Operations Manager, Office of Finance and Administration (Program Management Specialist III) - Internal Vacancy

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values: 
•  We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students. 
•  We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
•  We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
•  We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

This is a 5-business day internal posting.  We are only accepting applications from current Texas Education Agency (TEA) employees. External applicants will not be considered.

Position Overview:
The Office Manager performs highly complex (senior-level) program management and coordination work involving the development, implementation, and management of office-wide operations, communications, reporting, and coordination functions for the Office of Finance and Administration.

This position reports to the Chief of Staff within the Office of Finance and Administration and serves as a key operational lead supporting the Deputy Commissioner and senior leadership. The position functions as an individual contributor within a small executive support team and is responsible for ensuring effective execution of office priorities through strong coordination, communication, and organizational support.

The Office Manager serves as the operational execution and coordination lead for the Office of Finance and Administration. The position is responsible for leading office-wide communications, managing meeting governance processes, maintaining the Office SharePoint site, while serving as the coordination lead for external website content by managing the intake of requests, delegating updates to appropriate agency content managers, and ensuring public-facing information remains timely, accurate, and aligned with agency standards and priorities, as well as producing reporting and dashboards and coordinating cross-functional workflows and deliverables. The role supports implementation of strategic priorities by ensuring consistent execution, follow-through, and alignment across initiatives.

The position supports a large and complex organizational structure consisting of three departments, School Finance, Agency Finance, and Grants and Compliance Administration, and two divisions, Human Resources and Agency Operations. Work involves coordinating across these areas to ensure timely communication, alignment of deliverables, and effective execution of office operations. The work is performed under limited supervision with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and short answer responses are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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

1. Leads Office Communications and SharePoint Management: performs highly complex communications work to develop, coordinate, and execute office-wide communications; produces a variety of written and visual materials, including newsletters, executive presentations, and organizational updates; coordinates with staff across departments and divisions to gather and refine content; manages and maintains the Office of Finance and Administration SharePoint site, ensuring content is accurate, current, accessible, and aligned with agency standards; establishes communication schedules and maintains consistent quality and messaging across all materials
2. Manages Office Operations, Engagement, and Reporting: performs advanced operational support work to implement initiatives that improve employee engagement, customer service, and office effectiveness; leads development and administration of surveys and reporting related to customer satisfaction and employee engagement, including analysis of Survey of Employee Engagement results; develops reports and summaries to inform leadership decision-making; coordinates engagement activities and supports office-wide initiatives that promote a positive and productive work environment
3. Oversees Meeting Governance and Coordination: performs advanced coordination and facilitation work to manage office-wide meeting governance processes; develops and maintains standardized processes for agendas, meeting materials, documentation, and action tracking. Supports executive-level meetings, working groups, and committees by ensuring effective planning, facilitation, and follow-up; coordinates cross-team communication to ensure alignment, accountability, and timely completion of action items 
4. Produces Reporting and Supports Program and Office Tracking: performs advanced analytical and reporting work to develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and tracking tools for office and program performance; compiles and analyzes information from multiple sources to support visibility into progress, risks, and outcomes; coordinates with team members and stakeholders to track deliverables, monitor timelines, and ensure accurate and timely reporting across initiatives
5. Coordinates Special Projects, Legislature, and Executive Support Activities: performs highly complex coordination work to support special projects and executive-level activities; provides support to the Deputy Commissioner in external and interagency responsibilities, including coordination for the State Agency Coordinating Committee (SACC), such as maintaining membership records, preparing meeting materials, and documenting outcomes; serves as office coordinator for legislative activities, including bill tracking, analysis coordination, and post-legislative rulemaking processes; supports preparation of executive materials, briefings, and presentations and ensures timely follow-up on assignments and deliverables

 

Minimum Qualifications:
• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least five [5] years of experience in administration
• Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

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.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, coordinate cross-functional workflows, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced executive support environment.
• Strong project coordination and organizational skills, with the ability to track deliverables, manage follow-ups, and ensure timely execution across teams.
• Experience developing, editing, and delivering high-quality communications, including executive materials, reports, and presentations, with strong attention to detail and adherence to organizational standards.
• Ability to design and maintain systems for meeting governance, document management, and workflow tracking, including agendas, notes, and action item accountability.
• Experience managing and maintaining SharePoint or similar content management systems to support document organization, information sharing, and accessibility.
• Experience developing reports, dashboards, or performance tracking tools, including the ability to analyze data and communicate findings clearly to leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders, gather input, and translate complex information into clear and actionable outputs.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to maintain accuracy and consistency across communications, reporting, and operational processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to tailor messaging for different audiences and support executive-level briefings and discussions.
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve.
• Ability to work as a contributing member of a team by establishing and maintaining positive, effective working relationships with all levels of staff.
• Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or related field is preferred.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

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 Employment at TEA page.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "[email protected]" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.

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