External Affairs Manager

Harris County
406 Caroline Street, Houston, TX
Posted on  

Job Description

Position Description

About Harris County and Universal Services:
Harris County Universal Services (Universal Services) is transforming the way the County does business and seeking an External Affairs Manager to join our team.

Universal Services is the enterprise IT solutions center for the departments and offices of Harris County, providing Information Technology, Public Safety and Justice Technologies, 311 Constituent Engagement Services, Fleet Services, and Records and Information Governance Services.

Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million. Harris County Commissioners Court, the County’s governing body, directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services including flood control, infrastructure, healthcare, housing, and justice administration.

This is a great time to join Universal Services as we enhance critical services to Harris County residents and internal customers.

Position Overview:
The External Affairs Manager reports to and serves as a principal strategic advisor to the Executive Director of Universal Services and CIO, facilitating the flow of information both to and from internal and external government agencies. In this capacity, the External Affairs manager will focus on local, regional, national, and international collaboration, fostering positive interactions, involvement, and support with governmental partners at all levels.

Job Duties:
  • Strategically advise the Executive Director of Universal Services on External Affairs, in the areas of Government Relations, Community Relations and Legislative Relations.
  • Work with the Executive Director and the Director of Records and Regulatory Compliance to develop a comprehensive, proactive External Affairs strategy that strengthens relationships, identifies issues of interest and concern, increases understanding of and support for Harris County Universal Services, and advances the mission and goals of the office.
  • Establish and strengthen relationships with local, county, regional, state, and federal appointed and elected politicians, government officials and departments, Commissioners Court, and legislative officials and departments.
  • Communicates and partners with local, state, and federal governments and organizations such as the National Association of Counties to promote Harris County priorities.
  • Robust Engagement – Ensure that Universal Services is providing consistent communication and relevant information to stakeholders, County departments, and offices.
  • Communicate County Priorities and Progress - Communicates and partners with local, state, and federal governments and organizations such as the National Association of Counties to promote Harris County Universal Services priorities.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net. This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education:
  • Master's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
Experience:
  • Five (5) to eight (8) years of experience in government, external or community affairs, with at least three (3) years of experience in a managerial role
Knowledge, Skill & Abilities (KSAs):
  • Strong sense of urgency and engagement in designing best practice policies for county government.
  • Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, and adept in succinctly conveying complex information
  • Exceptional project management skills to manage a range of projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment, while maintaining strong, positive working relationships
  • Extremely detail oriented
  • Ability to develop and drive new initiatives, work cross-departmentally, work within multidisciplinary teams, oversee projects to completion, and track results
  • Strong collaborative skills and ability to work autonomously with accountability
  • Driving interest in developing successful working relationships with government at every level throughout Harris County, the State of Texas, and the United States
  • Innovative and creative in developing policy solutions.

Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically (i.e. custodian, maintenance). Automatic Disqualification:
  • Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for any Felony, and any Class A Misdemeanor
  • Convictions, probation, or deferred adjudication for a Class B Misdemeanor, if within the previous 10 years
  • Open arrest for any criminal offense (Felony or Misdemeanor)
  • Family Violence conviction
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:
  • Advanced degree preferred
Experience:
  • Experience working in the Public Sector

General Information

Location:
  • 406 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002
Hours:
  • Full Time: 40 Hours per Week / Monday – Friday
  • Hybrid work arrangement
  • May be required to work more than forty (40) hours during the workweek, weekends or 24 hours on-call for special projects or to meet deadlines.

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards. Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.


BENEFITS
Harris County offers a competitive benefits program, including comprehensive group health and related benefits plan as well as defined benefit retirement plan.
The following list of benefits is offered only to employees in regular (full-time) positions:
  • Medical Coverage
  • Dental Coverage
  • Vision Coverage
  • Wellness Plan
  • Life Insurance
  • Long-term disability
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Ten (10) days of vacation each year for the first five (5) years of service
    • Accrual rates increase based on years of service
  • Eleven (11) County-observed holidays and one (1) floating holiday
  • Professional development opportunities
  • Dependent Care Reimbursement Plan
  • Healthcare Reimbursement Account
  • 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
The following benefits are also available to regular (full-time) employment and may be available to part-time employees:
  • Retirement Pension (TCDRS)
  • Flexible schedule (varies by department)
  • Transportation Assistance (Metro RideSponsor Program)

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, Group Health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County benefits website:
https://benefitsathctx.com/

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