Managing Director, Forecasting (Director IV)

MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

• Core Values: 
• • We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students. 
• • We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.
• • We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.
• • We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate’s experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum of the salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Managing Director, Forecasting reports to the Executive Director of the State Funding, Forecasting, and Fiscal Analysis Division and performs advanced (senior-level) managerial work providing direction and guidance in strategic operations and planning for the Forecasting team, which is responsible for maintaining the programming for the Foundation School Program (FSP) and modeling policy changes to the state’s school finance system. The FSP determines the amount of state and local funding due to school districts under Texas school finance law and provides the state share of this funding (approximately $30 billion annually) to districts. The division also produces reports and other data related to school finance.

This position will play a critical role in effectively implementing House Bill 2, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, including system development, testing, analysis, and the evaluation of financial performance. The Director assigns and supervises the work of senior-level programmers and data analysts, and works closely with leadership, analysts, programmers, and stakeholders to ensure effective and efficient implementation of school finance formulas in compliance with applicable statutes and regulations.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Additionally, applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to a national criminal history background check.

• ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
• Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Manage and Develop Specialized Staff: leads, supervises, and develops high-performing Forecasting team and effectively plans for succession vulnerabilities by fostering employee growth and leveraging internal promotional pathways when appropriate including heavy focus on technical skill development with coding, project management, stakeholder relationships, and strategic support
2. Compliance and Transparency: applies funding formulas used to distribute money to school districts in accordance with the Texas Education Code and Texas Administrative Code (implementing changes to formulas or rules as necessary) and overseeing the development and maintenance of associated systems, procedures, and system documentation; this includes the accuracy and reliability of the SOF reports and payment ledgers
3. Strategy and Process Improvements: collaborates with the School Finance Department and agency senior leadership, team leaders and programmers/analysts within the division and agency, and information technology staff on requirements and enhancements to the FSP system; coordinates development of system requirements, prioritizes system changes; designs structures and systems to increase efficiency and manage workloads for all staff
4. Stakeholder Engagement: effectively collaborates within the division, across the agency and with external agencies/stakeholders on projects in support of the school finance system and related financial transactions, including representing the agency as needed at business meetings and legislative activities 
5. Leadership Support: leads the preparation of school finance bill analysis and fiscal note activities between the agency, Legislative Budget Board, Comptroller’s office and the Governor’s Office of Budget and Planning; performs bill analysis and prepares fiscal notes that determine the cost of implementing school finance legislation

• MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
• • Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• • Experience: At least seven [7] years of experience in programming, data analytics and reporting including a minimum of (2) years supervisory experience 
• • Substitutions: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:
• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military
• Familiarity with interpreting Texas statutes, administrative codes, and written policies; Texas Administrative and Education Code preferred
• Experience working with large data sets and educational systems are preferred
• Effective project management and delegation skills and ability to adapt to and execute unexpected tasks; able to take direction, manage multiple projects at once, and meet deadlines
• A strong customer-service mindset with a focus on engaging both internal and external stakeholders, actively listening, and collaborating in a results-oriented team environment to solve problems
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve 
• Ability to interpret statutes and regulations, understand abstract concepts, and correlate facts, processes, and mathematical formulas.
• Excellent writing and oral communication skills, including proficiency with documenting standards and procedures of work
• Ability to develop and maintain productive and professional relationships with a diverse set of individuals and groups
• Expertise with programming techniques and languages used in relational databases, including SQL
• Knowledge of research methods, principals, and philosophies, and experience with implementing such methods, principals, and philosophies
• Skill in using statistical software, including strong skills in SAS (or similar software)
• Knowledge of FSP state funding system, allocation, and payment processes preferred
• Major coursework in data science, business analytics, computer science, computer information systems, management information systems, accounting, finance, mathematics, statistics, economics, or a related field is generally preferred

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State’s Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military “occupational category” that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.