Senior Policy Advisor

Salary: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 Annually
Location : 700 Lavaca Street, Austin, TX
Job Type: Full Time
Remote Employment: Flexible/Hybrid
Job Number: 27-10943
Department: County Commissioner Pct 3
Opening Date: 10/07/2026
Closing Date: 11/7/2026 11:59 PM Central

Job Summary
We are looking for a highly motivated individual with excellent interpersonal skills and policy experience to advise and support Travis County Precinct Three Commissioner Ann Howard. This is a unique opportunity to partner with an elected official that is passionate about delivering real and lasting solutions for both her constituents in Precinct Three and everyone across the County. The Senior Policy Advisor will be responsible for developing strategies and advising on policies, programs, and partnerships that advance the Commissioner's priorities. This position is ideal for someone who excels at converting ideas to action, enjoys building and managing partnerships, and is passionate about creating positive change for the community.

Background:

Travis County is governed by five elected officials: four Commissioners, each representing a geographic region of the county, and a County Judge. Together, the four County Commissioners and the County Judge oversee a budget of more than $2 billion that funds key services, including transportation, natural resources, justice administration, public health, and housing. Travis County is the fifth largest county in Texas with a population of 1.3 million people.
Travis County Commissioner Ann Howard was first sworn in as the County Commissioner for Precinct Three on January 1, 2021 and re-elected in 2024. Precinct Three is the largest precinct geographically in Travis County; spanning from downtown Austin to Briarcliff, including the entirety of the University of Texas main and west campus areas; stretching to the western edge of Travis County on SH71; reaching the northwest corner of Travis County via SH1431 and Jonestown; and including the neighborhoods of Westlake, Rollingwood, Circle C and Lakeway. Commissioner Ann is committed to making Travis County the best place to grow up and grow old by making County government work smarter, leveraging partnerships, and focusing on customer service.

For more information on Commissioner Howard and Precinct 3:
Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads 1-3 policy portfolios which involves developing positions, proposals, and strategies to advance Commissioner Ann's priorities; developing subject-matter expertise; monitoring local, state, and national developments; conducting research and analysis on policies, budgets, and programs; engaging stakeholders; writing policy memos and briefing Commissioner Ann and her team.
• Serve as the Commissioner's advisor and thought partner on a wide range of issues, including framing policy choices and trade-offs; identifying emerging issues and opportunities; and formulating recommendations.
• Support the development of briefing materials for Commissioners Court meetings.
• Build and maintain effective working relationships with County staff, offices of elected officials, partners, and community stakeholders.
• Work with the Chief of Staff and the Commissioner to develop strategies to implement 'smart' government practices within the Commissioner's Office and the County; with a specific focus on customer service; better use of data, measurement and evaluation; equity; and operational efficiency.
• Draft responses, correspondence and external messages on behalf of the Commissioner to external stakeholders and constituents.
• Work with Commissioner Ann's team to define short- and long-term priorities for the office.
• Perform special projects or other job-related duties as needed.

Minimum Requirements

Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Government, Public Administration, Business Administration or a directly related field AND four (4) to five (5) years of responsible administrative experience in a service-oriented organization;

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.

Preferred Qualifications:
4-5 years experience working in a policy-focused role within or alongside government
Familiarity with or lives within Precinct Three of Travis County and prior work experience in similar environment

Licenses, Registrations, Certifications, or Special Requirements:
None required.

Competencies, Skills, and Abilities:
Competencies and Skills:

• Advanced judgement and discretion
• Strong aptitude for problem-solving and decision-making
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills
• Knowledge, awareness, and experience with politics, public policy, and/or government
• Strong interpersonal and relationship skills
• Proficient with Microsoft Office software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

Ability to:

• Work independently within broad guidelines

• Handle confidential and sensitive information with a high degree of professionalism and discretion
• Be a thinker and doer, and take concepts from idea to implementation

• Create and develop successful partnerships with internal and external stakeholders
• Communicate complex issues in concise and easy to understand manner
• Prioritize competing tasks and workstreams

• Conduct rigorous policy, program, and budget analysis

• Adapt and stay calm in fast-paced environments

Work Environment & Other Information

• 40 Hours per Week
• Work Hours: 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM; Monday through Friday
• This position will require meetings across Travis County outside normal business hours
• Preference to work in the office but may discuss telework opportunities.

Criminal Background Check Required.

For questions about this position, please contact:
Benefits
Employment at Travis County comes with a full array of benefits. We offer comprehensive health insurance, a no-cost, on-site Health and Wellness clinic, longevity pay, paid vacations, sick time and personal holidays, not to mention an industry competitive salary structure and a friendly, stable work environment.
FY2026 Travis County Benefit Guide

In this valuable you will find benefit summaries, eligibility requirements, costs, contact numbers and addresses as well as other general information on the benefits available to Travis County Employees and Retirees.

Credit Union
Employees may join the Travis County Credit Union which offers low-interest loans, savings plans through payroll deduction, safe deposit boxes and other benefits.

Deferred Compensation
Employees may enroll in a tax- free sheltered investment plan through payroll deduction.

Direct Deposit
Employees may sign up for direct bank deposit.

Employee Assistance Program
Travis County provides a confidential counseling and referral service free of charge to county employees and their family.

Employee Organizations
Membership in the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Union is available through payroll deduction.

Employee Health & Wellness Clinic
Employees may access the clinic for a variety of wellness program and health care services with no co-pay, no deductible and no co-insurance costs.

Holidays
An average of eleven paid holidays are designated by the Travis County Commissioners Court at the beginning of each fiscal year.

Insurance
Employees may select from four plans: an Exclusive Physician Organization (EPO), Choice Plus Preferred Physician Organization (PPO), Consumer Choice or a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). All four options include a Pharmacy Plan. Travis County's current policy is to pay 100% of the employee's health insurance premium for the Consumer Choice and HDHP. Employees will pay a premium for both the EPO and PPO. Other insurance benefits include $50,000 Basic Life and AD&D paid by the County.

The following benefits are employee paid:

• Dental
• Vision
• Supplemental Life, AD&D
• Dependent Life
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Long Term Care

New employees are covered on the first day of the month following 28 calendar days of employment.

Longevity
Longevity pay is paid for each year completed after three years of continuous service. Peace Officers in a law enforcement activity, whose job requires state peace officer certification, receive pay after one year of certification.

On the regular payday on or after the employee's fourth and subsequent adjusted service dates, he or she receives a single payment for the previous year.

Parking
A limited number of assigned parking spaces are available to employees in the Courthouse Complex.

Personal Holidays
Regular, full-time employees are eligible for up to three paid personal holidays each calendar year. Part-time employees shall be granted personal holidays on a prorated basis. New employees earn personal holidays for the calendar year in which he/she begins employment, based on the month in which employment begins:

January - March

3 personal holidays
April - June

2 personal holidays

July - September

1 personal holiday
October - December

None

New employees are eligible to take personal holidays after 90 days of employment.
Retirement
Travis County is a member of the Texas County & District Retirement System with mandatory participation by certain classes of employees. Seven percent (7%) of the gross salary is deducted each pay period. An employee is fully vested after eight years of service. Benefits are prorated for part-time employees.

Sick Leave
Regular employees earn sick leave at a rate of eight hours per month with unlimited accrual during employment. Part-time employees earn sick leave on a pro-rated basis.

Parental Leave
Each Full-time Paid Parental Leave Eligible (PPL) Employee is entitled to a total of 320 hours of Paid Parental Leave in a 12 month period. Paid Parental Leave for Part-time PPL Eligible Employees is prorated based on the number of hours that they are regularly scheduled to work.

Tuition Refund
Certain classes of full-time employees may receive reimbursement for fees associated with pre-approved, job related course work completed satisfactorily.

Vacation
Based on years of county service, regular, full-time employees earn vacation time at the following rates:

0 to 5 years

4.0 hours per pay period

6 to 10 years

4.5 hours per pay period

11 to 15 years

5.0 hours per pay period

16 to 20 years

5.5 hours per pay period

21 plus years

6.0 hours per pay period

Part-time employees earn vacation leave on a pro-rated basis.
Workers' Compensation
The county provides all employees workers' compensation coverage with benefits in accordance with state statute, if the employee sustains an injury out of, or in the course of work.
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