Program Specialist VII

Date:
Sep 15, 2026

Location:

AUSTIN, TX

Join the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) and be part of a team committed to creating a positive impact in the lives of fellow Texans. At HHSC, your contributions matter, and we support you at each stage of your life and work journey. Our comprehensive benefits package includes 100% paid employee health insurance for full-time eligible employees, a defined benefit pension plan, generous time off benefits, numerous opportunities for career advancement and more.

Explore more details on the Benefits of Working at HHS webpage.

Functional

Title:

Program Specialist VII
Job Title: Program Specialist VII
Agency: Health & Human Services Comm
Department: BH-Adult Mental Health Svcs
Posting Number: 21432
Closing Date: 09/29/2026
Posting Audience: Internal and External
Occupational Category: Community and Social Services
Salary Range: $5,797.66 - $9,508.25
Pay Frequency: Monthly
Salary Group: TEXAS-B-25
Shift: Day
Additional Shift: Days (First)
Telework: Eligible for Telework
Travel: Up to 30%
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full Time/Part Time: Full time
FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Job Location City: AUSTIN
Job Location Address: 4601 W GUADALUPE ST

MOS Codes: 16GX,60C0,611X,612X,63G0,641X,712X,86M0,8U000,OS,OSS,PERS,YN,YNS

Texas Health and Human Services Commission’s (HHSC) Forensic and Jail Diversion Services (FJDS) Unit seeks a Program Specialist VII (PSVII). This PSVII reports to an Associate Director (Director I) within the FJDS Unit. This position is located in the Adult, Crisis, and Forensic Mental Health Services Division, Behavioral Health Services Department.

This PSVII performs advanced (senior-level) consultative services and technical assistance work related to the provision of statewide diversion and justice-related activities and programs for individuals with serious mental illness, including the provision of mental health services that involve outpatient and residential crisis services for individuals who are, or at risk of becoming, justice-involved. Work involves planning, developing, and implementing major agency programs in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders such as county jails and state hospitals.

This position works to address access to care and continuity of care issues through collaboration with Local Mental Health Authorities, Local Behavioral Health Authorities, the criminal justice system, and other local entities to ensure people’s needs are addressed in the least restrictive environment.

This position serves as a Team Lead and may be responsible for providing direction to other program staff within the FJDS Unit. This position will have responsibilities related to the design and implementation of evidence-based practices; research and development of statewide or pilot programming in conjunction with evidence-based best practices; revision of statewide guidelines and performance contract language; creation of policy interpretation documents;

development of legislative appropriations requests; drafting prompt responses to requests for information, and serving as a public speaker or division representative with stakeholder organizations, inter or intra agency task groups, and other organizations or agencies as requested. This PSVII is informed about the statewide mental health service system, ...

This position requires strong analytical and writing skills and must maintain updated knowledge regarding recovery-oriented services and engagement, in addition to service delivery systems that support people with mental illness involved or at risk of involvement with the criminal justice system. This PSVII works under limited supervision and leads projects, with considerable…