Deputy County Administrator, Justice & Safety

About the role

The Deputy County Administrator (DCA), Justice & Safety is responsible for advancing Harris County Commissioners Court’s priorities related to the justice system and public safety while working closely with the County Administrator, Commissioners Court offices, selected department heads, and other elected and appointed officials. The DCA must have extensive demonstrated experience developing and implementing criminal justice system policies and operations that: reduce violent crime; reduce criminal legal system exposure that does not advance public safety; reduce racial and ethnic disparities; increase safety and health, and increase system efficiencies. The DCA should be a mission- and policy driven leader who will help achieve Commissioners Court’s Justice and Safety priorities, including but not limited to those outlined in the Harris County Strategic Plan and Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Strategic Plan. The position will serve as the County Administrator’s central executive-level coordination point for work primarily relating to Goal 1 (Make Harris County safer and more just) of the Strategic Plan.

Responsibilities

Executive Leadership and Strategic Direction
Executive Functions: Serves as the second in command within the Office of County Administration and a member of the OCA Executive Team, providing executive leadership and strategic direction in support of department operation and County priorities. Collaborates with the County Administrator, selected department heads, elected and other appointed officials, and other OCA staff to support the successful execution of priorities and projects established by Commissioners Court. Develops and maintains strong and collaborative relationships between Commissioners Court and other Elected Officials and justice system professionals.
Management: Collaboratively manages several Justice & Safety department heads and directly manages the OCA Justice Innovation Team to ensure the successful execution of Justice & Safety Court Directives, the Strategic Plan, CJCC Strategic Plan and additional priorities to address legal and statutory requirements. Manages Commissioner Court preparation for key Justice & Safety priorities. Serves as the back-up for the County Administrator for Court directives and priorities.
Strategy: Supports efforts to implement, oversee, and regularly update the County’s Strategic Plan for Justice & Safety and CJCC strategic plan. Drives OCA’s work with selected County departments to develop their own department-specific strategic direction and performance measures in alignment with the Strategic Plan.
Leadership: Ability to lead leaders; set direction; align goals, objectives, and operational measures; create a cohesive, impactful, culture; ensure adequate performance management and 360 (or two-way) communication to support others’ ability to drive results.
Engaging Partners: Engaging with communities, local partners, elected and appointed leaders, and all levels of government to improve their understanding of the County’s programs, as well as obtaining input and feedback on these programs to improve mutual understanding and relationships.
Accountability: Demonstrates clear communication, accountability, and responsiveness, while promoting the same from department heads to Commissioners Court and the County Administrator.
Collaboration: Facilitates collaboration between assigned departments and external partners, shared goals, and continuous improvement across County operations to ensure the success of initiatives and move the County closer to achieving specified Goals and Objectives. Liaise with offices led by elected and appointed officials whenever needed in addition to day-to-day work with selected departments.
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) Lead and facilitate the County’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) in partnership with the CJCC Chair (currently Commissioner Rodney Ellis) and the Vice Chair (currently Sheriff Ed Gonzalez), and other county leadership and decision-makers. Convene quarterly CJCC meetings and align senior leaders and decision-makers across justice, public safety, and others around shared priorities and outcomes as established by both the CJCC Strategic Plan and the Harris County Strategic Plan. Monitor and track key criminal legal system issues and data indicators, and ensure Commissioners Court and CJCC members, committee, and workgroups consider prioritizing based on quality research and analysis.
Serve as a primary liaison to County justice and public safety leadership, coordinating and prioritizing implementation of key directives for the CJCC. Facilitate interagency cooperation, identify barriers, and elevate executive-level decisions to ensure continued progress on high-priority strategic initiatives. Develop recommendations and solutions based on policy best practices and research to address core issues. Leads the design and develops actionable policy solutions based on best practices to advance the County and CJJCC strategic plan.
Drive execution of the CJCC Strategic Plan by advancing the priorities and initiatives of each of the CJCC standing Committees, which include: Deflection and Diversion, Violence Prevention, System Process Improvement, Indigent Defense, and Racial & Ethnic Equity. This includes providing strategic direction and guidance to Committee leadership (committees are generally chaired by various Commissioners) and ensuring respective Committee workgroups (generally chaired by County staff) are focused on delivering measurable outcomes and agree-upon priorities and deliverables. Monitor and track key criminal legal system issues and data indicators related to the CJCC strategic plan and ensure awareness and visibility of those issues and indicators to Commissioners Court, CJCC members, committees and workgroups. Lead on the development of the CJCC’s next Strategic Plan for 2027 and beyond.
Establish accountability and alignment across CJCC Committees and workgroups, and ensure that progress is elevated appropriately through the workgroup and committee structure to the full CJCC for review, decision-making and action.
Develops and implements effective strategies for priority issue solutions in coordination with Commissioners Court and key criminal justice system stakeholders.
Support Broader County Priorities and Initiatives
Budget: Works closely with the County Administrator and selected department heads to develop annual budgets in alignment with County priorities.
Performance: Supports the department head performance evaluations in collaboration with the County Administrator (who retains hiring and firing authority with respect to heads of departments within the D