Special Projects Manager

Location : Austin, TX

Job Type : Full Time

Remote Employment : Flexible / Hybrid

Job Number : 24-09667

Department : County Judge

Opening Date : 12 / 23 / 2024

Closing Date : 1 / 23 / 2025 11 : 59 PM Central

Job Summary

Provides specialized support for the Travis County Judge in the execution of responsibilities in the operation of County government. Serves as liaison between other officials, County personnel, attorneys, state and local government officials and the general public. As a member of the County Judge's Policy Team, the Special Projects Manager will assist in developing and implementing the County Judge's policy agenda. Lead and oversee special project events supporting the County Judge's policy agenda. Track constituent concerns raised via email, phone, public events, or other methods of communication. Develop new methods for constituent outreach to promote and inform the direction of the County Judge's actions, policy, and advocacy. Responsible for leading specific constituent outreach and tracking initiatives. Resolves problems and issues by conducting research, analyzing and developing action-oriented strategies, assisting constituents seeking information or assistance. Serves as the primary advisor to the County Judge and Chief of Staff in all areas of constituent services and manages public events as assigned from conception to completion.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This is a job in the Professional Support job family. This position is distinguished by the amount of organization independence for both actions and decision-making and by the level of supervision, as well as the experience required. This classification will participate in project teams involving various levels of internal and external participants and collaborate to deliver results. This role will develop, maintain, and communicate project documentation, including schedules, milestones, notices, and corresponding budgets. This classification may require a flexible work schedule to meet the needs of the Travis County Corporations.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Produces memos and briefs for the County Judge, including applicable constituent concerns, trends and frameworks to ensure that advice, policy development, service delivery reforms, and major initiatives are reflective of current best practices.
• Advises the County Judge on departmental and precinct-level requests that come before Commissioners Court, including weekly agenda items.
• Monitors Commissioners Court meetings and assists in related functions. Coordinates departmental activities by informing all parties involved in proceedings. Prepares resolutions, proclamations, office correspondence and agenda requests. Reviews incoming correspondence and recommends actions that require decisions.
• Manages and coordinates related stakeholder advisory committees to advance key policy initiatives.
• Assists in developing the County Judge's positions on emerging constituent and policy matters and collaborate with the Communications Team to create materials that effectively convey these positions.
• Develops and maintains collaborative relationships with County agency and department staff, community partners, and other stakeholders on key county-wide initiatives and programs.
• Delivers clear, effective, and strategic communication, including briefing materials and presentations, to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders.
• Represents the County Judge in conversations with constituents, county employees, and other employees.
• Evaluates and coordinates and serves as project manager overseeing special projects. Monitors project issues, and reviews plans and strategies for future project planning requirements.
• Responds to constituents' needs and updates the County Judge on issues affecting the County. Responds to constituents seeking information or assistance from the official or department head or County government. May conduct field visits and prepares reports on findings related to projects and activities. May serve as liaison to other governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations, and on boards and commissions.
• Provides outstanding customer service and organizes memorable events that meet high quality expectations. Serves as an effective event manager be being detail oriented in the production of events from conception through to completion.
• Develops tracking system for constituent needs. Respond to constituents' needs and update the County Judge on issues affecting the County. Follows up on constituent issues and keeps files related to constituent issues. Reports outcome of constituent issues back to constituents. May conduct field visits and prepares reports on findings related to projects and activities. Serves as a liaison to other governmental and nongovernmental agencies and organizations, and on boards and commissions.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience :

Bachelor's degree in government, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND five (5) years of responsible administrative experience in a service-oriented organization.

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements :

None required.

Preferred Requirements

Proven track record and relevant experience in one or more of the following areas : health and / or mental health policy, housing policy, resilience, urban planning, criminal justice policy, environmental policy, or public budgeting.

Knowledge of :

Skill in :

Ability to :

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift / carry up to 20-50 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to sitting, client / customer contact, standing, walking, vision to monitor, repetitive motion, stooping / kneeling, squatting, bending, and reaching to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions. This is not a remote position.

Work Hours : Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm

Department : County Judge

Location : 700 Lavaca St. , Austin, TX

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

Benefits

Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.

FY2025 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union

Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation

Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit

Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program

Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations

Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic

Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays

An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance

Employees may select from four plans : an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid :

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity

Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking

A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays

Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he / she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins :

January - March

3 personal holidays

April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday

October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.

Retirement

Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave

Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave

Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund

Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation

Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates :

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.

Workers' Compensation

The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.

Salary : $50,000