THIS POSTING IS FOR EXISTING TWC EMPLOYEES ONLY

WHO WE ARE:
Texas Workforce Commission connects people with careers across the state. While we are based in Austin on the north lawn of the Texas State Capitol, we have offices statewide. We're a Family Friendly Certified Workplace with great work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and development, and fantastic benefits. This position is located at 1117 Trinity St, Austin, TX, in the Strategy Align & Program Improvement department.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:
The Program Strategy and Implementation Specialist (Program Specialist VI) is a senior-level role responsible for the development, implementation, and long-term sustainability of initiatives funded through the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) grant. This position provides strategic oversight of project operations, ensures fiscal integrity, and drives continuous quality improvement efforts to achieve meaningful outcomes for individuals with the most significant disabilities. This role requires a highly skilled professional with expertise in program management, Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) policy, cross-functional collaboration to ensure successful project execution and sustainability beyond the life of the grant. Performs highly advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance to program staff, governmental agencies, community organization, or the general public. May train others, as needed. Works under minimal supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

YOU WILL BE TRUSTED TO:
- Manage DIF sustainability planning and implementation, ensuring project longevity through strategic funding, partnerships, and federal/state policy alignment. 
- Manage the end-to-end grant life cycle by monitoring timelines, deliverables and performance outcomes. Mitigate risks and oversee the approval process to ensure timely implementation and provide strategic briefings to executive leadership. 
- Assist with grant budget planning, forecasting, and expenditures to ensure fiscal compliance and identify opportunities for cost-effective resource allocation. 
- Implement quality assurance processes and monitor performance metrics to ensure program effectiveness, goal alignment, and regulatory compliance. 
- Assist with VR policy development and review to ensure federal compliance and project alignment, providing subject matter expertise to internal and external stakeholders. 
- Lead and support project staff and partners by fostering a collaborative team environment, delivering and/or organizing professional development training, and driving efforts for long-term project success. 
- Manage project documentation by ensuring federal/state compliance, coordinating stakeholder approvals, and overseeing SharePoint administration and web distribution in accordance with records retention and standards. 
- Provide technical and programmatic support for the development of Customized Employment strategies, creating toolkits and training resources to ensure the sustainable implementation of DIF initiatives
- Serve as a point of contact for internal and external partners regarding program updates, requirements, and technical assistance. Facilitate meetings, and workshops to educate staff and community partners on VR and DIF project services. 
-Sustainability Planning & Implementation: Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive sustainability plan for the Disability Innovation Fund (DIF) initiatives. Identify long-term funding strategies, partnerships, and policy integration opportunities to sustain project outcomes. Ensure alignment of sustainability strategies with state and federal Vocational Rehabilitation priorities.
-Project Oversight & Management: Provide high-level oversight of grant activities, timelines, deliverables, and performance outcomes. Develop and monitor project plans, ensuring milestones are met and risks are mitigated. Coordinate across internal teams, leadership, and external stakeholders to ensure seamless implementation. Prepare and present status reports, briefings, and recommendations to the DIF Project Director and executive leadership. Track the status of approvals, managing deadlines and follow-ups to ensure project timelines are met.
-Budget Management: Assist with grant budget planning, tracking, and forecasting to ensure responsible use of funds. Monitor expenditures and ensure compliance with federal and state fiscal requirements. Identify costs efficiencies and make recommendations for reallocation of resources as needed.
-Quality Control & Continuous Improvement: Establish and implement quality assurance processes to evaluate program effectiveness. Monitor performance metrics and outcomes to ensure alignment with grant goals. Ensure compliance with all applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
-Vocational Rehabilitation Policy Development: In collaboration with VR policy and operations teams, develop, analyze and provide recommendations that support project and VR goals. Ensure policies align with federal regulations and best practices in disability services. Provide subject matter expertise and guidance on VR policy to internal and external stakeholders.
-Personnel Development & Leadership: Provide leadership, guidance and support to project staff and partners. Support staff development by organizing and leading appropriate trainings for VR staff and project partners. Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and results-oriented team environment. Identify project and VR needs to support capacity-building efforts to sustain project success.
-Document Management and Compliance: Conduct comprehensive reviews of all project materials to ensure strict adherence to federal and state guidelines. Perform quality control checks on formatting, and standardized naming conventions before finalization. Facilitate the formal submission process for project documents, routing materials to the appropriate internal and external stakeholders for review. Upload finalized and approved materials to designated websites and portals, ensuring that only the most current versions are available to the public or stakeholders. Act as the primary administrator for the project's SharePoint, designing and maintaining a logical folder structure. Implement records retention schedules in accordance with legal and project requirements.
-Support Specialized VR Initiatives: Provide technical and programmatic support in the development of Customized Employment strategies. Assist in the creation of toolkits, training materials and operational manuals for the DIF project, Supported Employment and Customized Employment for providers and VR staff to ensure sustainability and implementation of new initiatives for the VR program.
-Stakeholder Engagement & Coordination: Serve as a point of contact for internal and external partners regarding program updates, requirements, and technical assistance. Facilitate meetings, and workshops to educate staff and community partners on VR and DIF project services.
-Performs related work as assigned and required to meet the mission and goals of the department, division, and the Texas Workforce Commission agency.
 

YOU QUALIFY WITH:
- Three years of full-time experience in the development, implementation, or interpretation of policies and procedures in a public or private agency.
- Relevant academic credits may be applied toward experience qualifications for this position.
-One year of full-time in-service TWC experience classified as a Program Specialist V or Program Supervisor V with regular status will satisfy the minimum qualifications

YOU ARE A GREAT FIT WITH:
-Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Rehabilitation Services, Social Work, Business Administration, or a related field. 
-A minimum of (5) years demonstrated experience in developing and implementing Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) policy. 
-Experience working with individuals with the most significant disabilities. 
-Strong experience in budget oversight, financial tracking, and fiscal compliance.
-Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
- Experience with federally funded programs, particularly Disability Innovation Fund. 
- Advanced expertise in Microsoft SharePoint. 
- Understanding of document control best practices and retention schedules. 
- Experience and knowledge in Social Security, Medicaid Waivers and disability benefits. 
- Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills with a high-degree of technological proficiency and the ability to communicate complex information for diverse audiences

YOU GAIN: 
- A Family Friendly Certified Workplace.  
- Competitive starting salary: $6,000.00 - $7,503.29/month 
- Defined Retirement Benefit Plan 
- Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts 
- Medical Insurance 
- Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave 
- Additional benefits for active employees can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf

HOW TO APPLY: 
To be considered, please complete an Application for Employment and apply on Taleo. TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.

Job Details

Primary Location: United States-Texas-Austin

Work Locations: Austin:1117 Trinity St, 1117 Trinity St, Austin, 78701-1919

Job: Eligibility Interviewers

Organization: TWC Business Unit

Schedule: Regular

Shift: Standard

Employee Status: Non-Management

Job Type: Full-time

Travel: Yes, 10 % of the Time

Job Posting: Jul 7, 2026, 3:23:56 PM