TMD - Manager III (State Tuition Assistance Program Manager)

Texas Military Department State Tuition Assistance Program Manager

Performs complex (journey-level) managerial work to administer the daily operations and activities of the Texas Military Department (TMD) State Tuition Assistance (STA) Program. Responsibilities include high-level program oversight, strategic planning, and the administration of daily operations. This role encompasses program budget management, compliance with state legislative directives, and coordination with educational institutions and program stakeholders. Work also involves database administration, ongoing process evaluation and improvement, policy development, and the integration of technology solutions. The position requires clear and effective communication both written and verbal with TMD executives, military commanders, educational leaders, and elected officials. Plans, assigns, and supervises the work of others. Reports to the Education and Incentives Division Chief in the TMD J1 Directorate. Works under general supervision, with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.

Work Hours : Monday Friday, 40 hours a week

Essential Job Functions And Responsibilities

• Manages TMDs STA program for Texas Military Forces Service Members, in accordance with Section 437.226 of the Texas Government Code and other applicable statutes, rules and policies.
• Serves as the agency subject matter expert on the TMD STA program and ensures all program goals and objectives are met.
• Plans, organizes, and directs efficient and productive day-to-day activities of the STA Program and staff to ensure customer satisfaction and compliance with statutes, rules and policies.
• Directs daily program activities to include screening program applicants for eligibility, informing students and schools of student eligibility, receiving invoices from higher education institutions (schools), verifying transcripts, and coordinating payments to schools.
• Conducts continuous process improvement, develops solutions to improve program efficiency and effectiveness, and uses effective change management to implement solutions.
• Leads the implementation of program changes resulting from new legislation or agency policy and ensures compliance with all program directives.
• Coordinates with stakeholders, program applicants and schools to facilitate program utilization, growth, and process improvement.
• Ensures effective program marketing and communication with legislators, agency leaders, schools, military commanders, and service members.
• Ensures effective staff communication with all stakeholders, providing consultative, technical assistance, and training to ensure regular and effective customer service.
• Produces management and productivity reports on program performance measures and program utilization to TMD executives and the State Legislative Budget Board.
• Confers with executive management to develop strategic plans and long- and short-term goals.
• Assists in the preparation, development, review, revision and implementation of legislation.
• As directed, responds to legislative inquiry, confers with legislative members and / or staff, and / or testifies at legislative hearings.
• Ensures program audit readiness through accurate record keeping and internal controls / reviews.
• Exercises fiduciary responsibility to execute efficient expenditure of state appropriations in accordance with statutory directives and agency policy.
• Develops, evaluates, and forecasts program budget requirements. Programs, directs, monitors, and reports on program budget execution to achieve agency program goals and comply with statutory directives and agency policy.
• Maintains a program database to facilitate program execution and provides performance metrics / data needed to produce regular program performance reports.
• Implements necessary database security controls to protect agency and personal information and ensure data integrity.
• Develops and implements technology solutions to improve and automate program processes, to include user interface for program employees, program applicants, agency leaders, and educational institution