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Director of Policy & Innovation

Harris County

Job Location:

Houston, TX - USA

Monthly Salary: Not provided by the employer

Posted: 17 July 2026 (30+ days ago)

Application Deadline: 14 October 2026

Vacancies: 1 Vacancy

Job Summary

Position Description

Job Summary:
The Harris County Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrars 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 HCTOs 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 Offices mission operational priorities and long-term objectives.

The Director of Policy and Innovation oversees the Tax Offices 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 Offices 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 countys needs

Duties and Responsibilities:

Lead the Tax Offices 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 Offices 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 Countys 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

you need special services or accommodations please call or email.

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:

Bachelors 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 documentationbutONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. See Resumewill not be accepted for qualifications.

Preferences

Education:

Masters 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.

Required Experience:

Director

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