What are the responsibilities and job description for the THECB - Assistant Commissioner II (College and Career Advising) position at TEXAS HIGHER EDUCATION COORDINATING BOARD?
THECB is observing a hybrid telecommuting schedule with employees required to be in the office at least two (2) days per week.
We are located at the George Herbert Walker Bush building located in the capitol complex at 1801 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701.
General Description:
The Assistant Commissioner for College and Career Advising performs highly advanced professional and managerial work involving all aspects of strategic leadership related to college and career advising for Texans in secondary school, higher education and the workforce. The Assistant Commissioner for College and Career Advising works closely with Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) staff and with partners across the state to develop effective and innovative strategies that support effective transitions into higher education. This position works under minimal supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. This position reports to the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs. This position will be expected to work collaboratively and closely with the Assistant Commissioners across the agency.
- Oversee the strategic development and continuous improvement of ApplyTexas, ensuring the platform meets the evolving needs of students, higher education institutions, and state agencies. Manage partnerships with educational institutions to enhance the user experience and ensure accessibility for all students applying to Texas higher education institutions.
- Lead the design, development, and management of My Texas Future, a statewide portal that supports Texans in preparing for higher education, in collaboration with key partners and agency leadership.
- Cultivate and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders, including K-12 institutions, higher education institutions, state agencies such as the Texas Workforce Commission and Texas Education Agency, and national organizations. Ensure these partnerships drive the development and implementation of innovative advising and career readiness strategies.
- Provide leadership for Texas OnCourse, a statewide initiative supporting advising professionals, ensuring the delivery of high-quality advising resources and the continuous alignment of the platform with college and career readiness goals across the state, in collaboration with key partners and leadership.
- Oversee the strategic implementation and expansion of the agency’s Direct Admissions initiative, ensuring the seamless integration of student academic records with institutional admissions processes to increase college enrollment and support pathways to higher education.
- Manage the continued development and deployment of ADVi, Texas' virtual advising platform, ensuring it remains a cutting-edge, scalable solution for providing personalized college and career advising to all students in the state.
- Provide strategic leadership for a combined portfolio of digital platforms, ensuring they are aligned with the broader goals of the agency and deliver innovative, data-driven solutions to support Texans.
- Develop and manage a statewide college and career advising strategy, overseeing digital product quality, program implementation, and continuous improvement processes for all initiatives, in consultation with key partners.
- Provide expertise and support to the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and work collaboratively with other THECB divisions, K12, institutions of higher education, and relevant state/national stakeholders on the development and adoption of strategies that increase student success in higher education enrollment and credential attainment.
- Direct and oversee development and review of policy related to effective advising strategies in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide strategic leadership and oversight to the college and career advising team, ensuring the effective implementation of statewide advising initiatives.
- Foster a high-performing, collaborative team that delivers innovative, data-driven solutions that align with the agency's goals. Manage and employ continual improvement processes for all division initiatives and activities.
- Conduct reviews of expenditures and contracts related to college and career advising initiatives on behalf of the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs and the agency.
- Monitor, track, and review state policy matters related to advising and assist the agency’s External Relations staff in providing information to key external stakeholders.
- Prepare materials for and delivers internal and external presentations on key education issues related to advising.
- Serve as an internal agency expert on national trends related to effective and scalable advising strategies.
- Manage strategic projects and initiatives to advance agency priorities.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
- Extensive knowledge of Texas higher education policies, laws, and advising and student success regulations.
- Understanding of the higher education structure in Texas, including the roles of the legislature, agencies, and institutions.
- Familiarity with accreditation protocols and practices relevant to advising strategies and student interventions.
- Knowledge of federal and national guidelines related to student advising and best practices.
- Experience leveraging technological solutions in service of improving student advising and success.
- Proficiency in using personal computers and general office software, including Microsoft Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access.
- Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to navigate politically sensitive situations and foster collaboration.
- Leadership and influence abilities, with a proven capacity to motivate and lead diverse teams and collaborative work groups.
- Strategic planning and execution skills, focusing on driving impactful initiatives aligned with the agency's goals.
- Effective interpersonal skills that promote unified strategies, project coordination, and measurable outcomes.
- Commitment to ambitious goals for postsecondary student success and workforce alignment.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills for engaging a wide range of stakeholders.
- Analytical abilities to gather, interpret, and present information while managing a diverse and complex workload.
- Dedication to consensus building and a team-oriented approach to problem-solving.
Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf
Required Minimum Education and Experience:
- Master’s degree from an accredited four‐year college or university.
- At least seven years of effective work experience related to college and career advising.
- Doctoral degree or professional graduate degree in public policy, business, education, or law.
Work is performed in a standard office environment and requires:
- Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at work.
- Frequent use of a personal computer, copiers, printers, and telephones.
- Frequent sitting; and
- Frequently works under deadlines, as a team member, and in direct contact with others.
Must be able to:
- Demonstrate knowledge of customer service deliverables.
- Show flexibility and adaptability toward changes in assignments and work schedules; and work extended hours as necessary.
- Adhere to the organization’s internal management policies and procedures.
- Contribute to the agency’s performance measures and mission; and
- Travel periodically for work assignments and trainings.
Application Requirements:
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer. A State of Texas application is required to apply. For more information on how to apply for this position, go to the Coordinating Board’s employment opportunities website at https://www.highered.texas.gov/careers/.
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board participates in E-Verify for each new employees’ Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For questions, please call the HR Department at 512-427-6190. For vocal and/or hearing assistance call 7-1-1.
Notes to Applicant:
If you require any reasonable accommodation for the interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls to schedule your interview. This position has been designated as a security sensitive position. A criminal background investigation will be conducted on the final candidate for this position.
Your job application must be completely filled out. Your application must contain dates of employment, job titles, name of employer and a description of duties performed in a way that demonstrates you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes do not take the place of the requirement to include this information on the application. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete.
Veterans Information: THECB is committed to hiring Veterans. To receive Veteran’s Preference, a copy of the FORM DD214 -member #4, must be attached when submitting your application.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: THECB does not discriminate on the basis, of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.
- Proof of education and experience listed on the application.
- Eligibility/authorization to work in the U.S.
- Satisfactory results from a pre-employment criminal history background check.
- Compliance with the Selective Service Law for males ages 18-25. Please be advised that under Texas law, names and other information concerning applicants or nominees may be subject to disclosure upon request.
THECB does not allow dual employment with other state of Texas agencies or institutions.
Skills assessment may be conducted at time of interview
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.
