Texas Education Agency · 4 hours ago
Chief of Staff, Office of District Planning and Implementation (Director III)
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Director/Executive
7+ years expThe Texas Education Agency (TEA) aims to enhance public-school student outcomes in Texas through leadership and support. The Chief of Staff for the Office of District Planning and Implementation will lead centralized planning and operations for a team focused on educational initiatives, while managing office culture, communications, and operations to support the agency's goals.
Education
Responsibilities
Coordinate comprehensive planning and performance management structures with ODPI leadership
Annually, facilitate updates to scope sheets defining agency initiatives in collaboration with the Alignment & Delivery Unit (ADU), the agency’s central strategic planning group and partner teams
Organize and facilitate processes for division leads and teams to establish quarterly milestones and deliverables, establishing tracking and reporting mechanisms for progress
Establish, support preparation for, and facilitate milestone progress updates (MPUs), performance management stepbacks, and DC monthly deliverable review meetings with initiative teams
Facilitate weekly one-on-one reflection with the DC on key milestones and deliverables of focus and support with team, to support prioritization of DC time and energy
Manage ODPI relationship with ADU, including managing Performance Management routine calendar and planning, preparatory meetings, and collaborating on data visualization and status updates
Actively cultivate a culture of performance management, supporting transparent reflection on status, prioritization of time for the most critical initiatives, proactive management moves in response to data and information, and embracing continuous improvement
As needed, act as DC’s liaison with other operational office teams that connect to programmatic strategy and execution, including Governmental Relations, Communications, and Rulemaking, establishing tracking structures to support strategic execution
Manage office culture and communications by organizing and facilitating key structures such as monthly Senior Leadership Team meetings, bimonthly Leadership Team meetings for supervisors, quarterly All Office meetings, and retreats as needed
Oversee professional development initiatives, including flexible fund allocation, 70/20/10 plans, and centralized training events
Lead office annual reflections and goal-setting incorporating employee engagement survey results and support routine pulse checks
Coordinate internal and external communications, ensuring timely updates, document sharing, and proper storage
Establish knowledge management systems with centralized access to key resources and develop essential office artifacts, tools, and trackers
Supervise preparation for leadership-level communications and strategic alignment
Coach and manage the Team Culture & Operations Lead to ensure effective support for these functions
Provide strategic oversight of Field Support Coordination function to meet outcomes of supporting School Improvement and District Strategic Leadership operations, as well as alignment and coordination needs across all ODPI teams and other offices
Proactively surface and support resolution of alignment needs across ODPI initiatives, partnering closely with the director of FSC to do so; support facilitation of critical cross-team meeting structures and tools (e.g., centralized field visit tracker, centralized training calendar)
Support facilitation of a cross-office community of practice across all ~10+ project management, coordination, and operations staff across ODPI to support more streamlining of processes and tools, more connection-making across initiatives
Liaise with ODPI SLT to ensure operational and alignment needs are met
This role provides strategic oversight of office operations rather than direct execution of every task
It ensures systems and processes run smoothly by guiding staff—such as the Executive Assistant and Team Culture & Operations Officer—who handle day-to-day responsibilities
Key areas include HR processes (job descriptions/postings, candidate screening support, scheduling, leveling and promotion alignment with leadership, onboarding/offboarding), annual cycles for performance metrics and evaluations, coordination of budget monitoring and financial reporting with Finance and leadership, senior leadership calendar management, and operational support (e.g., IT, site/facility requests, travel arrangements and reimbursements, supply orders, public information request processing, etc.)
A deeper level of support and monitoring will be required for externally based partners on contracts and grants
Create strong tracking and decision-making systems for DC and ODPI leadership for organizational structure changes, budgeting, and other key areas
Regularly check in with ODPI leadership to ensure support is meeting needs
Act as a liaison with agency operational teams, ensuring operational support aligns with organizational priorities without assuming sole responsibility for every detail
This role leads and develops the team by coaching staff, fostering growth, and creating a culture of customer service, sustainable systems, and continuous improvement
It emphasizes empowering team members to own their responsibilities while maintaining accountability and collaboration
Under this function, the position oversees the Executive Assistant and the Team Culture & Operations Lead, ensuring they have the support and guidance needed to deliver high-quality operational services
This role also manages the Director of Field Support Coordination and supports the director in the coaching and management of their team
Qualification
Required
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
At least seven (7) years of experience in operations, program management, project management, Chief of Staff, or organizing/alignment meeting facilitation roles
At least two (2) years of experience supervising a minimum of two direct reports
Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
Highly organized with strong planning and project management skills; ability to balance the demands of multiple projects at different stages of development while maintaining quality and consistency across all work
Strong meeting and team facilitation skills, with an eye toward purposeful use of time, engaging adults and large groups, and furthering team culture objectives
Excellent written and oral communication skills
Understanding of healthy, high trust, high performance team culture and how to cultivate this culture through a combination of talent decisions, culture structures, and strategic communications
Skill and comfort level being a culture leader, model, and champion
Understanding of operations and ability (or willingness to quickly learn how) to build strong tools and systems using Smartsheet, Excel, and other tools as needed
Meticulous attention to detail with an ability to produce high quality work in a dynamic environment
Track record of success building and managing a team towards ambitious goals by setting clear expectations and holding others accountable for performance
Strong coaching and capacity-building skills to help new and existing teammates perform effectively
Problem-solving orientation, with an ability to break down complex information into component parts, ask questions, synthesize, and analyze
Ability to build relationships and strong rapport with others, and an ability to manage relationships with senior district and internal agency stakeholders
A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve
Preferred
Prior experience with Texas schools and broad knowledge of Texas education preferred but not required
Company
Texas Education Agency
The Texas Education Agency provides information and guidance to public schools, educators, parents, and administrators.
501-1000 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Carla Steffen, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
Adrienne Hunter, Ph.D.
CONTRACTOR
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