Human Resources Specialist V

Department-of-Family-and-Protective-Services; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 61,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

100% paid health insurance

Retirement plans

Paid vacation, holidays, and sickleave

Optional dental, vision, and life

Flexible spending accounts

Employee discounts

Job summary

The Human Resources Specialist V at Department of Family and Protective Services in Austin, TX provides senior HR guidance across employee relations, classification, and HR policy interpretation. This exempt role supports management, develops training, and leads HR initiatives within the Workforce Development Division.

Essential duties include advising on policy, conducting investigations, coordinating payroll-related transactions, and preparing communications for internal and external

Qualifications

• Senior HR support in state government
• Guidance on employee relations and HR policies
• Experience with payroll-related transactions and staffing processes

Responsibilities

• Provide guidance and consultation to staff and managers on HR matters
• Assist with HR policies review and implementation
• Coordinate HR activities including hiring, classification, and policies
• Develop informational materials and communications for internal/external audiences

Skills

Employee relations guidance

Policy interpretation

Policy development

Communication

Training delivery

Education

Four-year degree

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

Posting ID22292-Posted10/13/2026-Dept of Family & Protectve Svc-Workforce Development Division-Business and Financial Operations-c. $5000 - $6999 per month

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

Here’s what you get as a full-time employee:

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out-of-pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance —at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

Functional Title:Human Resources Specialist V
Job Title:Human Resources Spclst V
Agency:Dept of Family & Protectve Svc
Department:Workforce Development Division
Posting Number:22292
Closing Date:10/27/2026
Posting Audience:Internal and External
Occupational Category:Business and Financial Operations
Salary Range:$5,425.33-$8,886.16
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group:TEXAS-B-24
Shift:Day
Additional Shift:None
Telework:
Travel:Up to 25%
Regular/Temporary:Regular
Full Time/Part Time:Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt:Exempt
Facility Location:
Job Location City:AUSTIN
Job Location Address:4900 N LAMAR BLVD
Other Locations:None
MOS Codes: 0102,0111,0147,0170,0171,4801,4802,4803,4804,4810,4821,8411,8412,8421,8422,8840,120X,168X,38FX,3F0X1
3F3X1,3F4X1,3F5X1,3G0X1,420A,42A,42B,42H,641X,70F,741X,79R,79S,79T,79V,83R0,87Q0,8R000,8R200,8R300
99G0,NC,NCC,NCR,PERS,PS,RCM10,SEI11,YN,YNS

Brief Job Description:

The Human Resources Specialist V reports to the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) Human Resources (HR) Manager and provides human resources management support to the Human Resources (HR) Office. The position performs highly complex (senior level) human resources management work. Provides guidance, advice, and consultation to employees, supervisors, and managers on employee relations and human resources related matters. Develops solutions to problems with procedures or applications of policy and participates in human resources planning and policy making. Provides assistance to agency employees and human resources (HR) functional units to help resolve employee/work related problems. Provides guidance and interpretation on human resource policies. Develops and implements training on employee relations matters. Interprets HR policies for management and employees. Attends management advisory group meetings and personnel staffing meetings to address employee behavior and performance issues. Acts as a business and strategic partner, human resources subject matter expert, workforce advocate, change agent and leader. Provides coordination and technical support for human resources activities, such as employee relations, hiring processes, classification, policies and procedures, and department communications. Assists with development, review, revision and implementation of HR policies, procedures, guidelines, handbooks and HR forms. Researches, analyzes and identifies areas for change and makes recommendations to improve HR policies, procedures and operations. Researches and drafts a variety of written business communications on diverse topics for internal publication, broadcast or dissemination internally or externally. Provides coordination and assistance with job analysis and classification policies and processes in place to determine appropriate job classification. Assists agency managers with issues regarding agency job notice postings, hiring policies and processes, screening, interviewing and hiring issues, and applicant selection policies and procedures. Provides assistance and coordinates with DFPS contractor regarding escalated DFPS employee benefits inquiries and issues. Prepares, designs and drafts a variety of informational materials and correspondence including presentations, research, technical documents and communications using a variety of office software programs. Provides consultative and technical assistance to staff and management on issues, rules and policies relating to human resources management. Provides human resources subject matter expertise and technical guidance in accordance with all applicable state and federal laws, regulations, rules and policies. Prepares and develops plans, procedures and related activities to meet HR administrative training needs. Represents the HR Office at meetings, conferences and on workgroups. Works under minimal direction with considerable latitude in the use of initiative and independent judgement. Essential Job Functions: Provides guidance, advice, and consultation to employees, supervisors and managers on employee relations and human resources related matters. Develops solutions to problems with procedures or applications of policy and participates in human resources planning and policy making. Provides guidance to management and staff concerning appointments, promotions, demotions, reclassifications, transfers, separations, merit increases and HR policy-related exception requests. Processes payroll-impacting transactions in the agency’s payroll and personnel system. Reviews all source documentation for pay-impacting actions to ensure compliance with policies, rules, regulations and guidelines. Participates in DFPS agency initiatives, workgroups, projects, organizational changes and other projects related to human resource management. Conducts special exit interviews as requested by DFPS agency management. Investigates and reviews employee complaints and issues when requested by DFPS management. Performs other duties as assigned. (25%)

Provides consultative and technical assistance to staff and management on issues, rules and policies relating to employee relations and HR policies and procedures. Reviews criminal background history information for hiring managers and provides guidance on applicant eligibility for employment. Processes death claims for deceased employees and their families. Executes workforce plans, recruitment and retention strategies, assist in workforce analysis, develops relationship with customers to understand current workforce environment and anticipated changes in the operating environment. Assists in deployment of internship programs. Trains agency management staff and employees on administrative procedures and processes such as Performance and Conduct Management (PCM) and the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Provides assistance and coordinates with DFPS contractor regarding escalated DFPS employee benefits inquiries and issues. (25%)

Assists with development, review, revision and implementation of HR policies, procedures, guidelines, handbooks and forms. Researches, analyzes and identifies areas for change and makes recommendations to improve HR policies, procedures and operations. Develops collection and analysis methods and procedures for gathering, compiling and analyzing employment data. Coordinates, updates and manages project assignments related to human resource processes; evaluates data for projects; and provides technical support and guidance for human resources project development. Assists with identification, development and recommendation of best practices for DFPS human resources policies, procedures, and processes. Develops, researches and prepares reports, analyses and summaries of human resources employment-related data, and performs special assignments as required. Identifies areas for change and makes recommendations to improve policies, procedures or operations. (20%)

Develops, edits, designs, and coordinates production of a variety of informational human resources materials including presentations, technical documents, communications, broadcasts, newsletters and written summaries. Researches and drafts a variety of written business communications on diverse topics for internal publication, broadcast or dissemination internally or externally. Assists with the collection and review of information regarding knowledge and informational gaps pertaining to HR policies and processes, and develops and recommends communications to address these issues, such as broadcasts, newsletter items, DFPS agency website and payroll/personnel system portal notices, and other forums to communicate information. Assists in developing informational, employment-related materials such as PowerPoint slideshows, Visio charts, Excel spreadsheets and other materials using word processing or other office software programs. (15%)

Provides assistance with job analysis and classification policies and processes to determine appropriate job classification. Assists agency managers with issues regarding agency job notice posting and hiring policies and processes, screening, interviewing and hiring issues and applicant selection policies and procedures. Assists DFPS HR staff in coordinating assistance to agency management regarding the state classification plan, position descriptions, organizational structure, and agency classification policies and procedures. Provides technical assistance to agency management regarding appropriate classification resources, forms, procedures and policies. (15%)

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

State and federal employment laws, rules and guidelines.

HR and employment guidelines, policies and procedures, key business fundamentals, key internal and external customers and individual and team behaviors. Principles, concepts and methodology of the state classification plan.

State compensation principles, procedures and practices; organizational structure, division responsibilities and role of key agency staff.

State agency payroll and personnel system software environment and state payroll and Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA) rules and regulations.

DFPS agency mission, employee and manager roles, organizational planning process, client and organizational cultures and the public service environment.

Employee and manager roles.

Organizational planning processes.

Knowledge of training procedures and techniques.

Skilled in:

Effective interaction with staff at all levels of the agency, and other state agencies and organizations.

Skilled in analytical thinking.

Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook, PowerPoint and other computer programs and applications.

Research methods and analysis.

Written communications.

Identifying and communicating best practices.

Instructing and training others.

Ability to:

Maintain confidentiality of sensitive information.

Manage conflict and build trust relationships.

Manage relationships and engage stake holders.

Analyze data, and develop surveys designed to collect specific types of data.

Effectively manage resources.

Make decisions and work effectively independently or in a team environment.

Apply organizational development principles

Communicate effectively orally and in writing for a diverse range of audiences and purposes.

Address work-life issues.

Understand, analyze, research and develop business processes and policies.

Develop training objectives and assess the effectiveness of training.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

None

Initial Screening Criteria:

Two years of experience in human resources interpreting and applying policies and procedures to staff and the general public; preferably human resources policies and procedures

Acceptable Substitutions: Department of Family and Protective Services Managerial/Supervisory experience may be substituted for Human resources experience on a year for year basis.

Full-time HR Employee Relations experience may be substituted for four-year degree on a year for year basis

Preferred Qualifications:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

SHRM-CP and or SHRM-SCP

Experience advising and counseling management staff and employees on complex human resource management issues. Experience entering, updating, retrieving and analyzing information from automated systems. Major course work in human resources management, business or public administration, organizational development or a related field.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited tothose 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 . You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at [e-mail] with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver’s record check.

State of Texas employees