Special Assistant to the Executive Director (Austin)

Special Assistant to the Executive Director (Program Specialist IV)
Classification Number: 1573 Salary Group: B20

Are you an energetic and service-oriented professional with a "no task too small" attitude and a passion for providing exceptional support to executive leadership? Are you looking for a launchpad to a prominent role within a major state agency?

The Texas Workforce Commission is seeking a highly motivated and adaptable individual to join our Executive team as a Special Assistant to the Executive Director. As Special Assistant, you will gain invaluable experience in a fast-paced and rewarding environment, with the expectation of growing into a new role within another TWC division in 2-4 years.

The selected candidate will work on-site Monday - Friday, at 101 E. 15th St., Austin, TX 78778.

TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. You must be a Texas resident to work for the Texas Workforce Commission or willing to relocate to Texas.

WHO WE ARE:
TWC has a noble public service mission: we connect people with careers all over the state. While our headquarters are in Austin, we have offices statewide. We're a Family Friendly Certified Workplace with great work-life balance, competitive salaries, extensive opportunities for training and development, and fantastic benefits. This is a unique role for someone seeking a challenging position with significant growth potential. The Special Assistant will be a key part of the Executive office, providing direct support to the Executive Director.

WHO YOU ARE:
An ambitious and service-oriented professional who possesses a strong work ethic, unwavering integrity, and a drive to excel. You thrive in a fast-paced environment and are highly adaptable and flexible, willing to be accessible and assist in off-hours when needed. You are a self-starting, motivated, collaborative problem solver who understands the value of exceptional customer service and discretion. You see this Special Assistant role not just as a job, but as a unique stepping-stone – a launchpad to a prominent role within another division of the Texas Workforce Commission in approximately 2-4 years.

WHAT YOU WILL DO:

• Provide a wide variety of high-level administrative support to an executive.
• Manage office workloads and the day-to-day activities of the executive office.
• Assist with strategic initiatives and special projects.
• Contribute to the ongoing improvement of executive office processes.

YOU WILL BE TRUSTED TO:

• Manage the executive's calendar, schedule meetings, and coordinate travel arrangements.
• Prepare and edit correspondence, reports, presentations, and other documents with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Serve as a primary point of contact for internal and external stakeholders.
• Assist the executive with research and general information gathering.
• Attend meetings in support of the executive as needed.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

YOU QUALIFY WITH:

• Two years of full-time experience in a responsible position which provided thorough knowledge of agency programs and services; business management practices, clerical administration, and procedures; or experience in organizing and coordinating support services or program operations which included analyzing work problems and interpreting complex policies and procedures.
• Relevant academic credits may be applied toward experience qualifications for this position.

YOU ARE A GREAT FIT WITH:

• Exceptional Communication: You communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with individuals at all levels. You are also social media savvy, capable of managing a professional presence (like drafting LinkedIn articles or handling retweets) and coordinating with the Communications team on official agency messaging.
• Organized and Efficient: You have strong organizational, time management, and prioritization skills, with a proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
• Discreet and Professional: You have a demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise discretion, and handle sensitive information with the utmost professionalism.
• Proactive and Adaptable: You take initiative, are comfortable working with limited supervision, and are willing to go the extra mile.

Bonus Points if you have:

• Proven experience supporting senior-level executives.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Experience with travel booking and expense reporting systems.

YOU GAIN:

• A Family Friendly Certified Workplace.

- Competitive starting salary: $66,000- $72,000/annually

• Defined Retirement Benefit Plan.
• Optional 401(k) and 457 accounts.
• Medical Insurance.
• Paid time off, including time for vacation, sick and family care leave.
• Additional benefits for active employees can be found at https://www.ers.texas.gov/Active-Employees/Health-Benefits.

VETERANS:
Use your military skills to qualify for this position or other jobs! Go to www.texasskillstowork.com to translate your military work experience and training courses into civilian job terms, qualifications, and skill sets. Also, you can compare this position to military occupations (MOS) at the Texas State Auditor's Office by pasting this link into your browser: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/Compensation/MilitaryCrosswalk/MOSC_ProgramManagement.pdf.

HOW TO APPLY:
To be considered, please complete a State of Texas Application for Employment and apply online at www.workintexas.com or on Taleo (Job Search). TWC is not considering applications from individuals who require sponsorship for an employment visa, including those with H1B visas or those currently on student or postgraduate visas. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire. A position utilizing this classification will be designated as security sensitive according to the Texas Labor Code, Section 301.042.