Intake Manager (Manager III)

Texas Education Agency; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement through ERS and employer‑s­

Dental, vision, and dependent coverage

Paid holidays, vacation, sick leave, &

Wellness programs and professional dev

Job summary

Texas Education Agency’s Office of Governance focuses on proactive support for school systems, safeguarding student safety, and upholding education law with integrity. The Educator Investigations Division handles misconduct investigations, intake and investigations units, and contributes to safeguarding students across Texas.

Flexible work location in Texas may be considered for qualified candidates as TEA seeks experienced leaders to improve governance and accountability across the state’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• At least 3 years of experience in reviewing criminal histories, background checks, or investigations, including 2 years supervisory or trainer role.
• Education and experience may substitute on a year-for-year basis.

Responsibilities

• Team Management and Supervision: lead a high-performing, mission-focused team with data-driven objectives.
• Case Management and Quality Assurance: align investigations with policy, review preliminary reviews, and oversee docket reviews.
• Process Improvement and Optimization: evaluate workflows, standardize decision processes, and pursue efficiency.
• Internal/External Stakeholder Collaboration: build partnerships, respond to inquiries, and train stakeholders.

Skills

Team supervision

Investigations

Communication

Data-driven decisions

Training others

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Office 365

Adobe Acrobat

Case management systems

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

Position Overview: At the Texas Education Agency's Office of Governance (OG), we are driven by a powerful mission: to proactively support school systems, keep students safe, and uphold Texas education law with integrity, objectivity, and excellence. Our core workstreams, Field Support and Compliance & Investigations, focus on strengthening governance, fostering a culture of accountability, and promoting continuous improvement across Texas schools. By working closely with school systems and agency teams, we help ensure every Texas public school student has access to a safe, high-quality education. On behalf of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Commissioner of Education, the Educator Investigations Division (EID) is responsible for investigating allegations of misconduct against educators and school employees in the State of Texas, playing a critical role in protecting the safety and welfare of students. The two primary units within the division include Intake and Investigations. The Intake Unit reviews reports of misconduct, initiates the investigative process, tracks criminal-matters, ensures referrals contain sufficient factual information, and makes recommendations for case-opening in accordance with SBEC and agency policy and in the interest of student safety. The Investigations Unit investigates all reports of alleged misconduct by SBEC-certified educators and ensures due process is provided in all cases.

Flexible work location in Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume, cover letter, and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. 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. Team Management and Supervision: exhibits strong performance management and coaching abilities in supervising a high-performing, mission-focused team; cultivates a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement; works closely with managers of respective units to follow established clear data-driven objectives and motivates team members and monitors progress against established performance metrics and competency standards to achieve collective and individual goals; actively facilitates the professional growth and development of each team member
2. Case Management and Quality Assurance: ensures investigative efforts align with SBEC and agency policy, procedures and best practices; reviews and approves preliminary reviews of misconduct reports and recommendations; oversees the assigned team's docket reviewing reports of misconduct and criminal history, tracking responsibilities, recommendations for opening investigations, and conducting of thorough administrative investigations leading to appropriate recommendations for case resolution in the interest of student safety
3. Process Improvement and Optimization: continuously evaluates workflows, makes recommendations, and champions process-improvement and change management initiatives to further efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness; reviews and analyzes historical and current case-related data to determine areas of risk, deficiencies, and trends; creates structures to standardize decision-making processes, to include establishing multi-level review approval processes, in the interest of student safety; demonstrates a commitment to continuous improvement and collaboration in order to execute the overarching mission of the agency
4. Internal/External Stakeholder Collaboration: proactively initiates and maintains internal and external partnerships in an effort to reinforce the division's initiatives thereby furthering the division's effectiveness; responds accurately and in a timely manner to inquiries and concerns received by all stakeholders to include school administrators, attorneys, complainants, and other pertinent parties; represents the assigned team in collaboration with other TEA divisions and external agencies while ensuring leadership is apprised of status; collaborates in the development of training sessions for both internal and external stakeholders to include agency cross-divisional information sessions and statewide conferences and seminars

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

Experience: At least three (3) years of experience in reviewing criminal histories, conducting background checks, or conducting investigations, including two (2) years of experience in a supervisory or trainer role

Substitutions: Education and experience may substitute for one another 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.
• Working knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to background check requirements, criminal history, and administrative and criminal investigations, including Texas Edu Code, Chap. 22; and 19 Texas Admin. Code, Part 2- Chap 153, and Part 7- Chap 249.
• Skilled in investigating allegations of child abuse, financial fraud, manipulation of a certification process, and misconduct.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff in investigative work; this includes training and developing staff in reviewing allegations, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and accused individuals regarding alleged acts of misconduct, writing reports, and presenting information in an organized manner.
• Proven ability to critically reflect on performance, determine root-cause of issues, and find solutions that improve work product and efficiency.
• Strong communication (both oral and written), including skill in writing for the intended audience and training others to write reports that are factual, concise, and professionally written.
• Solid experience using a variety of software applications to perform work and develop technical solutions, including but not limited to Office 365, Adobe Acrobat, customized databases, and case management systems; willingness to independently seek training on the use of software to achieve results, improve work product, and train others on best practices.
• Willingness to seek efficiency in an office environment; stay organized and prioritize tasks to achieve goals and objectives; eager to deliver requirements to internal/external customers and contribute to the agency's priorities.
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve.
• Must satisfy the Texas Department of Public Safety's criteria for access to the TX DPS secure website and Clearinghouse.
• Relevant experience in an administrative or regulatory environment and investigating allegations of child abuse, school misconduct, financial fraud, and licensure violations is preferred.
• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certification, Tx Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) license, or similar designations a plus, but not required.

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

• 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

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.