Deputy Director, Commissioner Support (Director I)

Texas Education Agency; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Texas Education Agency, based in Austin, seeks a Deputy Director, Commissioner Support, to lead stakeholder engagement, coordinate strategic initiatives, and oversee select programs and contracts. The role partners with executive leadership and cross-divisional teams to advance TEA's priorities and ensure operational excellence.

Reporting to the Chief of Staff, you will organize high-level engagements, support communications and legislative initiatives, manage procurement processes, and

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework or work experience in education, public administration, government, public policy, or a related field is required.
• Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in public sector operations, legislative coordination, or cross-functional team leadership is required, including at least two (2) years of experience in project management or event management.
• Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Lead stakeholder engagement and strategic events management for the Commissioner of Education, ensuring engagements align with agency priorities and coordinating executive support.
• Provide strategic support to Communications and Governmental Relations divisions with cross-agency coordination and deliverables.
• Manage operational programs and contracts, tracking progress, evaluating risks, and ensuring deadlines.
• Support the Office of the Commissioner Executive Leadership Team with process improvements and cross-divisional collaboration.
• Supervise staff and provide coaching to ensure high-quality work aligned with agency priorities.

Skills

Public sector operations

Legislative coordination

Cross-functional leadership

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher in education/public administration/government/public policy

Job description

Agency Information

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state.

Core Values

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students.
• We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them.

Job Description

The Deputy Director, Commissioner Support, plays a critical role in advancing the strategic priorities of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) through high-level program management, support of the Commissioner and his outreach activities, engagement with stakeholders on his behalf and coordination across the agency. Reporting to the Chief of Staff for the Commissioner of Education, this position supports the Commissioner of Education and agency-wide initiatives by coordinating cross-divisional efforts, managing strategic priorities, supporting stakeholder engagement, and overseeing select agency-level programs and contracts. The role requires advanced managerial skills , confidential work, independent judgment, event and meeting coordination and a strong ability to align operations with TEA's mission and strategic goals. In addition, this role collaborates frequently with executive-level staff across the agency, including Deputy Commissioners and Associate Commissioners as well as the Media Relations Director and the Chief of Governmental Relations.

This position is based in Austin, Texas. In-person work at the William B. Travis Building is required at least four days per week.

This position requires up to 10% travel, based on business needs, to support program initiatives, collaboration, and operational priorities.

A resume and completed short-answer responses are required as part of the application process. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Lead stakeholder engagement and strategic events management for the Commissioner of Education:

This position leads planning and execution of external engagements for the Commissioner, including stakeholder engagement and coordination, briefing materials, and strategic events management and advance support. This position ensures that the Commissioner's external engagements are aligned with agency priorities and executed with excellence. The Deputy Director oversees the Commissioner's executive assistant to ensure timely and accurate delivery of high-level requests and communications.

2. Provide strategic support to the Communications and Governmental Relations divisions:

This position facilitates cross-agency coordination for the Commissioner through collaboration on the legislative and public-facing initiatives involving the Governmental Relations and Communications divisions. This includes managing workflows, developing tools and templates, facilitating training and meetings, and ensuring timely, high-quality deliverables for external stakeholders specifically focused on Communications and GR requests and needs. Oversees select processes such as Commissioner briefing materials for meetings and events and collaborates on larger agency-wide projects such as the LBB Strategic Plan. Provides consultative support year-round to ensure alignment with agency priorities and responsiveness to legislative, policymaker and public-facing needs.

3. Manage operational programs and contracts:

This position oversees select contracts and programs, including vendor relationships and compliance with procurement standards. Tracks progress, evaluates risks, maintains cost estimates, and collaborates with vendors and internal staff to meet deadlines and deliverables.

4. Support Office of the Commissioner Executive Leadership Team:

Provides operational consultation to the Chief of Staff and executive leaders within the Office of the Commissioner. This includes implementing process improvements, advancing cross-divisional collaboration, identifying and mitigating project risks, and providing consultative guidance on operational initiatives.

5. Supervise staff and drive performance excellence:

Directly supervises the Commissioner's Executive Assistant and may oversee additional staff or contractors. Provides ongoing guidance, coaching, and performance feedback to support delivery of high-quality work aligned with agency priorities. Establishes clear expectations and supports the professional development of team members in a high-performing and collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major coursework or work experience in education, public administration, government, public policy, or a related field is required.

Experience: At least five (5) years of experience in public sector operations, legislative coordination, or cross-functional team leadership is required, including at least two (2) years of experience in project management or event management.

Substitutions: Each additional year of related experience above the required minimum may substitute for education on a year-for-year basis.

Other Qualifications

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Strong systems of organizational and self-management
• Supervisory experience preferred
• Demonstrated ability to plan, implement, and oversee complex, multi-stakeholder programs aligned with strategic objectives
• Experience coordinating legislative processes, conducting risk assessments, and leading enterprise-wide initiatives
• Proficiency in developing tools and workflows using systems such as Smartsheet, Excel, or similar platforms
• Strong relationship building / consultative skills and ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of an organization
• Knowledge of public sector contract management, vendor oversight, and program performance monitoring
• Ability to synthesize technical and policy information and communicate effectively to executive audiences
• Strong ability to receive and incorporate feedback
• Commitment to TEA's mission and ability to work under pressure and tight timelines with minimal supervision

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

Benefits

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance.

Benefits include:

• Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page .

Military/Veteran Information

Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting.

Additional Information

TEA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status.

TEA does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Careers at TEA page .

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or respond to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

To help ensure you receive updates regarding your application, please add [e-mail] and @tea.texas.gov to your safe sender's list.