Planning Project Manager - Childcare (HHS employees Only)

Salary: $77,540.97 - $100,803.26 Annually
Location : 5325 Airport Blvd, Austin, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 26-10915
Department: Health & Human Services
Opening Date: 10/10/2026
Closing Date: 10/24/2026 11:59 PM Central

Job Summary
The Health and Human Services Research & Planning Division is seeking a Planning Project Manager to serve in a leadership role on the Raising Travis County (RTC) team. The Planning Project Manager performs highly advanced planning and manages multiple high-level projects for childcare services. This work includes leading planning and facilitation processes, childcare time investment planning, contract oversight and reporting, and benchmarking RTC processes with national best practices.

In collaboration with the Planning Manager, the Planning Project Manager leads and coordinates the Raising Travis County investments system including programmatic contract management and procurement. The Planning Project Manager also manages complex projects for the Division. This position involves directing the work of other RTC staff including project supervision and providing peer training, guidance, and feedback. This position may organize and lead citizen work groups, facilitate public engagement, and serve as county spokesperson for project planning area of expertise.

This position is open to Travis County Health and Human Services - Research and Planning Division Employees Only
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS:

This classification is within the Planner/Management/Research job family and is the most senior planner with expertise in a specific planning area, representing the department in Commissioners Court proceedings and the County in public forums. This classification requires minimal supervision, exercises independent judgment and initiative, and requires managing high-level, complex projects while simultaneously completing advanced planning work. It is distinguished by the requirements to lead staff on project work; manage multi-disciplinary county and/or consultant-staffed teams; contract and manage consulting services; initiate policy and work directly with senior management for its adoption and implementation; and plan and develop large programs and facilitate their approval.

Duties and Responsibilities
The broad duties of the Planning Project Manager involve the following:

• Coordinating, designing, and managing complex projects and programmatic initiatives for the Department and/or County in alignment with Department and County goals and in collaboration with other County Departments, partner agencies, service providers, community collaborations, and community representatives.
• Serving as project manager overseeing major long-term implementation planning and development of policies and procedures for child care services.
• Leading staff in scoping work, defining deliverables, identifying tasks, developing work methods, identifying resource needs, and monitoring progress for child care services.
• Leading procurement processes and programmatic contract management for child care services
• Participating in or managing highly advanced and complex projects and programs for child care services.

Specific tasks may include:

• Formulating policies in area of expertise for investing public dollars and advises senior management and elected officials on strategic initiatives for addressing growth-related challenges.
• Completing comprehensive plans that establish policy for investing public dollars in health and human services programs
• Writing reports and other documents
• Presenting before peers, partners, advisory councils, the public, and/or elected officials
• Leading and participating in collaborative group processes
• Leading or supporting community and task groups including the development of community plans
• Facilitating meetings and groups
• Conducting primary and secondary research
• Programmatic and performance oversight of RTC investments
• Coordinating public performance reporting for RTC investments
• Investment planning: community assessment
• Investment planning: scoping, planning, and implementing competitive processes for RTC investments
• Representing the County and Department in a range of settings
• Working in partnership with community representatives or groups, departments, and outside agencies
• Using computer applications and management information systems
• Performing other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum Requirements
Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Social Work, Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology or other Social Sciences, Public Health, or a directly related field AND five (5) years increasingly responsible Senior Planner experience. Two years demonstrated experience in project management;

OR,

Master's degree in Social Work, Planning, Public Policy, Public Administration, Government, Criminal Justice, Sociology or other Social Sciences, Public Health, or a directly related field AND three (3) years increasingly responsible Senior Planner experience. Two years demonstrated experience in project management.

OR,

Any combination of education and experience that has been achieved and is equivalent to the stated education and experience and required knowledge, skills, and abilities sufficient to successfully perform the duties and responsibilities of this job.
Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

None required.
Preferred:

• Experience with social services/health and human services (may include work, volunteer, and/or life experience)
• Experience with project management and oversight
• Experience with strategic and implementation planning
• Experience in social services procurement and/or contract management

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Knowledge of:

• Public Administration and County governmental agencies, purchasing policies and practices.
• Human service systems and programs.
• Governmental agencies and relevant policies (local, state, and federal).
• Principles of community planning.
• Legislative process.
• Issues pertaining to child care.
• Primary and secondary research methods.
• Project management methodologies, practices, and techniques.
• Population characteristics and community conditions pertaining to health and human services.
• Grammar, punctuation, and writing style for reports and professional communications.
• Computer equipment and software, to include Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint; knowledge of databases, statistical packages, ArcGIS, and design software can be applied.

Skill in:

• Developing short-range and long-range plans.
• Program planning, developing and implementing.
• Data analysis and policy research/analysis.
• Setting up systems for conducting analysis and compiling for reports.
• Writing reports, briefs, and other documents.
• Planning and facilitating meetings and groups.
• Effective written, verbal, and visual communication of complex information for high-level decision-making and public presentations.
• Leadership, collaboration, and negotiation techniques.
• Identifying stakeholder interests, engaging in dialogue, and managing expectations.
• Managing projects including defining scopes of work and developing schedules, work methods, and processes for completing work, monitoring progress, and controlling quality of work.
• Coordinating the work of others.
• Effective use of finite resources.

Ability to:

• Develop plans, programs, and processes to improve existing County Services or new County services.
• Apply knowledge to data, policy, and process analysis.
• Reach sound conclusions and make recommendations.
• Manage complex projects to successful conclusion.
• Reason, think critically, convey complex information, and rationally influence high level decision-making.
• Manage time well, perform multiple tasks, and organize diverse activities.
• Interpret planning and program objectives to groups and public.
• Bring together several viewpoints into a balanced position.
• Maintain appropriate records.,
• Compile data and write clear and comprehensive reports.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
• Balance multiple roles across different functions and settings. Provide training, guidance and feedback to team members.
• Receive guidance from, and work collaboratively with, division leadership.

Work Environment & Other Information
Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-20 pounds occasionally, visual acuity, speech and hearing, hand and eye coordination and manual dexterity necessary to operate a computer and office equipment. Subject to standing, walking, sitting, repetitive motion, reaching, occasional indoor/outdoor activities, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, squatting to perform the essential functions.

Travis County employees play an important role in business continuity. As such, employees can be assigned to business continuity efforts outside of normal job functions.

Work Hours: 8 am - 5 pm, Monday-Friday.

Location: 5325 Airport Blvd. Austin, TX

Department: Health & Human Services

Criminal, Driving, Education, and Employment Background Checks Required.

For updates or questions on this position, contact:

This job description is intended to be generic in nature. It is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.