What are the responsibilities and job description for the Senior Policy Advisor position at Harris County?
Precinct One’s Mission
Precinct One, Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ Office, is committed to becoming a national model for delivering responsive public service that utilizes inclusive, innovative, and collaborative approaches to improve the quality of life, advance equality of opportunity, and promote the fair treatment of all people in Harris County.
What you will do at Precinct One
All Policy Division team members are responsible for advancing, developing, and defending policies consistent with the Precinct One mission. Policy Advisors will conduct research and analysis, draft policy briefs and recommendations, monitor and track developments, organize relevant stakeholders, and propose and implement strategic plans in relevant areas of public policy to aid in advancing reforms.
Senior Advisors must be able to fulfill all policy advising expectations with a high level of proficiency and may be responsible for supervising other Policy team members. Responsibilities include:
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Develop subject matter expertise in assigned policy issue areas.
- Develop and execute monitoring, tracking, outreach, and engagement plans for assigned issue areas.
- Report and communicate important national, state, and local trends and developments in issue spaces (and provide recommendations related policy challenges and opportunities) to leadership in timely manner.
- Perform quality policy research and analysis efficiently and thoroughly.
- Design and develop actionable policy solutions to enhance the quality of life for all Harris County residents.
- Utilize strategic communications to inform key constituencies, advance and defend key policy priorities, complex policy information clearly and concisely to relevant target audiences.
- Develop and implement strategic advocacy efforts plans to advance and defend policy priorities.
- Engage with stakeholders, teammates, and decision makers – including residents, issue area experts, staff of other elected offices, etc. – in a professional and diplomatic manner to advance and defend organizational priority initiatives
- Supervise, coach, develop, and hold accountable direct reports to equip them with skills to effectively meet team expectations and standards.
- Embody the values of Commissioner Ellis’ office and the Policy team, including a strong work ethic, collaborative environment, and steadfast commitment to team and office missions.
Policy Division Mission and Goals
The Policy Division develops, advances, and protects equitable and effective public policies that enhances the quality of life of all Harris County residents. Advancing equity, fairness, and justice for all depends on creating policies that dismantle oppressive and discriminatory structures; engaging, organizing, and empowering the communities we serve as we develop and enact polices; developing and implementing strategic advocacy efforts to advance policy reforms; and effectively communicating and demonstrating the importance and impact of our collective work to our entire community.
- Advancing more effective and equitable criminal justice system
- Furthering economic justice, equity, and opportunity for all Harris County residents, especially those often and historically left behind by government programs.
- Ensuring equitable outcomes in health and access to quality, affordable healthcare
- Fighting for environmental and climate justice that keeps all communities safe and healthy
- Equitably investing in developing and maintaining resilient infrastructure and transportation for the 21st century
- Building and defending voting rights and a democracy that ensures equitable representation
- Progressing equity and social and racial justice as common threads through all areas of public policy
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
What you will bring to Precinct One
Education:
Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
Experience:
- Relevant work experience in field or organization that requires policy analysis and research skills, with experience synthesizing complex information through memos, reports and proposals
- Demonstrated experience managing staff at different levels of experience, as part of a collaborative team
- Significant experience managing multiple competing projects and deadlines
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing equity and justice, consistent with the mission of the Office of Commissioner Ellis
- Experience developing and implementing strategic advocacy campaigns, especially on social justice issues aligned with Precinct One policy priorities
- Experience working in or closely with government offices at the local, state or federal level
- Experience conducting research, policy design and/or advocacy in at least one of the following policy areas: criminal justice, public safety, health, housing, community development, infrastructure resilience and disaster recovery, urban planning/transportation, environmental justice and climate change, economic equity and opportunity, and public finance and budgeting
- Embodies Precinct values and culture and steadfast commitment to the Precinct and Policy team missions.
- Exceptional leadership, coaching and management skills.
- Highly proficient in strategic policy communications.
- Highly proficient in strategic policy issue advocacy plan development and implementation
- Possesses excellent written and verbal communication skills. Has the ability to translate complex concepts into plain oral or written language. Writes in a clear, concise, organized, and convincing manner for the intended audience.
- Exceptional project management skills to manage multiple priorities simultaneously and make judgements on how to allocate time.
- Has a high level of flexibility in fast-paced environments, and is proactive, self-motivated, and mission-driven. Deals effectively with pressure, remains persistent even under adversity, and recovers quickly from setbacks.
- Encourages a respectful and collaborative work environment that recognizes and celebrates diversity, equity, and inclusion.
- Has ability to develop and create successful working relationships with staff of organizations, partners, grant makers, grantees, and other elected officials at every level throughout Harris County, Texas, and the United States.
- Demonstrates awareness and respect for cross-cultural differences and creates innovative and inclusive programmatic solutions.
- Proficiency in Microsoft software applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Education:
Masters Degree from an accredited college or university (e.g. Master of Public Policy, Master of Public Administration, or Juris Doctor - preferred)
- Highly proficient in quantitative and/or data analytic skills (preferred)
Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:
- Full-time | Regular
- Monday - Friday | Evenings and weekend will be required at times.
- This position includes standard office work which may require remaining stationary and working at a computer workstation for extended periods.
You will be surrounded by coworkers who bring their best daily. Passionate people who want to make a difference in the communities Precinct One serves and Harris County as a whole. You will be in a mission-driven organization surrounded by colleagues who bring their best to work each day and collaborate to make a difference in the communities Precinct One serves along with Harris County as a whole.
Harris County employees receive a competitive salary plus medical, dental and vision insurance at no cost to the employee after the first two months of full-time continued employment. Vacation, sick time and floating holidays allow our employees to recharge and balance work and personal time. Mandatory participation in our retirement program allows employees to save for retirement. Various other benefits and discounts lead to the satisfaction and engagement of our employees.
There are four precincts in Harris County. The four elected commissioners, along with an elected county judge, serve as members of Harris County Commissioners Court, the administrative head of the county’s government. Commissioner Rodney Ellis represents the constituents of Precinct One.
With approximately 1.17 million residents, Harris County Precinct One is a diverse, urban precinct that covers 363 square miles. Precinct One’s multi-racial, multi-ethnic population is roughly 33 percent African American, 38 percent Latino, 21 percent Anglo, 6 percent Asian and 2 percent other or multiple races.
Precinct One stretches south to Brazoria County and reaches into eastern and northern sections of Harris County. The Precinct’s territory includes a large section of Downtown Houston, including the Downtown Harris County Courthouse Complex, Toyota Center, Minute Maid Park and the BBVA Compass Stadium. Other notable landmarks include the 263-acre NRG Park Complex and the renowned Texas Medical Center. The Precinct is also the higher educational home to Houston Community College, Rice University, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston and the University of St. Thomas. Precinct One manages more than 21 parks, 10 community centers, numerous hike-and-bike trails, three maintenance service centers and several area offices, all of which provide an array of services to Precinct One residents.
How to apply
If this job sounds interesting, you meet the required qualifications and you can see yourself working for Precinct One, we invite you to apply.
https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.
Salary : $49,920
