Assistant Unit Director

Texas Health and Human Services; Harlingen (TX); Presencial; USD 53.000 - 76.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

100% employee health insurance (full‑t

Defined benefit pension

Generous paid time off

Career advancement opportunities

Descripción de la vacante

Texas Health and Human Services is seeking an Assistant Unit Director in Harlingen, TX, at the Rio Grande State Supported Living Center. The AUD leads unit staff, ensures quality care, and supports the Unit Director in planning and operations.

The role emphasizes staff supervision, safety, regulatory compliance and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams to deliver person-centered services in a state-operated facility.

Formación

• Three years of work experience in health care, business administration, social work or public health.
• Two years in a management position in a residential program area/home/unit in an ICF/IID facility serving more than 50 individuals.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; substitution allowed (4 years max).

Responsabilidades

• Provide leadership to unit staff to ensure quality care, active treatment and leisure activities.
• Supervise and evaluate staff; support Unit Director in planning, directing and coordinating unit operations.
• Ensure compliance with Life Safety Code and ICF/IID participation requirements.
• Monitor staffing, overtime, leave approvals and staff deployment to maintain minimums and fairness.
• Act as Administrative Officer on Duty and assist Unit Director as needed.
• Ensure safety, training compliance, and disaster response readiness.

Conocimientos

Leadership

Staff supervision

Communication

Problem solving

Regulatory compliance

Educación

Bachelor's degree in healthcare administration or related field

Herramientas

Microsoft Office

Descripción del empleo

Date: Oct 8, 2026

Location: HARLINGEN, TX

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more. Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional Title: Assistant Unit Director

Job Title: Assistant Unit Director

Agency: Health & Human Services Comm

Department: MH Series A

Posting Number: 22236

Closing Date: 11/07/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Management

Salary Range: $4,750.00 - $6,779.25

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-20

Shift: Day

Additional Shift: Days (First)

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 5%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Facility Location: Rio Grande State Supported Living Center

Job Location City: HARLINGEN

Job Location Address: 1401 S RANGERVILLE RD

MOS Codes: 0203,0207,0302,0370,0520,0602,0802,1802,1803,2340,5502,6302,6502,7202,7208,7210,7220,7502,8005,8858 9702,16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,86P0,8U000,9G100,BOSN,ELC,ISS,MAT,MED,MLES,MSSD,MS SR,OSS,WEPS

Brief Job Description

Come work in an environment where we truly value and respect those we serve and believe in the mission that all people can achieve a higher level of wellness and independence. The state supported living centers serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are medically fragile or who have behavioral problems. The centers provide campus-based direct services and supports at 13 centers located throughout the state. Learn About Our State Supported Living Centers. If you are looking for a place to work where you can establish a career that is filled with purpose, this is the job for you! The Assistant Unit Director (AUD) works under the direct supervision of the Unit Director and has the primary responsibility for providing leadership and direction to other unit staff to assure the delivery of quality care, support, active treatment and leisure activities to the individuals served. The AUD provides support to the Unit Director in planning, implementing, directing, and evaluating unit operations and goals. The AUD is responsible for working cooperatively with other divisions and departments and ensuring harmonious working relationships within the unit among staff, family members and other facility employees. The AUD is responsible for supervisory, consultative and administrative duties in addition to Administrative Assistant tasks. The AUD acts as the additional duty safety officer for the unit which assures safety drills are completed correctly, timely and efficiently and any identified safety and/or resident concerns are addressed through the Facility Safety Department or the Interdisciplinary Team process. This position assures the unit meets regulations established by Life Safety Code. Additionally, the AUD will serve as the first line supervisor for Unit Supervisors for consultation concerning personnel issues and maintaining training compliance. The AUD monitors staff deployment and minimums, leave approval, overtime utilization, etc. The AUD serves as the Administrative Officer on Duty (AOD) dealing with campus-wide issues and as the acting Unit Director as needed. The AUD ensures that the unit provides protection of the individuals by reducing abuse, neglect, exploitation, injuries, accidents and restraints.

Essential Job Functions (EJFs)

• Attends work on a regular basis and may be required to work a specific shift schedule or, at times, even a rotating schedule, extended shift and/or overtime in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned. May serve in an on‑call status on a rotating schedule as required to meet operational needs of the facility.
• Establishes and maintains positive, supportive relationships with employees, individuals served, family members and visitors in order to create an environment of caring, dignity and respect.
• Provides formal/informal supervision and support to unit staff in accordance with facility procedures to ensure the effective delivery of needed services (health, safety, individual support planning, etc.). Implements Positive Performance Management system per facility guidelines in order to improve staff performance, attendance and work behavior. Assists Unit Director in conducting performance evaluations of assigned staff in order to give employees timely feedback on their performance.
• Monitors the implementation of unit staff management systems (staff schedules, staff assignment sheets, deployment, leave approval, overtime utilization, etc.) in order to ensure adequate staff coverage to meet minimums. Monitors the utilization of staffing resources to maintain fair distribution of overtime. Follows facility procedures when granting/approving leave requests to ensure fairness.
• Makes regular rounds/visits as required throughout the unit to monitor scheduled activities to ensure safety and implementation of levels of supervision, positive behavior support plans, physical/nutritional management plans, documentation of injuries, restraint documentation, cleanliness and appropriate staff to resident interactions.
• Monitors and enforces unit compliance with internal and external audits and plans of correction to ensure safe environments that promote dignity and respect of individuals served.
• Monitors the reduction of abuse, neglect and exploitation, unusual incidents, injuries and restraints through implementation of applicable facility procedures to ensure the health and safety of individuals served.
• Serves as the Acting Unit Director as needed.
• Ensures that assigned staff participates in mandatory training in order to ensure staff competence and development.
• Ensures compliance with all ICF/IID conditions of participation, Life Safety Code regulations and continued progress toward the requirements of the Settlement Agreement.
• Takes action in regard to financial responsibilities such as annual budget planning, activity fund monitoring, trust fund oversight and property inventory.
• Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency’s obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation. Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities (KSAs)

• Knowledge of ICF/IID Standards, facility and departmental policies and procedures, Positive Performance Program and record-keeping procedures.
• Knowledgeable in the use of computers, Microsoft Office software and other business software, copiers, printers and fax machines.
• Proven ability to communicate verbally and in writing in a clear and concise manner, with the ability to direct and instruct.
• Ability to work independently, to work cooperatively in a teamwork situation, to work harmoniously in general with co‑workers and plan, assign and supervise the work of others.
• Ability to establish goals and objectives, solve problems, make decisions, and use good judgment when dealing with critical incidents.
• Knowledge of basic residential services, program planning and training techniques.
• Ability to react calmly and quickly in emergency situations.
• Knowledge of facility policies, DADS regulations, Settlement Agreement, Life Safety Code, ICF/IID, applicable building standards, etc.
• Knowledge of Prevention and Management of Aggressive Behavior (PMAB) techniques with the ability to appropriately apply this knowledge as needed.
• Ability to prioritize assignments and meet work deadlines.
• Knowledge of program planning and training techniques.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements Or Certifications

None

Initial Screening Criteria

• Three (3) years of work experience in health care or business administration, social work, or public health.
• Two (2) years of experience in a management position in a residential program area/home/unit in an ICF/IID residential facility serving more than 50 individuals.
• Prefer bachelor’s degree from an accredited four‑year college or university with major course work in health care administration, social work, public health, business administration, human resources, education or a related field.
• Direct supervisory experience in a program area/home/unit in an ICF/IID residential facility may substitute for the bachelor’s degree on a year for year basis with a maximum substitution of four (4) years.

Additional Information

• Applicants must pass a fingerprint criminal background check, pre‑employment drug screen, and registry checks including the Client Abuse/Neglect Reporting System (CANRS), Nurse Aide, Medication Aide and Employee Misconduct and HHS List of Excluded Individuals/Entities (LEIE).
• Males between the ages of 18 – 25 must be registered with the Selective Service.
• All State Supported Living Center Employees are subject to Random Drug Testing.
• Flexibility in work hours may be required for this position. The position may be required to work overtime and/or extended hours. Must be willing to work weekends and holidays.
• All applicants must be at least 18 years of age to be considered for employment at a state‑operated facility.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, And Veterans

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active‑ duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor’s Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditor's Office - Job Descriptions.

ADA Accommodations

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHSC and DSHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on‑line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.

Pre-Employment Checks And Work Eligibility

Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.

HHSC uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Download the I-9 Form

Telework Disclaimer

This position may be eligible for telework. Please note, all HHS positions are subject to state and agency telework policies in addition to the discretion of the direct supervisor and business needs.

Nearest Major Market: Brownsville