Project Manager, Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas (Project Manager III)

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) oversees primary and secondary public education in Texas and is committed to improving outcomes for all public school students by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems across the state.  

Core Values

• We are Determined: We are committed and intentional in pursuing our primary purpose of improving outcomes for students.
• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain committed talent that reflects the diversity of Texas, with each individual contributing to our shared vision for students.
• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on outcomes, and continuously improve in pursuit of excellence for students.
• We are Servant Leaders: We are public servants committed to improving opportunities for students and supporting those who serve them. 

Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas (LIFT) is a three-year program designed to support Texas school systems in building the instructional and systems-level capacity needed to deliver high-quality learning experiences for all students. LIFT brings together the highest leverage components of Strong Foundations, Texas Instructional Leadership, and Texas Lesson Study, providing comprehensive support for districts to adopt High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and implement Bluebonnet Learning over multiple years. 

The LIFT Operations team provides leadership and direction in the planning, execution, monitoring, and continuous improvement of LIFT initiatives. The team develops and implements project management and operational tools, including project plans, workplans, processes, dashboards, budget trackers, and invoice management systems to support effective project execution and decision-making. Through collaboration with internal content and program teams, external vendors, and agency stakeholders, the team ensures LIFT initiatives are strategically planned, effectively coordinated, and continuously improved to deliver high-quality supports.
 
The LIFT Operations team is seeking a Project Manager who is responsible for managing the day-to-day operational, administrative, and project management functions of assigned workstreams, grants, contracts, and strategic initiatives. The Project Manager will develop and maintain project plans, coordinate timelines and deliverables, manage budgets and vendor relationships, monitor project progress and performance metrics, and identify opportunities to improve processes and operational efficiencies. The Project Manager will work across teams to ensure alignment, mitigate risks, support implementation, and ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget while supporting continuous improvement of operational systems and processes.
 
This position reports to the Deputy Director, Leadership and Instructional Foundations for Texas Operations and Supports within the LIFT team.

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

Please note that a resume is a required attachment for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

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. Budget and Contract Management: create and manage budget and tracking systems; facilitate the development of budget assumptions, monitor budget spenddown, and coordinate budget revisions or amendments based on contract monitoring; oversee financial and contract management, including participating in budget forecasting, monitoring vendor invoicing for alignment with contract deliverables, reviewing and approving invoices for services rendered, deliverables, and travel expenses, and identifying opportunities to improve operational and financial efficiency while ensuring compliance with contractual requirements

2. Grant Management: coordinate and manage project management processes that support the full lifecycle of LIFT grants, including planning, timeline management, stakeholder coordination, approvals, implementation, compliance monitoring, and continuous process improvement in support of Grant Leads and agency requirements

3.  Operational Support for Strategic Initiatives: provide responsive, high-quality operational support to meet the evolving needs of high-priority initiatives/projects by coordinating day-to-day execution, monitoring task completion, and ensuring follow-through on deliverables for the LIFT Team; establish and maintain systems for tracking actions, organizing resources, and supporting efficient workflows; support to identify and address operational gaps in real time, implement solutions to improve efficiency, and ensure teams are equipped with the tools, structures, and resources needed to execute effectively and achieve desired outcomes

4. Performance Management and Continuous Improvement: establish structures and processes to ensure effective project management, contract management, knowledge management and other operational functions by monitoring and soliciting input and feedback from relevant stakeholders to ensure systems, structures and processes are followed and are efficient, effective, and achieving their purpose for internal and external stakeholders

5. Cross-Functional Collaboration and Program Impact: contribute to the LIFT program outcomes through achievement of workstream goals and performance metrics; foster collaboration within the LIFT team, across agency divisions, and vendors to support alignment and a seamless experience for school districts 

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
• Experience: At least four [4] years of experience in project management 
• Substitution: 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 
• Certified Texas Contract Manager (CTCM) certification must be obtained within first six (6) months of employment
• Experience in budget and contracts management
• Ability to work as a contributing member of a team and foster positive and effective working relationships with a variety of individuals (including executive leadership) and groups, internal and external to TEA
• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback and continuously improve
• A degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Public Policy, Education, Organizational Leadership, or Social Science is preferred
   

New hires, rehires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees within the same classification. Offers are based on the candidate's experience and qualifications and consider internal pay equity across employees performing similar work.

The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates whose qualifications exceed the role's requirements. The maximum of the range is typically reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the required and preferred qualifications.

TEA employees receive a comprehensive benefits package through the State of Texas and the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS), supporting health, financial security, and work-life balance.
Benefits include:

• Retirement through ERS and employer-paid health insurance for eligible employees
• Optional dental, vision, and dependent coverage
• Paid state holidays, vacation leave, sick leave, and longevity pay
• Wellness programs, employee assistance programs, and professional development opportunities
• Eligibility for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program

To learn more about benefits available to State of Texas employees, please review the State of Texas Employee Benefits brochure and visit the TEA Compensation and Benefits page.

Applicants eligible for Military Employment Preference will be considered in accordance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations.

To explore how military experience may align with this role, applicants may review Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes within the State's Position Classification Plan. Please refer to the Military Crosswalk and select the occupational category that most closely corresponds with the classification listed in this job posting.

TEA is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal and state nondiscrimination laws. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or veteran status.

TEA does not sponsor or assume sponsorship of employment visas.

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.

To learn more about working at TEA, including hiring timelines, process details, and candidate resources, please visit the Careers at TEA page.

Due to the high volume of applications, we are unable to accept phone calls or respond to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

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