Technical Policy Writer

General Summary

Under the general supervision of the Policy Manager, the Technical Policy Writer performs advanced professional-level policy research, analysis, development, and technical writing for the Harris County Sheriff's Office. The position develops, reviews, revises, and maintains agency policies, procedures, and related directives so that they are legally sound, operationally workable, internally consistent, clearly written, and aligned with applicable federal, state, and local law, regulatory and accreditation requirements, Harris County requirements, and Sheriff's Office directives.

The Technical Policy Writer works with Executive Command, Legal Counsel, bureau and division leadership, subject-matter experts, and operational personnel to translate legal, regulatory, and operational requirements into clear, actionable policy. The position independently researches assigned policy topics, identifies gaps or conflicts, evaluates operational impact, and recommends appropriate revisions; it does not supervise staff.

Key Responsibilities

• Researches, drafts, reviews, and revises Sheriff's Office policies, procedures, general orders, and related administrative directives.
• Conducts research into applicable federal and Texas law, Harris County requirements, HCSO Civil Service Rules, regulatory standards, accreditation standards (e.g., TCOLE, TCJS, PREA, CALEA), and recognized public-safety practices relevant to the subject matter.
• Interviews and consults with subject-matter experts, supervisors, bureau/division leadership, and employees to gather and validate the information needed to develop or revise policy.
• Evaluates existing policies for accuracy, clarity, consistency, redundancy, conflicting requirements, outdated provisions, and operational feasibility.
• Translates complex legal, regulatory, and operational information into clear, concise, and actionable policy language appropriate for employees at all levels.
• Distinguishes policy requirements from procedures, guidelines, and training materials, and recommends the appropriate document type.
• Performs policy impact analyses to identify likely effects on operations, staffing, training, technology, forms, records, and other affected functions.
• Reviews related policies when making revisions to keep terminology, authority, and responsibilities consistent across the Sheriff's Office policy system.
• Coordinates policy review with Legal Counsel and other stakeholders when proposed or revised policy involves statutory, regulatory, civil-service, employment, or other legal considerations.
• Facilitates stakeholder review of draft policy, evaluates comments and competing input, and prepares revised language or options for management consideration.
• Prepares change summaries, briefing documents, and other materials needed to communicate new or revised policy to Executive Command and affected personnel.
• Maintains documentation of policy research, source authorities, stakeholder input, revisions, and approvals.
• Supports systematic review cycles and identifies HCSO policies requiring revision due to changes in law, regulation, or operations.
• Coordinates with affected divisions on implementation of approved policy, including related training, forms, or procedural changes.
• Assists in maintaining standardized policy-writing conventions, formatting, terminology, and templates.
• Conducts benchmarking research into policies and practices of other governmental or public-safety agencies, as appropriate.
• Handles sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
• Performs other duties within the scope and responsibility of the position as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, Political Science, English, Technical Communication, Journalism, Legal Studies, Criminal Justice, Business Administration, or a closely related field; and
• Three (3) years of progressively responsible professional experience in policy research, policy analysis, regulatory analysis, technical writing, legal/regulatory writing, procedure development, compliance documentation, or comparable professional work, including at least one (1) year of direct responsibility for drafting, substantively revising, or analyzing formal organizational policies, procedures, regulations, or comparable governance documents.
• Valid Driver's License (Texas upon hire).

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  Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
  

  Knowledge of:

  • Principles and practices of professional…