Director, Technical Assistance & Performance

The Director, Technical Assistance & Performance is responsible for the leadership, management, and success of the Technical Assistance & Performance (TAP) Division within the Office of County Administration (OCA). The TAP team aims to be the trusted group for partnering with Harris County departments and divisions to solve some of the County's hardest problems and achieve truly impactful solutions to enhance the County's work and improve the lives of Harris County residents. The TAP Team partners with departments and divisions to help address problems or achieve solutions related to major priorities of Commissioners Court. Commissioners Court’s priority outcomes are focused on environment, flooding, housing, public health, transportation, justice and safety, economic opportunity, and governance and customer service.

The TAP team usually works with partners for several weeks or months to study an issue and any applicable data/documents, understand the relevant staff's strengths and needs, identify action steps and any additional resources/support needed, and then implement sustainable solutions through a flexible and adaptive process. The TAP Team also manages the Department Progress Meetings process with the Goal Area Committees (which are made up of Commissioners Court office staff) as well as departments’ Performance Measures reporting. In addition, the team provides ad hoc support to other divisions or departments as needed (e.g., supporting preparation of key Commissioners Court agenda items and related backup materials, supporting the newly established Fiscal Review process for requests for new funding, expanding departments’ access to and awareness of available resources within the County).

Harris County seeks a mission- and data-driven, service-oriented leader who can build and manage the TAP team and ensure the successful execution of the team’s projects. This role works closely with the OCA Executive Team, TAP team members, Commissioners Court office staff serving on Goal Area Committees, and department leadership and staff to identify and execute projects.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Project Execution: For each TAP team project, oversees the development, implementation, and refinement of a typically multi-week or -month process that includes project kickoff, assessment, brainstorming, work plan development, testing, implementation, reassessment, improvement, and sustainment.

• Communication: Regularly communicates with each TAP project team lead, partner department/division leadership, Commissioners Court staff, and the OCA Executive Team on project progress and to provide and gather feedback on an ongoing basis. Special attention should be given to communicating with partner department/division leadership to maintain alignment, discuss proposed changes or other updates, and respond to feedback quickly. 

• Collaboration: Identifies and acts on opportunities to leverage the expertise and resources of other supporting departments (HR, IT, etc.) to enhance project impact, and oversees the development of a Resource Bank for all County employees to access information about available resources, process-oriented best practices, and other useful information. 

• Performance Tracking: Oversees the TAP team’s work to drive preparation for Department Progress Meetings with the Goal Area Committees and to support departments’ monthly reporting on Performance Measures. 

• Team Leadership and Management: Manages division personnel, which includes training, hiring/firing, monitoring, and supporting work performance, mentoring, and conducting performance evaluations.

• Resource Allocation: Works with the Deputy County Administrator to manage the division’s budget and human resources efficiently and effectively.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.

  • One (1) year of relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education.

• Experience leading and driving meaningful improvements or launching new projects and programs, tracking performance of those improvements and new initiatives, adjusting based on changes and feedback, reporting results, and addressing roadblocks.

• Background in project management, process improvement, strategic planning, and/or innovation. 

• Demonstrated commitment to and track record of advancing equity, justice, diversity, and opportunity in operations and public policy design. 

• Demonstrated track record of managing complex projects and solving difficult problems involving various levels and teams within an organization.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Advanced knowledge of or ability to learn quickly about public policy, Texas county government operations, laws, statutes, functions, programs, and best practices for county operations.

• Knowledge of change management, project management, and team building principles. 

• Ability to prioritize assignments to meet Commissioners Court’s directives in a timely manner while managing staff workload levels. 

• Advanced knowledge of or ability to learn quickly about public policy, Texas county government operations, laws, statutes, functions, programs, and best practices for county operations. 

• Knowledge of change management, project management, and team building principles. 

• Ability to prioritize assignments to meet Commissioners Court’s directives in a timely manner while managing staff workload levels. 

• Ability to establish positive relationships, maintain the highest standard of professional and personal ethics and behavior, and accept and provide supervision. 

• Ability to drive organizational culture and build/manage a high-performing team. 

• Ability to provide counsel to, interface with, and obtain feedback from a diverse range of stakeholders, including at the leadership level.

• Ability to continuously learn about all County operations and Commissioners Court’s goals and objectives to ensure the department is providing the appropriate service support to other County departments and offices. 

• Ability to build, manage, and motivate a team with expertise in relevant areas, including, but not limited to, technical assistance, project management, problem solving, customer service, process improvement, and performance management. 

• Ability to work amidst ambiguity with a high level of emotional intelligence, curiosity, integrity, ethics, and transparency. 

• Ability to manage projects flexibly based on changing context, needs, information, and priorities.

• Strong customer/client service mindset focused on listening to and understanding project partners’ challenges, respecting their time through efficient conversations and clear and concise requests, and striving to solve problems to help County departments and divisions ultimately better serve the people of Harris County. 

• Highly skilled in oral and written communication, with excellent ability to review and edit memos, policy documents, process flows, reports, and other documents. 

• Skill in the use of Microsoft Office and project management applications.

Preferences:

• Graduate degree in Public Policy/Administration, Law, Organizational Psychology, Organizational Design, Business Administration, Social Sciences, or related field.

• Five (5) years’ experience managing multiple direct reports.

• Three (3) years’ experience working with or in Texas county government or other government agencies in Texas.

General Information:

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work:

• Regular Full-time | This position may work from home periodically, as workload allows.

• Monday – Friday | Hours will be discussed during departmental interview.

  • Works nights and weekends as required.

Salary:

• Depends on Qualifications

• Based on 26 Pay Periods

  • Plus, benefits

Work Environment and Physical Demands:

• This position is based in an office environment, where the use of standard office equipment such as computers, phones, scanners, and filing cabinets is routine.

• This is largely a sedentary role.

• However, requirements include the ability to lift up to 10 pounds, open filing cabinets and bend or stand as necessary.

• Some local travel may be required.

Reporting Relationships:

• Reports To Position: Deputy County Administrator

• Supervises Positions: Most or all team members in the Technical Assistance & Performance Division