Program Specialist VI (New Schools Specialist/ Portfolio Oversight Manager) - cc351-19884-B23-1575

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check. 

The Applications – Portfolio Manager position reports to the assistant director in the Division of Charter School Administration and will perform highly advanced consultative services and technical assistance work pertaining to the implementation and oversight of the charter school program.  Performs related work as assigned.  Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Additional Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) information can be accessed at: http://www.hr.sao.state.tx.us/Compensation/JobDescriptions.aspx.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Portfolio Manager: Leads, trains, assigns, and prioritizes the work of others on the portfolio management team.  Maintains portfolio oversight and management of charters assigned to the position. Participates in the development of charter policy. 
2. Application management: Acts as a liaison for charters and other agency staff. Will work with applicant counterpart to coordinate on all facets of the charter application process development, applicant information sessions, application reviews, charter contract assignments.  Creates excel formulas and pivot tables to analyze data and ensure a degree of consistency among external reviews of applications aligned to agency practices and procedures.  
3. Application development: Develops and customizes charter application(s) and associated documents from concept to culmination, provides proofreading and editing as needed, applying these skills to other agency publications and communications as they relate to the application process.  Applies charter authorizing best practices in the creation and implementation of applications, policies, and procedures related to the charter application(s).
4. Application reviewer: Exhibits and maintains strong interpersonal skills to facilitate a robust charter application and review process. Plans and organizes the annual application review process, to include, creating external reviewer contracts, reviewing application educational, financial, operational, and governing plans, researching and collecting data; outlining strengths and deficiencies of applications; evaluating and making recommendations regarding all charter applications on the merits for approval through consultation with management and other agency staff.  Prepares organized and concise written requests to applicants for contingency responses, as well as notification letters to charter applicants using correct grammatical and sentence structure. 
5. Applicant information sessions, facilitation, and consultation: Plans, develops, coordinates, and has oversight of the charter applicant information sessions, charter capacity interviews, and first-year charter visits with an ability to present in formal settings, field questions verbally, and create concise reports in writing. Develops, facilitates, and participates in presentations and trainings and provides consultative services to agency staff, education service centers, charter LEAs, and the general public.
6. Technical assistance and training:  Reads and interprets rules and statutes including, but not limited to, the Texas Education Code, Texas Administrative Code, PL 107-114-95, and Title IV, Part C Non-Regulatory Guidance and provides interpretation on technical questions in relation to state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations.  Plans, develops, and shares expertise on all matters, legal and otherwise, concerning charter schools; responds appropriately to requests for information from a variety of sources, including charter school administrators, State Board of Education members, state and federal agency personnel, and the general public.
7. Reporting writing:  Gathers assembles, evaluates factual data, prepares reports and exhibits using Microsoft Office™ and ESRI™ geographic information system to prepare clear and concise correspondence to communicate findings.

Education: Graduation from an accredited four year college or university. Advanced degree preferred.

Experience: Four (4) years experience in managing projects or complex processes to include writing and developing applications, instructions and guidelines, metrics for award determinations, contracts, and supervision of staff.

Substitution: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

License/Certification: Texas teaching or mid-management certification preferred.

Travel: 10% required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities (KSAs):

Knowledge of: Local, state, and federal laws and regulations relating to public education, including both the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code, with expertise in curriculum, specifically, knowledge of general education, special education, bilingual/ESL education, gifted and talented education, as well as HS diploma requirements; and general principles related to Requests for Applications and Requests for Qualifications. Charter authorizing best practices is preferred. 

Skill in: Completing multiple projects simultaneously under short timelines; problem-solving; decision-making; interpersonal communication; analyzing complex data; and attention to detail; strong oral and written communication skills; effectively and appropriately using technology and Microsoft Office applications (particularly Adobe, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); organizing, setting priorities, conducting research, and writing reports. Presenting, and interviewing in formal settings; using technology to create online applications and form-fillable documents; and initiating, coordinating, and completing major projects is preferred.

Ability to: Gain expert-level knowledge of the charter school program; keep apprised of national charter authorizing trends, self-teach and be self-motivated to acquire necessary knowledge and expertise to accomplish essential job functions; prioritize and strategically plan assignments; communicate effectively with various stakeholders; gather, assemble, and analyze factual data; identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and implement effective solutions; prepare concise reports; develop and evaluate policies and procedures; attend to both the transactional and transformational aspects of the work; establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external constituents; collaborate effectively with peers and supervisors and work well in a group; coordinate with work groups to accomplish required results; understand the broad issues; solve complex problems; concentrate for extended periods of time; deliver high-quality, accurate work products; complete assignments within short timelines; manage multiple tasks within established timelines; use technology effectively to accomplish job requirements; work in a fast-paced and stressful environment; maintain confidentiality; work beyond a 40-hour week as necessary to maintain efficient office operations; and work according to work hour schedule assigned by supervisor. Lead a team; create excel documents using statistical formulas that interface with other software; understand and evaluate educational, operational, and financial plans is preferred.

Note: An in-box exercise may be administered at time of interview.

This job description is not an employment agreement or contract. Management has the exclusive right to alter this job description at any time without notice.

Salary is dependent on qualifications.

Positions exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) will earn compensatory time off rather than overtime for hours in excess of 40 per week. May be required to work hours other than 8 to 5. May be required to work weekends and holidays.

In accordance with applicable federal and state equal opportunity laws, it is TEA's policy that no person shall be excluded from consideration for recruitment, selection, appointment, training, promotion, retention or any other personnel action, or be denied any benefits or participation in any educational programs or activities which it operates on the grounds of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status (except where age, sex, or disability constitutes a bona fide occupational qualification necessary to proper and efficient administration).

The Immigration Reform and Control Act requires all new employees to present proof of identity and eligibility to work in the United States. TEA does not sponsor H1-B work visas. Males, 18 to 25 years of age, are required to present proof of selective service registration (or exemption) prior to being employed by any state agency.

There is a 60-day waiting period for health insurance coverage.

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.

Please note, TEA does not accept resumes.

An internal applicant who is selected for a position in their current salary group that has the same state title is not eligible for a salary increase. An internal applicant who is selected for a position in their current salary group with a new state title may receive an increase up to 3.4%.

The Texas Education Agency uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, please visit www.dhs.gov/E-Verify.