CPS Legislative Liaison

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.

What You Get Beyond Your Paycheck

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.

Here's what you get as a full-time employee:

• 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

You also might qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness, which could help you pay off federal student loans faster.

You can see all the details here: ERS recruitment brochure

Functional Title: CPS Legislative Liaison

Job Title: Program Specialist VII

Agency: Dept of Family & Protectve Svc

Department: CPS State Office Prg Supp

Posting Number: 22092

Closing Date: 10/19/2026

Posting Audience: Internal and External

Occupational Category: Business and Financial Operations

Salary Range: $5,797.66 - $9,508.25

Pay Frequency: Monthly

Salary Group: TEXAS-B-25

Shift: Day

Additional Shift:

Telework: Not Eligible for Telework

Travel: Up to 35%

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Full Time/Part Time: Full time

FLSA Exempt/Non-Exempt: Exempt

Facility Location:

Job Location City: AUSTIN

Job Location Address: 4900 N LAMAR BLVD

Other Locations:

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

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Under the direction of the CPS Director of Outreach & Engagement, the CPS Legislative Liaison performs advanced (senior-level) consultative services, project management, legislative coordination, policy analysis, and strategic planning work for the Child Protective Services division.

The position provides oversight of legislative activities impacting CPS, including coordinating bill analyses, implementation planning, appropriations-related activities, legislative reporting, and responses to legislative inquiries. The position manages multiple high-priority initiatives simultaneously and routinely provides executive-level consultation and recommendations to CPS leadership.

The position serves as the CPS Business Continuity and Legislative Coordination Lead and is responsible for developing and coordinating legislative implementation activities, monitoring legislative and policy developments, tracking executive assignments, coordinating open records requests, preparing executive communications, and leading special projects associated with federal and state initiatives.

The liaison frequently interacts with DFPS executive leadership, state office divisions, field operations, legislative offices, governmental entities, and external stakeholders. The position exercises substantial independent judgment and routinely responds to urgent and high-profile assignments requiring rapid analysis and decision support.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. Legislative Strategy, Planning, and Implementation (35%)

Plans, develops, coordinates, and manages CPS legislative activities associated with state and federal initiatives. Oversees legislative implementation projects, monitors legislative developments, coordinates division responses, and develops implementation plans to ensure compliance with enacted legislation.

Duties

• Serves as CPS Legislative Liaison and principal coordinator for legislative activities impacting the division.
• Monitors proposed legislation and legislative activities affecting CPS programs and operations.
• Coordinates bill analyses, fiscal impact assessments, policy analyses, and implementation planning.
• Develops and tracks legislative implementation plans and associated deliverables.
• Provides strategic recommendations to CPS leadership regarding legislative and operational impacts.
• Coordinates responses to legislative requests and legislative inquiries.
• Monitors project schedules, deliverables, and statutory requirements.
• Provides legislative consultation and technical assistance to CPS leadership and program staff.

2. Executive Policy Analysis and Legislative Reporting (25%)

Performs advanced research, policy analysis, evaluation, and reporting activities related to child welfare programs, legislation, and agency priorities.

Duties

• Conducts complex research and policy analyses.
• Evaluates the operational, fiscal, and programmatic impact of proposed legislation.
• Develops executive briefings, issue papers, reports, summary documents, and policy recommendations.
• Coordinates legislative reports, implementation reports, exceptional item requests, and legislative initiative documents.
• Develops executive correspondence and responses to legislative and governmental inquiries.
• Provides written and verbal recommendations to executive leadership regarding policy, operational, and legislative issues.

3. Executive Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement (15%)

Serves as a principal contact for legislative matters, governmental affairs issues, and executive requests involving CPS programs.

Duties

• Coordinates responses to legislative, governmental, executive, and stakeholder requests.
• Collaborates with DFPS divisions, CPS programs, and field operations to gather information and meet organizational objectives.
• Represents CPS in meetings, workgroups, planning sessions, and legislative discussions.
• Develops and maintains productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Facilitates communication among stakeholder groups to ensure timely completion of assignments and projects.

4. Executive Communications and Leadership Support (15%)

Provides comprehensive executive support and consultation on legislative and policy matters.

Duties

• Develops legislative testimony materials, briefing books, presentations, and informational materials.
• Prepares talking points and executive communications for leadership.
• Assists leadership in preparing for legislative hearings, stakeholder meetings, and speaking engagements.
• Produces executive-level reports and documents concerning complex policy and program issues.
• Provides rapid response support for priority executive assignments.

5. Business Continuity and Special Projects (10%)

Coordinates CPS business continuity activities and manages complex special projects.

Duties

• Serves as CPS Business Continuity Coordinator.
• Develops, evaluates, and updates business continuity plans.
• Coordinates emergency preparedness and continuity planning activities.
• Tracks and manages open records requests.
• Leads special projects involving legislative mandates, executive directives, and organizational improvement initiatives.
• Responds to urgent requests and short-term assignments requiring immediate action and rapid turnaround.
• Attends work on a predictable, reliable schedule.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

Knowledge of:

• Program and policy planning, development, implementation, and evaluation.
• Editorial and information dissemination concepts, practices, and research methodologies.
• Texas legislative and appropriations processes.
• Federal and state health and human services legislation and regulations.
• Structure and operation of federal, state, and local health and human services programs.
• Child Protective Services initiatives, operations, and policy development.
• Legislative implementation processes.
• Governmental affairs and stakeholder engagement practices.
• Business continuity planning principles and organizational risk management.
• Performance measurement and program evaluation methodologies.
• Executive communications and strategic planning principles.

Ability to:

• Assemble, evaluate, and analyze facts, data, and information from multiple sources.
• Devise solutions to complex operational and administrative problems and assess impacts on program operations.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with executives, legislators, stakeholders, and staff.
• Prioritize and organize multiple work assignments and competing deadlines.
• Analyze and develop Child Protective Services policy issues and products.
• Handle multiple high-profile assignments simultaneously without compromising quality, deadlines, outcomes, or milestones.
• Translate complex legislative, policy, and programmatic information into understandable and actionable information for diverse audiences.
• Develop, evaluate, and improve policies, procedures, and operational processes.
• Work effectively in a high-profile and fast-paced environment.
• Analyze proposed legislation and determine fiscal, policy, operational, and program impacts.
• Plan, prioritize, schedule, assign, coordinate, and monitor completion of assignments and projects.
• Communicate complex information clearly, concisely, and effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Collaborate effectively with executive leadership, management, and staff at all organizational levels.
• Develop innovative solutions to administrative, legislative, and programmatic challenges.
• Exercise independent judgment when addressing complex organizational issues.

Skill in:

• Reviewing, analyzing, and preparing a variety of written documents with exceptional attention to detail.
• Developing recommendations based on research and analysis.
• Organizing, synthesizing, and presenting complex information.
• Strategic planning and goal setting.
• Project management and implementation oversight.
• Conducting policy and legislative research.
• Planning, facilitating, and coordinating meetings and workgroups.
• Building consensus among diverse stakeholder groups.
• Preparing executive briefings, testimony materials, reports, presentations, and correspondence.
• Utilizing Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, and related business applications.
• Developing tracking systems, performance measures, and implementation monitoring tools.

REGISTRATION, CERTIFICATION, OR LICENSURE: None required.

INITIAL SCREENING CRITERIA:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in public policy, governmental relations, journalism, communications, or a related field. Relevant experience may be substituted for each year of required education. At least two years of experience in monitoring, and/or coordinating legislative assignments preferred. At least two years working for a health and human services agency preferred.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: N/A

Review our Tips for Success when applying for jobs at DFPS, DSHS and HHSC.

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified to fill this position. For more information please see the Texas State Auditor's Job Descriptions, Military Crosswalk and Military Crosswalk Guide at Texas State Auditors Office - Job Descriptions. You may also contact the DFPS Military Liaison at dfpsmilvets@dfps.texas.gov with additional questions.

Applicants selected for hire must pass a background check and if applicable a driver's record check.

State of Texas employees are required to maintain the security and integrity of critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2), State of Texas Business and Commerce Code. Applicants selected for hire comply with this code by completing related training and abiding by agency cybersecurity and communications system usage policies.

As a state agency, DFPS is required by Texas Administrative Code (TAC 206 and 213) to ensure all Electronic Information Resources (EIR) follow accessibility standards. The staff must be familiar with the WCAG 2.1 AA and Section 508 to create accessible content including but not limited to; Microsoft Office documents, Adobe PDFs, webpages, software, training guides, video, and audio files.

DFPS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work. Employees must provide documentation to DFPS to show their identity and authorization to work in the US. Please review the following link for authorized documents: https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), HHS/DFPS agencies will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring and selection process for qualified individuals with a disability. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS/DFPS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747. If you are contacted for an interview and need accommodation to participate in the interview process, please notify the person scheduling the interview.