THECB - Assistant Director (Business Improvement - SFAP)

Job Description

THECB is observing a hybrid telecommuting schedule with employees required to be in the office at least two (2) days per week.

We are located at the George Herbert Walker Bush building located in the capitol complex at 1801 Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701.

General Description:

Performs highly complex (senior-level) supervisory and managerial work guiding the coordination, analysis and operations for the business improvement activities in the Student Financial Aid Programs (SFAP) Division. Work involves coordinating and managing system implementations and other core projects necessary for the ongoing improvement of the loan management system, grant and aid processing platform and other SFAP systems and projects. Partners with stakeholders to support, update and enhance SFAP systems. Work also involves establishing goals and objectives; developing guidelines, procedures, policies, and rules; and developing schedules, priorities, and standards for achieving established goals. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment requiring heightened communication engagement, and relationship with division, cross-agency, and external stakeholders. This position reports to the Director II, Business Improvement.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

General duties and responsibilities encompass three main categories of focus: (1) Strategic; (2) Functional; and (3) Administrative.

Strategic:

• Working with the Director II - Business Improvement to assist in translating Division strategies affecting business improvement activities into short- and long-term executable plans, focusing on planning, organizing activities, and resources.

• Develops and implements proposals and strategies to address concerns, improve internal efficiencies, and enhance program services. Reviews and evaluates the impact of proposed laws on program objectives.

Functional:

• Manages daily activities of staff dedicated to supporting and enhancing SFAP systems and processes, ensuring alignment with divisional goals and effective resource allocation

• Coordinates service management of SFAP systems, including collaboration with internal and external technical support providers, ensuring systems compliance with all related state and federal statutes, rules, and regulations.

• Manages and coordinates system implementation projects related to SFAP systems, acting as a liaison across departments and ensuring project milestones are met.

• Monitors daily communication and proactively researches industry practices, trends, and anticipates changes in student financial aid and higher education assistance.

• Provides analysis of proposed program operational and system changes and opportunities for improvement through system implementations and outsourcing, identifying anomalies and potential concerns in processes and systems.

• Establishes and updates guidelines, procedures, policies, and rules to meet goals and compliance requirements. Prepares management reports and evaluates effectiveness and efficiency of procedures and staffing levels.

• Develops and documents business requirements, user stories, and test plans/scripts. Coordinates testing initiatives with project teams, creating scenarios, performing tests, and ensuring timely completion.

• Serves as a liaison between business and technical teams on projects and system incidents, supporting system administration with defined roles, responsibilities, and access.

• Utilizes Agile and Scrum methodologies to support effective project management. Participates in Agile ceremonies, such as sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives, to ensure iterative progress and continuous improvement.

• Manages portfolio sub-groups for annual and maintenance projects, ensuring effective execution and alignment with divisional goals.

• Applies Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) best practices throughout project execution

• Represents Business Improvement at meetings, conferences, seminars, or on panels and committees.

Administrative:

• Hires, supervises, and evaluates staff.

• Applies appropriate Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) standards.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strategic Thinking: Ability to implement plans that consider both short- and long-term goals and objectives.

• Critical Thinking: Ability to understand and generate concepts and ideas, consider multiple perspectives, and be able to use logic or evidence to support conclusions.

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze multiple aspects of a problem, compare and contrast different options, and evaluate pros and cons of each in order to recommend solutions to identified problems.

• Business Analysis: Ability to enable change in an organization by identifying and evaluating business demands, recommending solutions and delivering value to stakeholders.

• Communication: Skill in using written and verbal communications skills strategically and creatively (e.g., persuading and influencing others, negotiating, resolving conflicts, presenting and facilitating effectively) to achieve goals and outcomes that are mutually beneficial for all parties.

• Work Product Development: Skill in creating high-complexity work products with minimal direction, including the development of new templates and standards to improve the quality and efficiency of the work.

• Technology: Ability to creatively use technology in the deployment of daily responsibilities as well as in planning team member assignments and managing tasks, including identifying and implementing opportunities to enhance performance through technology.

• Industry Knowledge: Possess a strong understanding of the industry's key concepts and terminology, as well as the ability to analyze and evaluate its performance, opportunities, risks and best practices. This knowledge will be applied to problem-solving, decision-making, and innovation within the field.

• Leadership: Ability to work independently and collaboratively, applying leadership skills to adapt to change, resolve conflicts, motivate others, give feedback, and manage projects.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to analyze and prioritize stakeholders, developing and implementing stakeholder strategies to meet needs and expectations, and evaluating the outcomes.

• Project Management: Skill in managing, monitoring, and advancing large-scale or high-risk projects or assignments, utilizing advanced tools and techniques.

Military Crosswalk: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf



Qualifications:

Required Minimum Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.

• 3+ years of progressive full-time experience working in project management, business analysis or a project portfolio environment, with experience in a supervisory or team lead role.

• Six additional months of relevant full-time work experience with student financial loan or grant assistant programs may substitute for 15 semester hours of required education, up to four years.

• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in Higher Education Administration, Public Policy/Affairs, or Business Administration may substitute for one year of required non-supervisory work experience.

Preferred:

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Higher Education Management, Public Policy/Affairs, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Two years of full-time work in a managerial role at an institution financial aid office, student loan servicer, or other office that administers state, federal, or privately funded financial aid programs.

• One year of experience working in applications built in Salesforce.

• Knowledge of state and federal laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures affecting student financial assistance, particularly the student financial aid programs administered by the Agency, and the ability to understand and appropriately interpret and apply that knowledge.

Physical Requirements and/or Working Conditions:

Work is performed in a standard office environment and requires:

• Regular, reliable, and punctual attendance at work;

• Frequent use of personal computer, copiers, printers and telephones;

• Frequent sitting;

• Frequently works under deadlines, as a team member, and in direct contact with others.

Workforce:

Must be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of customer service deliverables.

• Show flexibility and adaptability toward changes in assignments and work schedules; and work extended hours as necessary.

• Adhere to the organization's internal management policies and procedures.

• Contribute to the agency's performance measures and mission.

• Travel occasionally for work assignments and training.

Application Requirements:

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board is an Equal Opportunity Employer. A State of Texas application is required to apply. For more information on how to apply for this position, go to the Coordinating Board's employment opportunities website at https://www.highered.texas.gov/about/human-resources/careers/.

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board participates in E-Verify for each new employees' Form I-9 to confirm work authorization. For questions, please call the HR Department at 512-427-6190. For vocal and/or hearing assistance call 7-1-1.

Notes to Applicant:

If you require any reasonable accommodation for the interview process, please inform the hiring representative who calls to schedule your interview. This position has been designated as a security sensitive position. A criminal background investigation will be conducted on the final candidate for this position.

Your job application must be completely filled out. Your application must contain dates of employment, job titles, name of employer and a description of duties performed in a way that demonstrates you meet the minimum qualifications for the position for which you are applying. Resumes do not take the place of the requirement to include this information on the application. If this information is not submitted, your application may be rejected because it is incomplete.

Veterans Information: THECB is committed to hiring Veterans. To receive Veteran's Preference, a copy of the FORM DD214 -member #4, must be attached when submitting your application.

AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER: THECB does not discriminate on the basis, of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or the provision of services.

Job offer and continuation of employment with THECB is contingent upon:

• Proof of education and experience listed on the application.

• Eligibility/authorization to work in the U.S.

• Satisfactory results from a pre-employment criminal history background check.

• Compliance with the Selective Service Law for males ages 18-25. Please be advised that under Texas law, names and other information concerning applicants or nominees may be subject to disclosure upon request.

THECB does not allow dual employment with other state of Texas agencies or institutions.

Skills assessment may be conducted at time of interview

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.