Senior Advisor, Governance (Director VI)

Texas Education Agency; Austin (TX); Hybrid; USD 95,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pension/ERS

Paid holidays

Job summary

Texas Education Agency (TEA) seeks a Senior Advisor to lead governance strategies and partner with school systems across Texas. You will guide governance best practices, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and support school boards and district leadership in implementing improvements that advance student outcomes.

The role requires extensive experience in educational governance, policy alignment, and cross‑functional collaboration with agency leaders, legislators, and school systems.

Qualifications

• Eight or more years in educational leadership, governance, or organizational strategy.
• At least five years with direct school board governance experience.
• Ability to advise senior leaders and lead cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a strategic resource for governance best practices and district planning.
• Develop stakeholder-engagement strategies and liaise with school boards and ESCs.
• Collaborate to develop and deliver governance trainings and resources.
• Coordinate with policy makers and cross‑functional teams on governance priorities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Governance expertise

Policy analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

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. This Senior Advisor will engage with school systems, school system leaders, and school board trustees across the state as a strategic partner, providing guidance and targeted supports with the ultimate goal of improving student outcomes. A primary responsibility of this role is engaging with and presenting to governing teams related to identifying, adopting, and implementing best-practice approaches to school board governance and overall school system design. This position requires proactive touchpoints with a wide variety of external stakeholders, policy makers, and partners while also serving as a resource to the field in response to challenges that may arise. In service of improving student outcomes, the Senior Advisor will closely coordinate and collaborate with senior leaders across the agency and in the field to establish exemplary governance systems, inform strategic alignment and direction, provide leadership to priority initiatives and pilot programs to drive the work. Reporting to the Associate Commissioner of Field Support, with regular interaction with the Deputy Commissioner of Governance and the Commissioner of Education, and in coordination with TEA’s Governmental Relations and Communications teams, this position helps create, shape, and support the agency’s strategic vision over stakeholder engagement, system performance, and strategy development in collaboration with the Office of Governance’s leadership team, agency staff, legislators, districts, and other stakeholders resulting in the achievement of ambitious outcomes for student statewide.

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

Essential Functions

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

• Serve as a thought partner and strategic resource for school board members, governing teams, and school system leaders by providing guidance on governance best practices, strategic leadership, and district planning; support school systems in identifying challenges, evaluating options, and implementing research-based best-practice approaches that strengthen school governance and school system design
• Develop and implement stakeholder-engagement strategies that build and sustain strong relationships in support of agency priorities and governance initiatives; coordinate with TEA’s Governmental Relations and Communications and Stakeholder engagement teams to serve as a liaison to school board members, school district leadership, Education Service Centers (ESCs), and other key stakeholders representing the agency on governance matters and proactively fostering partnerships; gather, synthesize, and communicate stakeholder perspectives, emerging trends, and field-based insights to inform agency decision‑making, resource development, and strengthen alignment between agency priorities and school system needs
• Collaborate with internal subject‑matter experts to develop and deliver governance trainings and resources that develop capacity in the field, promote governance best practices and agency priorities, and reflect current laws to strengthen Texas school systems; serve as a subject matter expert on school board development, obtaining and maintaining certifications and/or authorizations required to provide specific statewide trainings, and representing the agency at conferences and other stakeholder events
• Serve as a liaison to state policy makers related to school board governance matters and collaborate on governance policy and strategic initiatives with TEA’s Division of SBOE Support, Division of Government Relations, and Division of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement; coordinate cross‑functional efforts on matters related to school board governance, trustee development, and statutory training requirements, and advance other governance initiatives; provide subject matter expertise, facilitate collaboration among internal and external stakeholders, and support the development, communication, and execution of governance‑related priorities that strengthen local board effectiveness

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

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

Experience: At least eight (8) years of experience in educational leadership, governance, or organizational strategy, with progressively responsible experience including advising senior leaders, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and leading complex cross‑functional initiatives. A minimum of five (5) years must include direct experience related to school board governance

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
• Exceptional strategic, systems, and analytical thinking skills with demonstrated success leading complex initiatives and translating vision into actionable plans and measurable results in a fast paced dynamic environment
• Deep understanding of public education systems, including the roles, responsibilities, and challenges of superintendents, school boards, and educational service centers and the ability to connect governance practices, organizational performance, and student outcomes
• Demonstrated ability to influence without formal authority and facilitate productive discussions among diverse stakeholders to achieve alignment and advance goals
• Demonstrated ability to quickly establish trust, build credibility, and sustain productive relationships with a broad array of stakeholders, including trustees, superintendents, executive leaders, policymakers, and community partners; a broad network of existing relationships within Texas public education strongly preferred
• Working knowledge of governance research, effective board development practices, and continuous improvement principles
• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, including the ability translate complex concepts into clear, actionable guidance for varied audiences
• Ability to gather, synthesize, and communicate stakeholder perspectives and emerging trends to inform decision‑making, resource development, and agency priorities
• Working knowledge of the Texas Education Code, Texas Administrative Code and statutory requirements governing school districts, trustees, and local governance practices

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.