Deputy Executive Director (Austin)

Deputy Executive Director
Salary range: B34 $16,033.16 - $18,395.50/month; $192,398.00- $220,746.00/annual 

WHO WE ARE: Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) connects people with careers across the state. While we are based in Austin on the north lawn of the Texas State Capitol, we have offices statewide. We're a Family Friendly Certified Workplace with great work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and development, and fantastic benefits. This position is located at 101 East 15th Street, Austin, Texas. 

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

WHO YOU ARE: You are a seasoned public sector leader with a deep institutional knowledge of Texas state government. You possess a sharp legal mind, a high degree of emotional intelligence, and the steady hand required to manage complex organizational challenges. You are a strategic problem-solver who excels at navigating the intersection of law, policy, and operations. As a mentor and leader, you have a proven track record of managing large teams and mitigating organizational risk while fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.
 
WHAT YOU WILL DO: The Deputy Executive Director performs highly advanced senior-level managerial work, providing high-level assistance to the Executive Director in the daily operations and administration of the Texas Workforce Commission. You will serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, helping to translate the agency’s strategic vision into operational reality. Your role is pivotal in ensuring that TWC’s $3-billion-dollar budget and diverse programs—ranging from Unemployment Insurance to Vocational Rehabilitation—are administered efficiently, legally, and ethically. You will step in for the Executive Director when necessary and provide direct oversight to various division heads.
 
YOU WILL BE TRUSTED TO:
-  Operational Leadership: Assist the Executive Director in overseeing the day-to-day operations of a large, complex state agency, ensuring alignment with the goals set by the three governor-appointed commissioners.
-  Risk Management: Develop and implement robust risk management strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate operational, legal, and financial risks across all agency divisions.
-  Legal & Policy Oversight: Leverage your legal expertise to interpret complex state and federal statutes, ensuring agency policies and procedures are in full compliance with the law.
-  Complex Issue Resolution: Lead the response to high-priority, sensitive, or complex issues involving workforce development, labor law, or inter-agency disputes.
-  Staff Management: Provide direct supervision and mentorship to senior staff, fostering a professional environment that emphasizes performance, growth, and the delivery of exceptional customer service.
-  Strategic Planning: Play a lead role in the development of the agency’s Strategic Plan, Legislative Appropriations Request (LAR), and internal priorities.
-  Stakeholder Engagement: Represent the agency in high-level meetings with the Office of the Governor, the Texas Legislature, and federal oversight partners.
 
YOU QUALIFY WITH:
-  Education: Graduation from an accredited 4-year college or university with a degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, Workforce Development, or a related field. 
-  Management: A minimum of five years’ experience as: Senior management level executive of a local, state, or federal agency.
 
YOU ARE A GREAT FIT WITH:
-  Legal Expertise: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctor (JD) degree. Current membership in good standing with the State Bar of Texas.
-  Risk Management Frameworks: Proven experience designing and executing risk-based internal controls or compliance programs within a public sector environment.
-  Budgetary Acumen: Experience managing or overseeing large-scale budgets with diverse and restricted funding sources (General Revenue, Federal Funds, etc.).
-  Strategic Communication: The ability to distill complex legal or operational concepts into clear, actionable guidance for commissioners, staff, and public stakeholders.
-  Texas Workforce Knowledge: A deep understanding of the Texas Labor Code and federal workforce legislation (WIOA).
-  Diplomacy: A track record of building consensus among diverse groups of stakeholders with competing interests.
 
YOU GAIN:
-  A Family Friendly Certified Workplace.
-  Competitive starting salary: $16,033.16 - $18,395.50/month.
-  Defined Retirement Benefit Plan.
-  Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts.
-  Medical Insurance.
-  Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick, and family care leave.
-  Additional benefits for active employees can be found at: https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.
 
VETERANS: Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf.

HOW TO APPLY: 
To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or on Taleo (Job Search). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.