licenses and other Requirements

Must have or obtain by date of hire a valid driver's license applicable to job responsibilities, with a driving record acceptable to the County of El Paso.

In order to access into the County’s network and systems, a personal smart device is required by the hire start date. 

Essential Duties

Plans and coordinates executive support functions and services for the office of the Elected Official; provides management of sensitive and confidential issues; assures that action items are properly processed, managed and resolved; prepares information necessary for administrative decisions and implementation of policies and decisions; interprets, communicates and applies rules, procedures and policies; answers questions where judgment, knowledge, and interpretation of the department policies, procedures, and regulations are necessary; 

As directed, participates in place of the Elected Official in serving on various County boards and committees as the County Representative, in serving as the Legislative liaison for the County to help prepare the County’s Federal and State legislative agendas and guidance documents; and in serving as the point of contact for the Office of Emergency Management;  

Proposes and negotiates terms of interlocal agreements on special projects assigned by the Elected Official;

Meets with the Elected Official to discuss issues and objectives, to determine strategies and approaches, and to brief on current activities and challenges;

Serves as project manager for high-profile projects out of the Elected Official’s Office or those in which the Elected Official’s Office is coordinating with other County Departments or external organizations; 

Anticipates and prepares material needed by the Elected Official for correspondence, appointments, meetings, and conferences; composes correspondence and other documents on a wide variety of subjects requiring knowledge of the procedures and policies of the County; creates, edits, prepares and processes complex and confidential correspondence, memoranda, letters, legal and technical research documents, information packets, and other communications; 

Meets with local, state, and federal government entities boards and commissions, non-profit organizations, constituent representative groups, and other citizen groups to discuss programs or inquiries, answers questions, addresses challenges and resolves issues which may arise in the course of daily business, including budget, personnel, customer service and other pertinent County program related issues;

Solicits agenda items and prepares meeting agendas, action item lists and presentation materials; may take and transcribe meeting minutes; prepares summaries for distribution; conducts and coordinates assigned projects and research studies; identifies and resolves problems; 
 

Directs activities, prioritizes, and develops schedules in order to meet critical deadlines; develops and recommends office procedures and systems; assures efficient office operations to support departmental activities; trains and oversees the activities of other administrative support staff, including assigning and reviewing work, completing performance evaluations, and making recommendations on hiring, terminating, and discipline personnel; motivates administrative support staff;

Represents the Elected Official in various meetings, assisting with input and guidance to achieve an outcome that is beneficial to the greater good of the County, community and citizenry to include speaking in lieu of the Elected Official;

Prepares and maintains the Strategic and Marketing Plans for the Elected Official’s office, containing annual recommendations for short- and long-term resource development;  

Manages the promotion of the Elected Official’s office through e-marketing, website development and media appeal;

Monitors, analyzes and advises the Elected Official on legislation issues arising on the local, state, and federal level which pertain to or will impact County of El Paso, with particular emphasis upon actions of the Texas Legislature;

Advises the Elected Official on quality of life and major environmental conditions within and affecting the County of El Paso, especially projects involving current and proposed development of solar and alternative energy and water resources;

Advises the Elected Official on all disaster relief initiatives and homeland security issues arising within El Paso County;  

Develops and sustains relationships with community partners for potential funding opportunities or collaborative policy work;

Manages the establishment of benchmarks, performance targets, and reporting requirements for the office of the Elected Official;

Gathers, organizes, and summarizes information for the Elected Official’s reports; prepares various routine and complex reports, tables, graphs and statistical summaries;

Communicates and coordinates regularly with appropriate individuals and groups to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of intergovernmental operations and activities;

Serves as the point of phone or personal contact for outside agencies, other county departments and the general public concerning inquiries about programs, potential partnerships, and legislative agendas; 

Serves as the policy director and coordinator for the Office of the Elected Official, and as such assists in drafting and executing policy related to the priorities of the Elected Official;

Drafts, reviews, edits and distributes news releases, public service announcements and other information publications under the direction of the Elected Official; develops scripts, schedules, plans, and participates in press conferences, radio, and television interviews, and other media events; conducts research relative to priorities established by the Elected Official to include the development of written/verbal correspondence of any technical reports, briefs, news releases, white papers, etc., serves as spokesperson on specific items;

May act as a representative for executive management and serve as a liaison to other professional organizations and governmental entities;

Monitors issues and potential regulations locally and County wide;

As directed serves in an administrative capacity and/or represents the County’s interest at various meetings and conferences; conducts research and assists with coordinating program planning and the development of information materials; prepares and delivers various presentation and trainings;

Analyzes, designs and assists with the development of organizational and individual programs and processes that result in an effective and efficient workforce, increased revenues, reduction in expenditures, and/or improved operations;

Researches, writes and submits grant proposals for projects which fit the needs of special projects being initiated out of the Elected Official’s office;

Investigates and makes recommendations for addressing operational issues of medium to high complexity and/or sensitivity;

Builds and maintains mutually beneficial and cooperative relationships with local, state, and federal elected officials, legislators, key staff, governmental agencies and associations, and other key stakeholders on legislative priorities and matters of mutual concern through regular and issue-specific contact to achieve the County's future goals, to anticipate problems, and propose solutions;

Creates and implements complex strategies for promoting the County legislative program with local, state, and federal officials and the public; Works with interests within and outside the County to prevent the passage of legislation harmful to County interests;

May monitor legislative activity on the House and Senator floors for both the state and federal government; 

May handle long-term and short-term legislative planning for El Paso County;

May recommend strategies and tactics on bills and positions; 

May analyze, develop and initiate strategies for tracking and communicating issues which impact the County. Writes memoranda, action alerts, policy summaries and other communications based on issue progress;

May work with subject matter expects to draft legislative talking points for individuals who will be testifying before legislative committees; 

May work with internal County Elected and Appointed Officials, management and staff to develop strategies and goals to promote the interests of the County. Facilitates legislative policy development among interested parties;

During the legislative cycle, provides weekly (sometimes more frequent) updates, as necessary, to members of the Commissioners Court and other county staff on all legislative action impacting El Paso County; 

May develop a legislative calendar leading up to the start of each state legislative session; 

Stays current on pending and upcoming legislative issues;

Identifies resource needs regarding legislative topics i.e. joining new associations like the National Association of Counties, Texas Border Coalition, etc., that help address El Paso County’s legislative needs.;

May oversee the preparation, reviewing and monitoring of contracts regarding legislative software, state and federal lobbying efforts, or related situations;
 

May conduct sensitive, high-level negotiations on critical and controversial legislative issues, many of which have significant financial impact on the County;

May work with department heads and elected officials in the creation and continual updating of the Continuity of Operations Plans for each department; 

May serve as the primary point of contact with the Office of Emergency Management;

May participate in any activation of the Emergency Operations Center during emergencies or high-profile events e.g. Pope’s Visit, weather related conditions, etc.;

May work with the Sheriff’s Department on ensuring the safety of employees and patrons of Courthouse facilities via trainings and mock exercises;

May work with County departments to create and update the County’s Emergency Notifications System in collaboration with the 911 District; 

May monitor and brief the Commissioners Court on drought conditions and any action that my need to be taken i.e. fireworks use/possession/sale;

Substitutes, if assigned, during temporary absences by performing delegated duties sufficient to maintain continuity of normal operations;

Commits self to providing excellent customer service and demonstrate commitment through cooperative team and individual efforts; and

Creates a high-quality work culture through participation in and emphasis on training and mentoring to develop leadership, management, and technical skills in self and all employees, including safety related training and skills.

Other Important Duties*

Performs such other related duties as may be assigned; 

Work extended hours and weekends as an executive employee reporting to the Elected Official; 

Regular out of town travel for professional conferences and meetings;

Maintains a safe and healthy work place environment; and

As members of the County of El Paso Emergency Response System, all El Paso County employees are designated as Disaster Service Workers during a proclaimed emergency and may be required to train on emergency response and/or perform certain emergency services. 

Summary of Position

The Senior Policy Advisor provides highly responsible, complex, non-routine and often confidential executive administrative and policy support to the Elected Official. The incumbent is responsible for providing strategic vision and tactical direction for the effective development, implementation and attainment of the goals and operations of the Elected Official’s Office. The incumbent is also responsible for scheduling and overseeing the daily operations of the office, supervising, and performing a variety of tasks related to the department needs.

Organizational Relationships

Reports to: County Judge or Commissioner, as assigned.

Directs:        Supervises Public Policy Analyst, clerical staff, interns, and volunteers, as  

assigned.  
 

Other:          Has frequent contact with other governmental entities, organizations, community  

groups, media, elected officials, department heads, county employees, and the general public.

Minimum Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Knowledge of: Executive-level administrative responsibilities processes and procedures; current legislative, political, and economic trends in governmental activities; principles and practices of supervision and training;English methods and standards for preparing business correspondence; methods, principles, practice, techniques and objectives of public information and effective media communication in political, community and crisis environments; principles and practices of supervision and training;business English, spelling and grammar; fundamental principles of accounting and budgeting; Federal, state, and County regulations related to the functions of the office; basic and specialized computer applications involving word processing, data entry and report generation; records management principles and record keeping practices; principles and practices of effective customer service; County organization, operations, policies and procedures to provide wide-ranging, highly effective support to the office of the Elected Official. Skill/Ability to: Successfully coordinate a variety of administrative functions; assess and prioritize multiple tasks, projects and demands; communicate effectively in verbal and written forms; speak publicly in English and preferably Spanish; maintain a high level of confidentiality and discretion in carrying out the varied and routine duties and responsibilities of the position; use initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; handle people tactfully and courteously, and answer questions within the scope of authority and confidentiality; schedule, supervise, train and evaluate assigned staff; compose radio and television scripts, write reports and compose letters; work independently and as a team member, maintaining composure, and working effectively in a high-pressure environment with changing priorities; read, understand, and apply relevant rules, ordinances, codes, regulations, policies, procedures, and administrative orders; collecting data, analyzing information, and making logical conclusions based on facts; interpreting a variety of technical instructions and program requirements; prepare and write reports and business correspondence; meet critical time deadlines; demonstrate computer skills in working with word processing, spreadsheet and email software; search and maintain records and computer files to promote the missions and achieve the goals of the office of the Elected Official; and establish and maintain cooperative and effective relationships with those contacted during the course of work. Pass a Criminal Background Check; Bilingual (English-Spanish) preferred. 

Each and every county position requires the following professional skills and abilities as key and

necessary elements of performance: 

• Demonstrate regular and reliable attendance;
• Work well with others and participate fully in a team-oriented environment;
• Interface with other employees and customers in a courteous and respectful manner;
• Maintain strict confidentiality;
• Project positive support of their department and all county organizations at all times; and,
• Maintain and enhance the County’s commitment to customer service excellence.

Salary : $99,523