Deputy County Administrator, Justice & Safety

Harris County; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Harris County is seeking a Deputy County Administrator (DCA), Justice & Safety, to advance the Commissioners Court’s priorities in the justice system and public safety. The role requires building policies that reduce crime, disparities, and improve system efficiency, while aligning with the Strategic Plan.

The DCA will lead executive functions, supervise Justice & Safety leadership, and coordinate with the County Administrator and elected officials to drive strategic direction and performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred related to justice/public policy.
• At least ten years of relevant government/administrative experience.
• Seven or more years in a senior managerial role overseeing complex functions.
• Experience collaborating with elected officials and multi-agency leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction for justice & safety priorities.
• Coordinate CJCC and align with Harris County strategic plans and goals.
• Lead cross-agency collaboration, drive performance, and ensure accountability.
• Develop policy solutions, manage budgets, and oversee major initiatives.
• Serve as liaison with county administrators, department heads, and officials.

Skills

Criminal justice policy

Stakeholder liaison

Strategic planning

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master’s degree in Criminal Justice or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Project management applications

Job description

Position Overview

The Deputy County Administrator (DCA), Justice & Safety is responsible for advancing Harris County Commissioners Court’s priorities related to the justice system and public safety while working closely with the County Administrator, Commissioners Court offices, selected department heads, and other elected and appointed officials.

The DCA must have extensive demonstrated experience developing and implementing criminal justice system policies and operations that: reduce violent crime; reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety; reduce racial and ethnic disparities; increase safety and health, and increase system efficiencies.

The DCA should be a mission- and policy driven leader who will help achieve Commissioners Court’s Justice and Safety priorities, including but not limited to those outlined in Harris County Strategic Plan and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Strategic Plan. The position will serve as the County Administrator’s central executive-level coordination point for work primarily relating to Goal 1 (Make Harris County safer and more just) of the Strategic Plan.

Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Strategic Direction

• Executive Functions: Serves as the second in command within the Office of County Administration and a member of the OCA Executive Team, providing executive leadership and strategic direction in support of department operation and County priorities. Collaborates with the County Administrator, selected department heads, elected and other appointed officials, and other OCA staff to support the successful execution of priorities and projects established by Commissioners Court. Develops and maintains strong and collaborative relationships between Commissioners Court and other Elected Officials and justice system professionals.
• Management: Collaboratively manages several Justice & Safety department heads and directly manages the OCA Justice Innovation Team to ensure the successful execution of Justice & Safety Court Directives, the Strategic Plan, CJCC Strategic Plan and additional priorities to address legal and statutory requirements. Manages Commissioner Court preparation for key Justice & Safety priorities. Serves as the back-up for the County Administrator for Court directives and priorities.
• Strategy: Supports efforts to implement, oversee, and regularly update the County’s Strategic Plan for Justice & Safety and CJCC strategic plan. Drives OCA’s work with selected County departments to develop their own department-specific strategic direction and performance measures in alignment with the Strategic Plan.
• Leadership: Ability to lead leaders; set direction; align goals, objectives, and operational measures; create a cohesive, impactful, culture; ensure adequate performance management and 360 (or two-way) communication to support others’ ability to drive results.
• Engaging Partners: Engaging with communities, local partners, elected and appointed leaders, and all levels of government to improve their understanding of the County’s programs, as well as obtaining input and feedback on these programs to improve mutual understanding and relationships.
• Accountability: Demonstrates clear communication, accountability, and responsiveness, while promoting the same from department heads to Commissioners Court and the County Administrator.
• Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between assigned departments and external partners, shared goals, and continuous improvement across County operations to ensure the success of initiatives and move the County closer to achieving specified Goals and Objectives. Liaise with offices led by elected and appointed officials whenever needed in addition to day-to-day work with selected departments.

Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

• Lead and facilitate the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) in partnership with the CJCC Chair (currently Commissioner Rodney Ellis) and the Vice Chair (currently Sheriff Ed Gonzalez), and other county leadership and decision-makers. Convene quarterly CJCC meetings and align senior leaders and decision-makers across justice, public safety, and others around shared priorities and outcomes as established by both the CJCC Strategic Plan and the Harris County Strategic Plan. Monitor and track key criminal legal system issues and data indicators, and ensure Commissioners Court and CJCC members, committee, and workgroups consider prioritizing based on quality research and analysis.
• Serve as a primary liaison to County justice and public safety leadership, coordinating and prioritizing implementation of key directives for the CJCC. Facilitate interagency cooperation, identify barriers, and elevate executive-level decisions to ensure continued progress on high-priority strategic initiatives. Develop recommendations and solutions based on policy best practices and research to address core issues. Leads the design and develops actionable policy solutions based on best practices to advance the County and CJJCC strategic plan.
• Drive execution of the CJCC Strategic Plan by advancing the priorities and initiatives of each of the CJCC standing Committees, which include: Deflection and Diversion, Violence Prevention, System Process Improvement, Indigent Defense, and Racial & Ethnic Equity. This includes providing strategic direction and guidance to Committee leadership (committees are generally chaired by various Commissioners) and ensuring respective Committee workgroups (generally chaired by County staff) are focused on delivering measurable outcomes and agree-upon priorities and deliverables. Monitor and track key criminal legal system issues and data indicators related to the CJCC strategic plan and ensure awareness and visibility of those issues and indicators to Commissioners Court, CJCC members, committees and workgroups. Lead on the development of the CJCC’s next Strategic Plan for 2027 and beyond.
• Establish accountability and alignment across CJCC Committees and workgroups, and ensure that progress is elevated appropriately through the workgroup and committee structure to the full CJCC for review, decision-making and action.
• Develops and implements effective strategies for priority issue solutions in coordination with Commissioners Court and key criminal justice system stakeholders.

Support Broader County Priorities and Initiatives

• Budget: Works closely with the County Administrator and selected department heads to develop annual budgets in alignment with County priorities.
• Performance: Supports the department head performance evaluations in collaboration with the County Administrator (who retains hiring and firing authority with respect to heads of departments within the DCA’s purview) and engender a culture of continuous improvement—to include six Sigma concepts where relevant—ensuring assessments reflect the Court’s expectations and priorities, including the Goal, Objectives, and Guiding Principles laid out in the Strategic Plan.
• Project Management: Works to prioritize and plan projects and other tasks within OCA, selected departments, and countywide (as appropriate) for Justice & Safety. Manages Justice & Safety projects in response to Commissioners Court directives. Manage special projects that improve criminal legal system and justice outcomes to advance the County Strategic Plan and CJCC strategic plan.
• Communication: Writes or edits key documents and presentations for Commissioners Court. Supports OCA’s internal and external communications as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Other Duties

• This Job Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this position. Management may, at its discretion, assign, or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call [phone] or email [e-mail]

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.

Supporting Job Application Documents

• Cover Letter
• Resume

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
• At least ten (10) years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of seven (7) years in a senior managerial role managing complex administrative functions.
  • Relevant experience may be substituted for required education on a year-for-year basis.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Advanced and in-depth knowledge and demonstrated experience of criminal justice system public policy, related data analyses, development and implementation of criminal justice policy solutions, government operations, laws, statutes, functions, operations, programs, and best practices.
• Ability to liaise with executive-level interdepartmental leaders, including elected and appointed officials within the criminal justice system, and facilitate a collaborative, solutions-oriented environment for advancing key justice & safety policy priorities and initiatives.
• Demonstrated experience of advancing solutions to decrease racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system.
• Knowledge of change management, project management, and team building principles, as well as budget and finance practices.
• 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 high-performing, multidisciplinary teams as they are formed for specific projects.
• 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 County operations and Commissioners Court’s priorities to ensure the department is providing the appropriate service support to other County departments and offices, applying learnings and best practices as appropriate.
• Ability to work amidst ambiguity with a high level of emotional intelligence, curiosity, integrity, ethics, and transparency.
• Ability to multitask and manage multiple projects at once while prioritizing and allocating resources in accordance with priorities aligned with Commissioners Court and the County Administrator.
• Strong customer/client service mindset focused on better serving the people of Harris County.
• Ability to foster a culture of continuous learning and accountability.
• Strong commitment to mission-driven, service-oriented, and data-informed leadership.
• High ethical standards and commitment to transparency and accountability.
• Proficient in strategic planning, policy development, and program evaluation.
• Highly skilled in oral and written communication, with excellent ability to review and edit memos, policy documents, reports, and other documents, rendering complex information understandable and relatable.
• Skilled in the use of Microsoft Office and project management applications.

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.

• Master’s, professional, or other postgraduate degree in Criminal Justice, Public Safety, Public Policy, Government, Law, or a related field.
• Ten (10) years of experience working with or in county government or other local, state, or federal government entities.
• Multiple years of experience working in a large organization.
• Demonstrated experience collaborating with elected officials.

Position Type and Typical Hours of Work

• Regular Full-time
• Monday through Friday schedule; however, due to the nature and responsibilities of the role, the incumbent must be available as needed to address County business and operational matters, including during evenings, weekends, and other non-business hours.
• The position is designated as an exempt Key Employee and does not accrue vacation, compensatory time, or sick time. The incumbent may take time away from work as needed, in coordination with and subject to the approval of the County Administrator.
• Eligible for a limited hybrid work schedule as workload allows.

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 are 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 travel may be required.

Reporting Relationship

• Reports To Position: County Administrator
• Supervises Positions: Selected County department heads and Office of County Administration staff

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.