Planner - Health and Human Services

Job Summary

Looking for a career that truly makes a difference while also offering exceptional benefits and work-life balance? Travis County Health and Human Services (HHS) serves the community under the guidance of the Commissioners Court. We address community needs through internal and external investments and services. We strive to maximize quality of life for all people in Travis County by protecting vulnerable populations, investing in social and economic well-being, building a shared understanding of our community, and promoting healthy physical, behavioral and environmental living. TC-HHS is looking for a full-time Planner and be part of a mission-driven team that shows up every day for our community.

This role offers outstanding benefits, including hybrid work opportunities, generous paid vacation and sick leave, comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance, access to a free health clinic for you and your dependents, a robust retirement plan, and much more.

HHS Planners perform professional research and planning work in the field of health and human services across a variety of County and community projects and initiatives. Work occurs as part of a small, collaborative team. The work environment involves both autonomy and teamwork and requires planners to balance individual initiative and self-direction with feedback-rich and consultative practices. Planners are supported in their learning, applying and enhancing skills through the work, and are provided and encouraged to seek opportunities for formal training and professional development.

Planners typically have a generalist skill set and support projects across the Division's work plan covering a range of issue areas and populations. This position may be involved in or have a focus on some of the following: investment planning, contract management, youth services, and/or other social service issue area(s), data analysis, and/or performance measurement and reporting. Current opportunities in the Division's work plan will be discussed during the interview process.

The Division's work includes social service investment planning; contract oversight and reporting; community planning group support and process facilitation; and research, data analysis, writing, and presentation towards the goal of building an efficient and effective service delivery system for human services in Travis County.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This is the first in a series of three planner-related job classifications within the Planning and Research job family. This classification is distinguished by incumbents that typically have responsibility for performing planning, researching and analyzing for assigned projects and programs.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Research & Planning division covers the following tasks and projects. Individual workloads vary and will have some mix of the following duties and responsibilities.

• 
  Primary and secondary research

• Data mining, analysis, and/or visualization

• Technical assistance and consultation in research and data

• Legislative and policy analysis

• Writing reports and other documents

• Presentation before peers, the public, and/or elected officials

• Participation in collaborative group processes

• Planning support for community and task groups including supporting the development of community plans

• Strategic planning support for the HHS department, divisions, and programs

• Facilitation of meetings and groups

• Program planning, design, and development

• Process reviews and program evaluations

• Design and conduct surveys and focus groups

• Performance measurement

• Programmatic and performance oversight of social service contracts

• Social services contract management

• Investment planning: community assessment

• Investment planning: scoping, planning, and implementing competitive processes for social services investments

• Investment planning: evaluating proposals and negotiating contracts

• Implement tasks for assigned projects according to project timelines. May serve as project manager

• Ensure work reflects community planning principles and other relevant professional standards

• Interpret and apply policies and procedures and applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, codes, rules, and regulations

• Represent the County in a range of settings

• Work in partnership with community representatives or groups, departments, and outside agencies

• Use computer applications and management information systems

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Planning, Business Administration, Public Policy/Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology, or a directly related field AND four (4) years increasingly responsible experience with strategic planning, programming planning, research, project management, policy research and/or program development;

OR,
Master’s degree in Social Work, Planning, Public Policy/Administration, Government, Criminal justice, Sociology, or other social sciences; AND two (2) years relevant experience with program planning, strategic planning, research, project management, policy research and/or program development;

OR,
Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
None required.

Preferred:
Experience with social services/health and human services (may include work, volunteer, and/or life experience)

Experience in one or more of the following: data analysis, contract management, investment system planning, community planning, performance measurement and evaluation

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Human service systems and programs.
• Governmental agencies and relevant policies (local, state, and federal).
• Principles of community planning.
• Primary research methods (interviews, focus groups, surveys, etc.).
• Secondary research methods (literature reviews, use of online sources, etc.).
• Performance measurements.
• Human service investment systems (assessing and scoping portfolios, implementing procurement processes, contract management, etc.).
• Logic models.
• Population characteristics and community conditions pertaining to health and human services.
• Computer equipment and software, to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; knowledge of databases, statistical packages, GIS, and design software can be applied.
• Grammar, punctuation, and writing style for reports and professional communications.
• May be required to develop knowledge of and adhere to federal and state laws requiring the confidential handling of certain health information.

• Program planning, developing and implementation.
• Data analysis.
• Contract management and investment system planning.
• Policy research/policy analysis.
• Writing reports, briefs, and other documents.
• Developing and making presentations.
• Planning and facilitating meetings and groups.
• Managing projects for self and teams (including developing work plans, coordinating tasks and timelines, etc.)
• Both verbal and written communication.

• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Apply the knowledge and skills above to reach sound conclusions and make recommendations.
• Apply flexibility and initiative to new assignments.
• Work autonomously with moderate supervision and seek guidance/consultation when needed.
• Work collaboratively with peers and teams.
• Represent Travis County professionally in community work.
• Develop and maintain effective working relationships with department, County, and community staff.
• Communicate and work with diverse stakeholders, including clients, staff, partner agencies, contractors/vendors, elected officials, and the public.
• Consider different viewpoints.

Work Environment & Other Information

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-20 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, occasional indoor/outdoor activities, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 5325 Airport Blvd., Austin, TX 78751

Department: Health & Human Services

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact: HHS_HR@traviscountytx.gov

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.