Deputy Program Management Director, LIFT Strategy & Integration (Program Management Spec II)

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.

Position Overview

Position Overview: The Deputy Program Management Director, LIFT Strategy & Integration plays a key role supporting the Leadership and Instructional Foundations (LIFT) team, which is focused on High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) implementation, specifically Bluebonnet Learning, alongside aligned instructional leadership systems, which currently supports 400 school systems in Texas. LIFT is the flagship curriculum and instruction implementation initiative at the agency, and this role will be crucial to ensuring internal LIFT team alignment, cross-division collaboration, and coherent experiences in field for LIFT districts and beyond. This role will report directly to the Executive Director.

Specific to the LIFT team, the deputy program management director will partner with the Executive Director to strategize and plan for leading the LIFT team through intentional communication structures, meeting cadences, and facilitation of team spaces. They will deeply understand the work of multiple LIFT sub-teams to consider how to maximize team time and energy and support in areas of need.

Regarding cross-division work, the deputy program management director will lead or co-lead key cross-division spaces to ensure LIFT is aligned with other divisions in priority areas, always with an eye to coherence. This will involve project planning, project management, and content development. Additionally, the deputy director will support training other divisions and their field counterparts on LIFT program elements. This will also include preparing for and supporting readiness towards key senior leader spaces with both internal senior staff and key external audiences.

As a leader on the LIFT team, the deputy director bears responsibility in driving a collaborative, solutions-oriented culture and approach, facilitating decision-making and development spaces that incorporate multiple voices and perspective across the LIFT team and with LIFT leadership.

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

**Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check. **

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

1. Cross-Division Coordination and Leadership Alignment Support: Coordinate cross-division initiatives and alignment to ensure cohesion in the district and campus experience. Priority areas include teacher coaching and evaluation alignment, intervention supports and alignment, and special population supports. Deeply understand LIFT’s resources as well as the work of other divisions to propose ways to create alignment and cohesion. Consult with other divisions as necessary to support their work building off LIFT’s resources and approaches.

2. Cross-Team Design and Training Support: Support cascading LIFT resources and training across teams, both for other divisions at TEA and in support of their program implementation with relevant vendors. Priority examples include Office of Special Populations and Student Support at TEA and their ESC counterparts, Office of Educator System and Support and their ESC and vendor counterparts, and other programs within the Office of District Planning and Implementation. This includes directly designing and tailoring training for these audiences with LIFT vendor partners and being the TEA lead for cross-division sprint work. This will likely also include organizing and executing focus groups to gather feedback from a variety of audiences.

3. Support Executive Director with Internal LIFT Alignment: Plan and support facilitation of full LIFT team meetings and learning experiences, including project management as well as building resources and presentations for team time. Support in strengthening LIFT team culture by streamlining communication within the team, leading or co-leading prioritized team projects, and working closely with other sub-teams as needed. Collaborate with the Executive Director on LIFT Director team meeting cadence, priority topics, and delegation to create shared ownership of leadership spaces.

4. Strengthen LIFT Team Functioning: Learn the work of each LIFT sub-team in depth to understand connection points amongst LIFT sub-teams and potential improvements, spend time in field understanding how LIFT work is being implemented, and thought partner with the LIFT Leadership team on upgrades moving forward. Take on temporary/interim responsibilities where additional capacity is needed due to high volume of work or vacancies on the team.

5. Senior Leader Communications: Support with priority communications and presentations to compellingly present LIFT’s work at the right level of depth for senior internal and external audiences. Build out project plan and manage and delegate to key stakeholders ahead of high stakes meetings