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 salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.
Position Overview
The Governmental Relations Fellow will play an important role in supporting the Governmental Relations Division with TEA’s legislatively required and requested activities during the 89th Regular Session. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about education at the highest levels and to engage with a variety of stakeholders about the Texas public education system. This position is critical to ensuring TEA provides accurate and timely information and support to the Legislature, Legislative Budget Board, Office of the Governor, and to internal TEA staff. Facilitation of information is important if TEA is to achieve the state’s strategic vision to ensure that the 5.4 million public school students in Texas are prepared for success in college, career, or the military.
The Governmental Relations Fellows is privy to confidential and sensitive information, must have excellent interpersonal and relationship building skills, should possess a general understanding of statistical analysis processes, and of legislative management processes and techniques. They will report to the Executive Director of Governmental Relations and will work closely with the Director of Governmental Relations and other Governmental Relations Specialists to provide high quality support for the Division and internal TEA efforts to execute against the state's strategic priorities for education. Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to public education and public administration and office management techniques are preferred.
The Governmental Relations Fellow opportunity is temporary and employment will end on August 31, 2025.
The Governmental Relations Fellow may work a hybrid schedule with at least four in-person days each week. The fellow must live within the Greater Austin Area and be able to attend in-person meetings at any time during the Legislative session.
Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments 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.
- Support the functions of the Governmental Relations Division: Works within the division to ensure all Legislative calls and requests are responded to in a timely manner. Works within a team on special non-recurring and ongoing projects which may include administrative support coordinating multiple presentations, disseminating information, and ensuring close out of inquiries or questions from the field.
- Assists in the preparation of materials for governmental entities, policy stakeholders, and public presentation: Assists in the development of responses to requests to the state legislature and ensures they are appropriately documented. May discuss agency information to stakeholders, including but not limited to education organizations, governmental entities, and legislators and/or their staff. Coordinates responses to legislative inquires and may assist in the review process for legislative correspondence. Assists the Governmental Relations Division in all stages of the creation of agency presentation material, division newsletter creation, and the division’s webpage, legislative contacts and responses log, and the division policies and procedures as necessary.
- Monitors and attends legislative hearings and briefings: Accompanies the Governmental Relations division in external meetings with external parties, including legislative offices and education stakeholders as assigned. Assists in the completion and close out of deliverables from hearings and meetings.
- Establish and maintain relationships with internal TEA staff and external legislative staff: Furthers the goals and objectives of the TEA by working well with other TEA employees and legislative staff.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications
- Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university
- Experience: At least four(4) years of experience in communications, government relations, public administration or other related areas in State Legislature or in Public Education.
- Required Licenses: Valid Texas driver’s license
- Substitutions: Education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.
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
- Requires strong personal values around reliability, confidentiality and sensitive information
- Degree in Education, Public Administration, Government, Public Policy, Business, or a related field is preferred.
- Ability to tailor communications and effectively communicate to a wide variety of stakeholders
- Ability to prioritize work and collaborate with diverse individuals and groups while managing multiple projects with varied timelines
- Skill in compiling, evaluating, and presenting legislative information, preferably in public education; in problem-solving; and in policy analysis and research.
- Skill in presenting data and information through PowerPoint and Excel presentations.
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.
