Governmental Relations Specialist

About the role

The Governmental Relations Specialist performs highly advanced legislative and consultative work within the Governmental Relations Division, supporting TEA’s legislatively required and requested initiatives. This position engages stakeholders across the Texas public education system and ensures accurate, timely information and support to the Legislature, Legislative Budget Board, Office of the Governor, State Board of Education, and internal TEA staff. The role is critical to advancing the state’s strategic vision for 5.4 million public school students, preparing them for success in college, career, or the military. The specialist must handle confidential and sensitive information with strong interpersonal skills, working closely with leadership and cross-agency partners. Occasional travel up to 10% supports program initiatives and collaboration, with onsite presence required in Austin, Texas.

Responsibilities

• Support the Governmental Relations Division by responding to legislative calls and requests in a timely manner and collaborating on special projects, including planning, coordinating, and presenting data-driven insights.
• Serve as the lead Governmental Relations member on matters related to the State Board of Education (SBOE), charter schools, parental choice initiatives, and educator investigations.
• Assist with review and input on agency proposed rules, reports, and procedures, and help develop and facilitate trainings on legislative topics and processes as directed by leadership.
• Act as the primary liaison to the SBOE and State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), monitoring public meetings and ensuring key issues, concerns, and actions are communicated to agency leadership.
• Coordinate with the Chief of Governmental Relations and the Governmental Relations team to track legislative hearings, agency deliverables, and alignment on key legislative actions affecting public education.
• Establish and maintain relationships with legislative staffers and external public education organizations to support effective policymaking and implementation.
• Develop deep understanding of Texas public education policy frameworks—especially SBOE, charter schools, parental choice, complaints, and investigations—and their operational implications.
• Collaborate on external communications, including Governmental Relations website content, meeting materials, and presentations to elected officials and their staff.
• May assign and/or supervise the work of others and operate with extensive latitude for initiative and independent judgment under minimal supervision.

Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Degree field(s): Public Administration, Public Affairs, Government, Public Policy, Education, or Communications.
• Experience: At least seven years of professional experience, including at least two years in policymaking staff roles for elected officials or legislative bodies (e.g., Texas legislature, Texas state agency, or Congress).
• Substitution: An advanced degree may substitute for two years of required experience.

Other Qualifications

• Belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and succeed in college, career, or the military.
• Preferred knowledge of legislative processes and state government administration.
• Ability to analyze complex issues, work under pressure, meet tight deadlines, and communicate clearly and effectively on policy matters.
• Excellent interpersonal and written/verbal communication skills.
• Strong personal values around reliability, confidentiality, and handling sensitive information.
• Capacity to prioritize work, collaborate across diverse groups, and manage multiple projects with varied timelines in a fast-paced environment.
• Willingness to work outside normal hours during legislative sessions, including late nights and weekends as needed.
• Preferred knowledge of local, state, and federal laws related to public education; public administration; legislative strategy; statistical analysis; and legislative management processes.
• Skill in compiling, evaluating, and presenting legislative information—especially in public education—problem-solving, and policy analysis and research.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, with strong data visualization skills.