Job Summary Planners perform professional research and planning work in the field of health and human services across a variety of County and community projects and initiatives. Work occurs as part of a small, collaborative team. The work environment involves both autonomy and teamwork, and requires planners to balance individual initiative and self-direction with feedback-rich and consultative practices. Planners are supported in their learning, applying and enhancing skills through the work, and are provided and encouraged to seek opportunities for formal training and professional development. Planners typically have a generalist skill set and support projects across the Division's work plan covering a range of issue areas and populations. This position may be involved in or have a focus on some of the following: data analysis; data presentation, including visualization and storytelling; GIS mapping; performance measurement; social service investment planning; contract management; and reporting. Current opportunities in the Division's work plan will be discussed during the interview process.
The Division's work includes social service investment planning; research, data analysis, writing, contract oversight and reporting; community planning group support and process facilitation; and presentation towards the goal of building an efficient and effective service delivery system for human services in Travis County.
The Health & Human Services Department strives to improve social and economic well-being for Travis County residents.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:
This is the first in a series of three planner-related job classifications within the Planning and Research job family. This classification is distinguished by incumbents that typically have responsibility for performing planning, researching and analyzing for assigned projects and programs. Duties and Responsibilities The Research & Planning division covers the following tasks and projects. Individual workloads vary and will have some mix of the following duties and responsibilities.
- Primary and secondary research
- Data mining, analysis, and/or visualization
- Technical assistance and consultation in research and data
- Legislative and policy analysis
- Writing reports and other documents
- Presentation before peers, the public, and/or elected officials
- Participation in collaborative group processes
- Planning support for community and task groups including supporting the development of community plans
- Strategic planning support for the HHS department, divisions, and programs
- Facilitation of meetings and groups
- Program planning, design, and development
- Process reviews and program evaluations
- Design and conduct surveys and focus groups
- Performance measurement
- Programmatic and performance oversight of social service contracts
- Social service contract management
- Investment planning: community assessment
- Investment planning: scoping, planning, and implementing competitive processes for social service investments
- Investment planning: evaluating proposals and negotiating contracts
- Implement tasks for assigned projects according to project timelines. May serve as project manager.
- Ensure work reflects community planning principles and other relevant professional standards
- Interpret and apply policies and procedures and applicable Federal, State and Local laws, codes, rules, and regulations
- Represent the County in a range of settings
- Work in partnership with community representatives or groups, departments, and outside agencies
- Use computer applications and management information
- Performs other job-related duties as assigned
Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology or other Social Sciences, Public Health, or a directly related field AND four (4) years increasingly responsible experience with strategic planning, planning, research, project management, policy research and program development;
OR,
Master's degree in Social Work, Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology or other Social Sciences, Public Health, or a directly related field AND two (2) years increasingly responsible experience strategic planning, planning, research, project management, policy research and program development;
OR Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
None required.
Preferred:
Experience with social services/health and human services (may include work, volunteer, and/or life experience) Experience in one or more of the following: data analysis, performance measurement, evaluation, social service contract management
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
Applicants are not required to have all of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities, but should have some mix. Applicants with any mix of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities are encouraged to apply.
Knowledge of:
- Human service systems and programs
- Governmental agencies and relevant policies (local, state, and federal)
- Principles of community planning
- Primary research methods (interviews, focus groups, surveys, etc.)
- Secondary research methods (literature reviews, use of online sources, etc.)
- Performance measurement
- Human service investment systems (assessing and scoping portfolios, implementing procurement processes, contract management, etc.)
- Logic models
- Population characteristics and community conditions pertaining to health and human services
- Computer equipment and software, to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; knowledge of databases, statistical packages, GIS, Power BI, and design software can be applied
- Grammar, punctuation, and writing style for reports and professional communications
- May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information
Skill in:
- Program planning, development, and implementation
- Data analysis
- Contract management and investment system planning
- Policy research/policy analysis
- Writing reports, briefs, and other documents
- Developing and making presentations
- Planning and facilitating meetings and groups
- Managing projects for self and teams (includes developing work plan, coordinating tasks and timelines, etc.)
- Both verbal and written communication
Ability to:
- Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities
- Apply the knowledge and skills above to reach sound conclusions and make recommendations
- Apply flexibility and initiative to new assignments
- Work autonomously with moderate supervision and seek guidance/consultation when needed
- Work collaboratively with peers and teams
- Represent Travis County professionally in community work
- Develop and maintain effective working relationships with department, County, and community staff
- Communicate and work with diverse stakeholders, including clients, staff, partner agencies, contractors/vendors, elected officials, and the public
- Consider different viewpoints
Work Environment & Other Information Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-20 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, occasional indoor/outdoor activities, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.
Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.
This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.
Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday. Location: 5325 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX. This position is eligible for Telework, with in-office as needed. Must live in or near Austin, TX area.
Department: Health & Human Services
Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.
For updates or questions on this position, contact: Brian.Stacy@traviscountytx.gov
***Mandatory***Please attach a cover letter/personal statement explaining your interest in this position including: -How would you apply your work, volunteer, and/or life experience in this position? -Why are you interested in working in the public sector in the field of health and human services?
Travis County is an equal opportunity employer and adheres to a policy of nondiscrimination against any person based on race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, or disability. Reasonable accommodation will be made for persons with disabilities during the application process and/or at the time of employment. Requests for accommodation should be made to the Human Resources Department as early as possible in the application/employment process.
Benefits
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.FY2027 Travis County Benefit Guide In this valuable Travis County Benefits Guide you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees. Credit Union Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits. Deferred Compensation Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction. Direct Deposit Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit. Employee Assistance Program Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family. Employee Organizations Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction. Employee Health & Wellness Clinic Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs. Holidays An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.
Insurance Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County’s current policy is to pay 100% of the employee’s health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.
The following benefits are employee paid:
- Dental
- Vision
- Supplemental Life, AD&D
- Dependent Life
- Short Term Disability
- Long Term Disability
- Long Term Care
New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment. Longevity Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.
On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year. Parking A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex. Personal Holidays Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins: January – March 3 personal holidays April - June 2 personal holidays
July - September 1 personal holiday
October - December None
New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.Retirement Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees. Sick Leave Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.
Parental Leave Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work. Tuition Refund Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily. Vacation Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates: 0 to 5 years 4.0 hours per pay period 6 to 10 years 4.5 hours per pay period 11 to 15 years 5.0 hours per pay period 16 to 20 years 5.5 hours per pay period 21 plus years 6.0 hours per pay period
Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.Workers' Compensation The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.