Director of External Affairs & Community Engagement

Salary: $47.55 Hourly
Location : Houston, TX
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 17485
Department: Tax Assessor Collector
Opening Date: 11/11/2026
Closing Date: 12/11/2026 12:00 PM Central
Max Number of Applicants: 150

Position Description
Job Summary:
The Director of External Affairs and Community Engagement proactively identifies opportunities to build strategic partnerships, foster collaboration, and expand HCTO's external network in support of the office's priorities. The Director also leads external affairs efforts, coordinating with governmental entities, elected officials, community organizations, and other key stakeholders to advance the office's priorities, strengthen partnerships, and identify opportunities for collaboration. The Director oversees large-scale community outreach initiatives, constituent education, and operational support for engagements involving the Tax Assessor-Collector and Voter Registrar, Annette Ramirez, ensuring residents are connected with relevant information, services, resources, and opportunities to engage
Essential Duties

• Provide leadership, direction, supervision, and professional development, including training requirements and opportunities, for the External Affairs and Community Engagement team.
• Lead the creation, development, and implementation of external affairs, government relations, community engagement, public outreach, and constituent education strategies and opportunities aligned with HCTO's priorities and goals.
• Build, expand, and maintain strategic relationships with other governmental entities and external partners to broaden the reach and impact of HCTO.
• Develop and implement external affairs strategies that strengthen intergovernmental relationships, advance strategic partnerships, and support HCTO's organizational priorities.
• Serve as a liaison to governmental entities, elected officials and their offices, community organizations, civic and business leaders, and other external stakeholders to facilitate collaboration and advance shared objectives.
• Monitor emerging issues, stakeholder concerns, and external developments to identify partnership opportunities, inform leadership, and support proactive engagement.
• Ensure the External Affairs and Community Engagement team effectively reaches and educates residents about voter registration, property tax, and motor vehicle services.
• Develop and oversee large-scale community engagement initiatives, outreach campaigns, community events, and field operations.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships for team support at community events and engagements involving the Tax Assessor-Collector.
• Provide direct support to the Tax Assessor-Collector at select community events and engagements, as appropriate.
• Engage and collaborate with other governmental entities on community engagement initiatives, outreach campaigns, community events, and field operations.
• Oversee field logistics, including staffing, scheduling, event coordination, materials, and deployment.
• Coordinate and oversee Volunteer Deputy Voter Registrar (VDVR) training activities and related outreach.
• Establish performance measures to evaluate stakeholder engagement, partnership development, community reach, and program effectiveness.
• Monitor team and program outcomes, including community reach, engagement, and constituent education.
• Identify opportunities to improve HCTO's ability to reach, educate, and serve residents.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of external affairs initiatives and strategic partnerships and recommend improvements to strengthen stakeholder relationships and organizational impact
• Other assigned duties

Requirements

Education:
• Bachelor's degree in public administration, communication, public relations, community development, or a related field.

Experience
• Minimum four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in community engagement, public outreach, constituent services, government relations, public affairs, or a related field.
• Demonstrated relationship-building experience with government entities, elected officials and their offices, community leaders, community organizations, and constituents.
• Demonstrated experience leading large-scale programs, initiatives or projects from planning and development through implementation, evaluation, and completion.
• Three (3) years of supervisory or management experience, preferably overseeing a community engagement, outreach, or field-based team.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and coaching staff and working collaboratively across teams.
• Experience supporting continuous process improvement initiatives.
• Experience working directly with an elected official, elected official's office, or senior public-sector leadership.
• Experience developing strategic partnerships, coordinating intergovernmental relations, or managing external affairs and stakeholder engagement initiatives

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
• Knowledge of government relations, community engagement, constituent education, public outreach, stakeholder relations, and community partnership development.
• Knowledge of external affairs strategy, intergovernmental coordination, and strategic partnership development.
• Strong leadership, supervision, coaching, and team-building skills.
• Excellent communication, public speaking, relationship-building, stakeholder management skills, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to develop effective strategies for reaching and educating diverse communities.
• Ability to clearly communicate HCTO's services and processes to constituents and community partners.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and large-scale initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with diverse communities and stakeholders.
• Ability to establish and evaluate performance measures and translate organizational priorities into measurable team goals.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism when representing HCTO and supporting the Tax Assessor-Collector.
• Ability to work evenings, weekends, and outside of regular business hours as required.
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge, and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation but ONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Preferences

Education & Experience:

• Master's Degree in public administration, communication, public relations, community development, or a related field.
• Experience working with government agencies, community organizations, civic associations, and neighborhood groups.
• Experience with voter registration, VDVR programs, property tax programs, and/or civic engagement initiatives.
• Experience collaborating with executive leadership, operational leaders, and governmental stakeholders.
• Experience representing an organization in external meetings, partnership discussions, or other public-facing engagements.
• Bilingual or multilingual skills relevant to the communities served.

General Information
Work Environment:
• Typically, an office environment with adequate lighting and ventilation, and a normal range of temperature and noise level)

Physical Demands:
• This role is a standard office role that requires remaining stationary for long periods of time. At times, boxes or equipment must be transported weighing up to 50 lbs.
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.

HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

Harris County offers a highly competitive benefits program, featuring a comprehensive group health plan and defined benefit retirement plan.
The following benefits are offered only to Harris County employees in regular (full-time) positions:
Health & Wellness Benefits

• Medical Coverage
• Dental Coverage
• Vision Coverage
• Wellness Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Healthcare Flexible Spending Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Ten (10) days of vacation leave per year (accrual rate increases after 5 years of service)
• Eleven (11) County-observed holidays
• One (1) floating holiday per year
• Paid Parental Leave*
• Sick Leave

Retirement Savings Benefit

• 457 Deferred Compensation Plan

The following benefits are available to Harris County employees in full-time and select part-time positions:

• Professional learning & development opportunities
• Retirement pension (TCDRS defined benefit plan)
• Flexible work schedule*
• METRO RideSponsor Program*

* Participation may vary by County department. The employee benefits plans of Harris County are extended to all eligible participants across various departments with the exception of the Harris County Community Supervision and Corrections Department, for which the cited Health & Wellness Benefits are administered through the State of Texas.
In accordance with the Harris County Personnel Regulations, group health and related benefits are subject to amendment or discontinuance at any time. Harris County Commissioners Court reserves the right to make benefit modifications on the County's behalf as needed.
For plan details, visit the Harris County Benefits & Wellness website:
01

Which of the following best describes your highest level of education completed as it relates to this position?Qualifying information must be documented in the Education section of your application.

• High School or GED diploma
• Associate Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree or higher
• None of the above

02

If you selected a college degree in response to the previous question, which of the following best describes your major?

• Public Administration
• Communication
• Public relations
• Community development
• Other related field
• Unrelated field
• N/A; No degree

03

Please describe your educational background (i.e. diploma, degree, certifications, etc.) including the level of education completed, area of study, and completed major and minor programs.
04

Which of the following best describes your verifiable progressively responsible experience in community engagement, public outreach, constituent services, government relations, public affairs, or a related field?(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than four (4) years of experience
• Four (4) years or more
• I do not have this experience

05

Please provide details about your verifiable, progressively responsible experience in community engagement, public outreach, constituent services, government relations, public affairs, or a related field.Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume"(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)Please include your (a) role(s), (b) types of organizations, (c) scope of duties and responsibilitiesIf you do not have this experience, please type "None" in the space provided.
06

Which of the following best describes your verifiable years of supervisory or management experience, preferably overseeing a community engagement, outreach, or field-based team?(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)

• Less than three (3) years
• Three (3) years or more
• I do not have this experience

07

Please provide details about your verifiable years of supervisory or management experience, preferably overseeing a community engagement, outreach, or field-based team.Do not use "Please see Resume" or "See Resume"(To be considered, qualifying experience must be documented in your application's employment history)Please include your (a) role(s),