Join Our Dynamic Team!
Are you passionate about making a difference and ready to take on a new challenge? We are looking for an enthusiastic individual to join our growing program that prides itself on a person-centered culture and collaborative environment. If you thrive in dynamic settings and are excited about contributing to our mission of keeping Texans safe, come join Health Care Regulation.
The Policy and Rule Specialist (Program Specialist VI) performs highly advanced (senior level) work under the supervision of the Policies and Rules Unit (PRU) Manager in a hybrid work environment within Health Care Regulation (HCR), Regulatory Services Division (RSD), Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The starting pay for the role is $74,521.40.
The Policy and Rule Specialist (Program Specialist VI) is responsible for the following duties.
Planning and developing:
Policies and procedures
Rules
Guidance letters
Internal and external forms
Website updates
Internal memorandums
Presentations
Handbooks and manuals
Other policy and rule deliverables associated with HCR functions and regulated providers.
Creating the above work products for HCR-regulated providers, including:
Abortion facilities
Ambulatory surgical centers
Birthing centers
Chemical dependency treatment facilities
End-stage renal disease facilities
Freestanding emergency medical care facilities
General and special hospitals
The hospital at home program
Chemical dependency counselors
Sex offender treatment providers
Limited services rural hospitals
Narcotic treatment clinics
Private psychiatric hospitals
Crisis stabilization units
Special care facilities
Maintaining current knowledge of HCR-regulated providers by:
Reviewing literature (including rules in the Texas Administrative Code, Texas statutes, federal regulations, and information on the HHSC website)
Attending meetings
Communicating with other professionals in RSD, HHSC, and the Health and Human Services system
Conducting research
Serving as a subject matter expert on assigned HCR-regulated providers to internal and external stakeholders.
Completing complex (senior level) policy and rule development activities to ensure PRU, HCR, RSD, and HHSC meet policy and rule deliverables within all required deadlines, including:
Stakeholder engagement
Program assessment
Meeting coordination
Facilitation activities
Research
Collaborating with clinical and non-clinical internal HHSC stakeholders including:
HCR Licensing
HCR Compliance
HCR Training and Quality Assurance
HCR Architectural Review
HHSC Communications
HHS Rules Coordination Office
RSD Enforcement
RSD Complaint Incident and Intake
Serving as an internal and external policy and rule expert for current and proposed policies and rules.
Working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and amend rules in the Texas Administrative Code.
Reviewing current and draft policies, rules, and other documents for accuracy.
Assessing the impact of proposed policies, rules, and proposed legislation on specific program areas.
Representing PRU, HCR, and HHSC at meetings with internal and external stakeholders.
Providing advanced, high-level assessments of complex information, and providing guidance to internal and external stakeholders.
Creating efficiencies where opportunities occur.
Analyzing proposed legislation during legislative sessions.
Planning, tracking, and performing activities associated with implementing recently passed legislation, legislative initiatives, and internal HHSC initiatives.
Collaboratively working with HCR training staff by reviewing and providing feedback on draft training curriculum, presentations, and other materials in preparation for internal and external stakeholder trainings on new and amended PRU work products.
Collaborating with HCR strategic operations staff as needed on large-scale projects and special assignments impacting multiple units within HCR or other areas of HHSC.
Giving internal and external presentations related to assigned programs and work products.
Traveling as necessary to identify work product needs, develop and hone subject matter expertise, build rapport with HCR regional staff, and support training initiatives for work products and other projects.
Essential Job Functions:
EJ1 Work Product Development (30%)
Plans, coordinates, schedules, tracks, develops, reviews, monitors, and facilitates Policies and Rules Unit (PRU) work products, work product development meetings, and related activities on a complex level through research and stakeholder engagement.
Conducts the above activities related to work products, which include: policies, procedures, rules, guidance letters, internal memorandums, internal and external forms, handbooks, manuals, website updates, presentations, and other policy and rule deliverables and initiatives.
Works with unit directors, executive leadership, and legal services to ensure PRU, Health Care Regulation (HCR), Regulatory Services Division (RSD), and Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) meet all required deliverable deadlines, to improve the quality, efficiency, consistency, and accountability of HCR, and to promote health, safety, and wellbeing of Texans.
Consults with internal and external stakeholders to resolve problems, identify training needs, discuss program effectiveness, and create efficiencies where opportunities occur.
Travels to regional offices and regulated facilities as necessary to identify work product needs.
EJ2 Collaboration and Work Product Review (20%)
Reviews and provides feedback on peer work products.
Reviews and provides feedback on draft training curriculum, presentations, and other materials through research and collaborative discussion with HCR training staff to improve the quality, efficiency, consistency, and accountability of HCR functions and activities.
Briefs HCR training staff on new and amended PRU work products by presenting information in written and verbal formats to increase training staff’s understanding of HCR rules, policies, and procedures.
Collaborates with HCR strategic operations staff on large-scale projects and special assignments impacting multiple units within HCR or other areas of HHSC.
Travels to regional offices as necessary to support training initiatives for work products and other projects.
Performs other duties as assigned.
EJ3 Team and Relationship Building (15%)
Manages time and tasks effectively, amidst competing and ever-changing priorities, making sure to meet program needs and deadlines.
Clearly, effectively, and professionally communicates project statuses, development information, needs, decisions, delays, and reasons for delays to the PRU Manager, other PRU team members, and other internal and external stakeholders as needed.
Maintains effective working relationships with HCR and HHSC staff.
Contributes to process improvement activities (including internal process documents, conversations, and decisions) to help ensure quality, efficiency, consistency, and accountability for all work products.
Contributes to a culture of openness, innovation, excellence, positivity, and growth within the team.
Performs related work as assigned and attends work on a regular and predictable schedule.
Travels to regional offices as necessary to build relationships with surveyors and other HCR staff.
EJ4 Research and Consultation (15%)
Maintains current knowledge of HCR-regulated providers by reviewing literature, including rules in the Texas Administrative Code, Texas statutes, and federal regulations, and information on the HHSC website; attending meetings; communicating with other professionals in RSD, HHSC, and the Health and Human Services system; and conducting research.
Researches and responds to internal and external stakeholder inquiries accurately and efficiently.
Serves as a subject matter expert on assigned HCR regulated providers to internal and external stakeholders.
Serves as a policy and rule subject matter expert and provides policy and rule interpretation and other complex, high-level technical assistance to internal and external stakeholders through written and verbal communications and presentations to increase stakeholder understanding of state and federal policies, procedures, rules, laws, standards, and requirements.
Coordinates and leads the collection, organization, analysis, and preparation of materials in response to requests for program information and reports within required deadlines.
Completes and monitors required administrative and performance reports, studies, evaluations, and specialized projects, and recommends appropriate changes to department staff and leadership.
Travels to regional offices and facilities as necessary to develop and hone subject matter expertise.
EJ5 Legislative Support Activities (15%)
Analyzes the impact of proposed state and federal laws on internal and external stakeholders and PRU, HCR, and HHSC objectives.
Identifies implementation needs for proposed state and federal legislation through research and discussion with stakeholders.
Assists in responding to legislative and external inquiries and requests.
Plans, prioritizes, and leads policy and rule development activities to implement enacted legislation by conducting research and collaborating and coordinating with internal and external stakeholders through written and verbal communications.
Tracks, monitors, and reports the status of legislative implementation activities to internal and external stakeholders.
EJ6 Work Product Need Evaluation (5%)
Analyzes and evaluates HCR policy and rule needs by conducting research, reviewing stakeholder input, engaging in program assessment, and collaboratively discussing policy and rule related needs with stakeholders.
Reports policy and rule need findings and recommendations to the PRU Manager and Director and HCR leadership.
Knowledge Skills Abilities:
Knowledge in policy and procedure development processes.
Knowledge of project management processes.
Knowledge of facilitation skills and principles.
Knowledge of problem-solving processes.
Knowledge of research techniques and methodology.
Knowledge of data processing techniques and computer databases.
Knowledge of business operations and the working of HHS agencies, along with mature business skills.
Skill in communicating effectively and professionally both verbally and in writing, including through consulting, presentations, and concise reports.
Skill in presenting information to diverse audiences.
Skill in working collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.
Skill in using appropriate grammar and punctuation.
Skill in working independently and as part of a team.
Skill in composing, reviewing, and editing technical documents, materials, and reports.
Skill in independently multitasking, planning, prioritizing, organizing, and managing one’s individual workload, assignments, and projects.
Skill in project management and meeting project and assignment deadlines.
Skill in providing excellent customer service and demonstrating diplomacy with others.
Skill in the use of a computer and applicable software, including Adobe Acrobat Pro and Microsoft Office, which includes Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, and PowerPoint, and ability to learn and work with new computer software and databases.
Ability to plan, organize, develop, implement, and evaluate various types of written materials, including policies; procedures; handbooks; manuals; forms; website content; rules; stakeholder guidance letters, memorandums, and notifications; training curriculum, materials, supports; and presentations.
Ability to learn and effectively engage in the HHSC rule development process.
Ability to track, monitor, and report on project and assignment statuses throughout the development, review, and approval processes.
Ability to review, critically analyze, and provide constructive professional feedback to others on draft work products.
Ability to conduct research, gather, assemble, correlate, interpret, analyze, and synthesize large amounts of written and verbal information to present the information clearly and effectively in concise work products and reports using active voice and grammatically correct plain language.
Ability to learn, accurately convey information, and serve as a subject matter expert on agency and departmental programs, policies, procedures, rules, and PRU work products and service delivery processes as well as state and federal laws impacting providers regulated by the HCR department.
Ability to facilitate stakeholder meetings and workgroups, and work collaboratively with stakeholders.
Ability to train others on new, established, and amended policies, procedures, protocols, rules, and other unit work products.
Ability to effectively schedule, plan, and facilitate stakeholder meetings and workgroups.
Ability to collaborate and coordinate effectively with internal and external stakeholders, including leadership, licensing, compliance, architectural review, quality assurance and training, strategic operations, enforcement, and external partners.
Ability to work with a wide variety of personalities and communication styles.
Ability to build rapport with collaborators.
Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
Ability to research, analyze, and evaluate current processes; identify problems, inefficiencies, policy and rule related needs, and areas for improvement; demonstrate initiative; and devise and recommend best practice, innovative, evidence-based, solution-focused recommendations to address identified problems, inefficiencies, needs, and areas for improvement to department leadership and other staff.
Ability to analyze proposed legislation to identify potential programmatic issues relating to implementation and determine the proposed legislation’s potential impact on the department, agency, and external providers.
Ability to develop and present best practice, evidence-based, and solution-focused recommendations for consideration on proposed legislation and implementation activities.
Registration or Licensure Requirements:
Valid driver’s license required.
Initial Selection Criteria:
Experience leading business activities and working on or managing policy, procedure, or rule development activities.
Bachelor and/or Master Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, English, or related field is preferred, but previous experience may be considered in lieu of education.
Strong written communication skills as demonstrated by application and assessment responses.
Additional Information:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
Some statewide travel may be required to:
Gather information on policy and rule needs.
Build relationships.
Present and train on any changes to policies and rules.
Support other training initiatives.
MOS Code:
611X 612X 641X 712X OS YN YNS OSS PERS 8U000 16GX 60C0 63G0 86M0 86P0 88A0 88BO
HHS agencies use E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.
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