Senior Advisor

The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) works to build on strengths of families and communities to keep children and vulnerable adults safe, so they thrive. We do this through investigations, services, and referrals.

When you join the State of Texas, your monthly paycheck is just one part of your real income. Our benefits provide extra value that many private employers simply don’t match—often adding hundreds of dollars each month to what you take home or save.

• 100% paid health insurance for you, and 50% paid for eligible family members—saving you hundreds every month in out‑of‑pocket medical costs
• Retirement plans with lifetime monthly payments after five years of state service, plus options to save even more with 401(k) and 457 plans
• Paid vacation, holidays, and sick leave so you can recharge and take care of life outside work (that’s time off you’re actually paid for)
• Optional dental, vision, and life insurance — at rates much lower than most private plans
• Flexible spending accounts for added tax savings on health and dependent care
• Employee discounts on things like gym memberships, electronics, and entertainment

A strategic, results‑driven leader to serve as Senior Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), leading high‑impact initiatives that drive operational excellence across the agency. This role provides an opportunity to influence enterprise‑wide strategy, oversee complex projects, and strengthen organizational performance through collaboration, innovation, and strong leadership.

Reporting directly to the COO, this position collaborates with executive leadership to support and guide cross‑divisional initiatives, manage large‑scale programs, and ensure alignment with agency priorities. This role provides direct supervision of Project Managers and staff, with responsibility for delivering measurable results, fostering professional development, and promoting a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.

Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Project Managers and staff, fostering collaboration, accountability, professional development, and high performance.

Serve as a senior advisor and representative of the COO’s office, contributing and guiding strategic decision‑making and aligning initiatives with organizational priorities.

Lead multiple complex, enterprise‑level projects using established methodologies, ensuring alignment with goals, resources, scope, timelines, budgets, and quality expectations, while monitoring progress, managing change and delivery of high‑quality outcomes.

Develop and implement project plans, oversee programs and work groups to enhance efficiency, program outcomes, and ensure policies and procedures support strategic planning, compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Collaborate with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders while facilitating consistent and transparent stakeholder engagement, briefings, reporting, and executive‑level communications.

Establish and monitor performance metrics, ensure financial accountability and resources, identify and address risks, changes, and process improvements to ensure successful outcomes.

• Project management principles, methodologies, and best practices across varying levels of complexity (limited to highly complex projects)
• Applicable local, state, and federal laws, regulations, and compliance requirements related to program and project activities

• Managing multiple projects, monitoring performance, and adapting to changing priorities
• Communication, facilitation, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement

• Analyze complex information, identify risks, and develop effective solutions
• Develop reports, dashboards, and presentations to support decision‑making
• Supervise, assign work, and coordinate team activities effectively