Deputy Director of Policy

Deputy Policy Director

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and motivated professional to join her team to further transform the way we do government. As a member of the County Judge's policy team, the Deputy Policy Director will work with the Policy Director, Policy Advisors, and other staff members to develop and implement the County Judge's policy agenda, liaise with experts from across the country in the issue areas of importance to the office, and use evidence and research to inform the direction of the Judge's actions and advocacy. The Deputy Policy Director will primarily support the Policy Director in managing and reviewing the work of policy team members, who are responsible for leading policy initiatives and projects from ideation to fruition on various issues such as flood control, climate resilience, criminal justice reform, mental health, affordable housing, and early childhood development.

Harris County is the third largest and most diverse county in the nation, with a population of more than 4.7 million, rivaling the size of the entire state of Louisiana. Judge Hidalgo functions as the CEO of Harris County and presides over the Harris County Commissioners Court, the County's governing body. Along with four County Commissioners, the County Judge directs a budget of more than $4 billion providing essential services such as justice administration, flood control, infrastructure, and housing. Judge Hidalgo also serves as Harris County's Director of Emergency Management.

Duties and Responsibilities :

• Advance the professional development of the Policy Advisors and Policy Fellows through consistent mentorship, performance evaluations, and regular feedback cycles.
• Support the Policy Director in managing Policy Advisors and Policy Fellows who provide research and analytical support for various policy initiatives and priorities.
• With the Policy Director, provide direction and project management support to strategic initiatives of the CJO led by Policy Advisors, ensuring alignment with Judge Hidalgo's policy priorities.
• Oversee the implementation of key county-wide initiatives and programs by working with other court office / precinct leadership and staff, department directors, and department staff by providing strategic guidance and if needed, project management support.
• Support the Policy Director and senior leadership by overseeing and facilitating CJO processes to prepare for regular Commissioners Court meetings, the county's regular business meeting, by reviewing and providing thoughtful, detailed feedback on Policy Advisor policy memos, briefings, and materials, and supporting the Policy Director in preparing for briefings with Judge Hidalgo and senior leadership.
• Regularly work with the Communications and External Affairs teams to inform and engage the public on policy positions and initiatives, and support liaising across teams.
• Co-lead internal policy team meetings by drafting meeting agendas and reserving conference rooms, as needed, to support clear bi-directional communication channels across teams.

Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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.

Required Supporting Documents :

Education and Experience :

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities :

NOTE : Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. Only information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.