Director of Policy & Innovation

Director of Policy & Innovation

Salary

$74.82 Hourly

Location

Houston, TX

Job Type

Regular Full-time

Job Number

16937

Department

Tax Assessor Collector

Opening Date

07/13/2026

Closing Date

7/27/2026 11:59 PM Central

• Description
• Benefits
• Questions

Position Description

Job Summary:

The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar's Office (HCTO) is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and motivated Director of Policy and Innovation. Reporting to the Chief of Staff, the Director of Policy leads HCTO's policy research, legislative analysis, and strategic policy initiatives. This position provides policy analysis and strategic recommendations that support the elected official and senior leadership in advancing the Office's mission, operational priorities, and long-term objectives.

The Director of Policy and Innovation oversees the Tax Office's policy function related to the statutory duties of the office. This includes strategic research, fiscal impact analysis, data-informed policy analysis, legislative monitoring, Commissioners Court policy coordination and monitoring, and support for continuous process improvement efforts. This position supervises the Policy Team, ensuring the team develops expertise in the Office's operations and delivers timely, accurate, and actionable analysis to support executive decision-making.

About the Tax Assessor-Collector:

HCTO is essential for ensuring the proper administration of tax laws and providing vital services to the community. The office plays a key role in local government, handling various financial, community, and administrative tasks, including:

• Property Tax Collection: Assess and collect property taxes for all eligible commercial and residential property owners and entities. Calculate property taxes based on appraised values and ensure collection and distribution to the appropriate entities.
• Motor Vehicle Services: Manage commercial and residential vehicle registration, issue license plates, and handle vehicle title transfers, including the collection of associated fees.
• Voter Registration: Oversee voter registration within the county, issue voter registration certificates, and maintain an accurate voter registration roll.
• Additional Revenue Collection: Collecting certain fees, fines, and revenues related to permits or state mandates, depending on the county's needs

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead the Tax Office's policy research and analysis functions and its development of policy recommendations to support strategic priorities.
• Develop and implement processes that ensure emerging policy issues, legislative actions, Commissioners Court matters, and other matters impacting the Tax Office are proactively identified, analyzed and communicated to the elected official and senior leadership.
• Conduct and oversee research, benchmarking, comparative analysis, and review of performance information to identify best practices, emerging trends, operational improvement opportunities and to inform policy recommendations.
• Develop policy memoranda, briefing documents, issue papers, correspondence, presentations, and other decision-support materials that provide the elected official and senior leadership with information, analysis, and recommendations on policy matters and potential next steps.
• Provide briefings to the elected official and senior leadership about legislative developments, policy issues, operational impacts, and strategic considerations.
• Lead the analysis of proposed legislation affecting the Tax Office's statutory responsibilities, operations, staffing, funding, and service delivery during and between sessions of the Texas Legislature.
• Collaborate with operational divisions to gather subject matter expertise, operational impacts, and fiscal considerations that inform policy analysis, recommendations, and leadership briefings.
• Collaborate with the County's Intergovernmental & Global Affairs (IGA) Department, through research, analysis, implementation considerations, and strategic recommendations, regarding legislative matters affecting HCTO.
• Oversee the monitoring and analysis of Commissioners Court agendas and actions affecting the Tax Office and ensure leadership receives timely information regarding potential operational, fiscal, staffing, and policy impacts.
• Serve as the staff-level policy representative with the Commissioner Court offices' policy teams, ensuring appropriate information is shared to support informed decision-making.
• Ensure operational data, performance measures, and service delivery information are incorporated into policy analysis, process improvement efforts, and recommendations.
• Oversee the development of dashboards, reports, data summaries, and analytical tools that support executive decision-making in collaboration with leadership.
• Conduct comparative analyses of operational performance and service delivery to identify opportunities for continuous improvement.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer

https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx

If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.

This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Affairs, Political Science or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Minimum four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government relations, public administration, strategic planning, or a related field.
• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and coaching staff and working collaboratively across teams.
• Experience conducting policy analysis and developing recommendations for executive leadership.
• Experience interpreting legislation and assessing organizational impacts.
• Knowledge of public policy analysis, legislative affairs, governmental operations, and strategic planning
• Strong understanding of the Texas legislative process and county government
• Ability to analyze complex legislation and assess operational, fiscal, staffing, and policy impacts.
• Ability to synthesize qualitative research, quantitative data, and operational information into strategic recommendations.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare executive-level memoranda, briefing materials, presentations, and reports.
• Ability to effectively present complex policy issues and recommendations to executive leadership
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to establish collaborative working relationships with operational divisions, executive leadership, county departments, and governmental partners.
• Strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, and project management skills.

NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:

• Master's Degree in Public Policy, Public Administration, Public Affairs, Political Science, or related field from an accredited college or university.

Experience:

• Experience in monitoring and analyzing legislation during Texas legislative sessions.
• Experience using operational data and performance metrics to inform policy recommendations.
• Experience collaborating with executive leadership, operational leaders, and governmental stakeholders.
• Experience supporting continuous process improvement initiatives.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Understanding of fundamental property tax concepts, rules, and operations.
• Understanding of fundamental voter registration processes, list maintenance obligations, and the role of voter registration in the election process.

General Information

Work Environment:

• Work is performed primarily in an office setting, subject to frequent interruptions with extensive work at a computer workstation.

• Flexibility to work evening and weekend hours, dependent upon business needs.

• Occasional travel to conferences and training sessions may be required.

Physical Demands:

• Sedentary role with medium physical effort required; however, it may at times involve long periods of standing, walking, bending, reaching, stretching, climbing, lifting to 30 lbs. or similar activities (e.g., filing, delivering, sorting).

• Regular application of basic skills (calculator, keyboard, hand tools, eye/hand coordination).

Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.

Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.

The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:

Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*
• Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.

In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the Countys behalf as needed.

For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:

www.benefitsathctx.com

01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position? Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Public Policy
• Public Administration
• Public Affairs
• Political Science
• Other related field
• Unrelated field
• N/A; No degree

03

Please describe your educational background (i.e. diploma, degree, certifications, etc.) including the level of education completed, area of study, and completed major and minor programs.

04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable progressively responsible experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government relations, public administration, strategic planning, or a related field? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history)

• Less than four (4) years
• Four (4) years or more
• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide details about your verifiable progressively responsible experience in public policy, legislative affairs, government relations, public administration, strategic planning, or a related field. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

06

Which of the following best describes your verifiable supervisory or management experience? (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history)

• Less than three (3) years
• Three (3) years or more
• I do not have this experience

07

Please provide details about your verifiable supervisory or management experience. Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume" (To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your applications employment history) Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilities If you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.

08

Which of the following areas do you have professional experience or knowledge in? Please select all that apply.

• Experience managing, mentoring and coaching staff and working collaboratively across teams.
• Experience conducting policy analysis and developing recommendations for executive leadership.
• Experience interpreting legislation and assessing organizational impacts.
• Knowledge of public policy analysis, legislative affairs, governmental operations, and strategic planning.
• Experience monitoring and analyzing legislation during Texas legislative sessions.
• Experience using operational data and performance metrics to inform policy recommendations.
• Experience collaborating with executive leadership, operational leaders, and governmental stakeholders.
• Experience supporting continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Understanding of fundamental property tax concepts, rules, and operations.
• Understanding of fundamental voter registration processes, list maintenance obligations, and the roll of voter registration in the election process.
• N/A I do not have any of this experience

09

If you selected any of the experience areas in the previous question(s), please describe your relevant, verifiable experience. Include your role, responsibilities, and where you gained this experience. NOTE: Please DO NOT use "See Resume" as we do not use resumes for qualifications. (Type N/A if not applicable)

Required Question

Employer Harris County

Address 1111 Fannin St

Ste. 600

Houston, Texas, 77002

Phone 713-274-5445

Website https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/harriscountytx