MISSION: The Texas Education Agency (TEA) will improve outcomes for all public-school students in the state by providing leadership, guidance, and support to school systems.

Core Values:

• We are Determined : We are committed and intentional in the pursuit of our main purpose, to improve outcomes for students.

• We are People-Centered: We strive to attract, develop, and retain the most committed talent, representing the diversity of Texas, each contributing to our common vision for students.

• We are Learners: We seek evidence, reflect on success and failure, and try new approaches in the pursuit of excellence for our students.

• We are Servant Leaders: Above all else, we are public servants working to improve opportunities for students and provide support to those who serve them.

New hires, re-hires, and internal hires will typically receive a starting salary between the posted minimum and the average pay of employees in their same classification. Offers will be commensurate with the candidate's experience and qualifications and will thoughtfully consider internal pay equity for agency staff who perform similar duties and have similar qualifications. The top half of the posted salary range is generally reserved for candidates who exceed the requirements and qualifications for the role. The maximum of the salary range is reserved for candidates that far exceed the required and preferred qualifications for the role.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

At the Texas Education Agency's Office of Governance (OG), we are driven by a powerful mission: to proactively support school systems, keep students safe, and uphold Texas education law with integrity, objectivity, and excellence. Our core workstreams-Field Support and Compliance & Investigations-focus on strengthening governance, fostering a culture of accountability, and promoting continuous improvement across Texas schools. By working closely with school systems and agency teams, we help ensure every Texas public school student has access to a safe, high-quality education.

On behalf of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) and the Commissioner of Education, the Educator Investigations Division (EID) is committed to protecting the safety and welfare of students across Texas. By investigating allegations of misconduct involving educators, school employees, and school service providers. EID plays a vital role in maintaining a secure and trustworthy learning environment.

The division is structured into two primary units: Intake and Investigations. The Intake Unit reviews reports of misconduct, conducts preliminary reviews, monitors criminal matters, and recommends formal investigations in accordance with SBEC and agency policy. The Investigations Unit conducts formal administrative investigations into allegations of misconduct and ensures due process is upheld in every case.

The Manager, Educator Investigations leads a team of approximately six investigators, guiding their efforts to conduct thorough, fair, and timely investigations into allegations of misconduct. The role involves setting strategic goals, refining operational procedures, and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. Reporting to the Division Director, the manager operates under minimal supervision and with considerable latitude for exercising proactive initiative and independent judgment to advance and achieve objectives.

Flexible work location within the state of Texas may be considered for qualified candidates.

Please note that a resume and tailored cover letter are required attachments for applying to this position. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Applicants who are strongly being considered for employment must submit to fingerprinting and a national criminal history background check.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Job duties are not limited to the essential functions mentioned below. You may perform other functions as assigned.

1. Team Management and Supervision: demonstrates strong performance management and coaching skills in leading a high-performing, mission-driven team; fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability and ownership, and continuous improvement; partners with other managers and directors across units to set clear, data-informed objectives; motivates team members and tracks progress against established performance metrics and competency standards to achieve both individual and collective goals; actively supports the professional growth and development of each team member

2. Case Management and Quality Assurance: ensures investigative efforts are aligned with SBEC and agency policy, procedures and best practices; reviews and approves investigative reports and recommendations; oversees the team's docket, including misconduct and criminal history reports, tracking responsibilities, recommendations for opening investigations, and conducting thorough administrative investigations; guides the team in making appropriate case resolution recommendations that prioritize student safety

3. Process Improvement and Optimization: continuously evaluates workflows and recommends improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness; analyzes historical and current case-related data to identify areas of risk, deficiencies, and trends; establishes structures to standardize decision-making processes, including multi-level review and approval systems, in support of student safety; promotes a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement to advance the agency's mission

4. Investigative Operations: leads and contributes to special projects that support division operations; collaborates with colleagues, legal staff, and external agencies to strengthen investigative outcomes and uphold accountability; responds to inquiries and concerns from school administrators and stakeholders; serves as a subject matter expert, provides strategic oversight of cases, and ensures workflow continuity and operational efficiency in a supervisor capacity as needed

Qualifications:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Education: Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university

• Experience: At least four [4] years of experience in conducting investigations of misconduct or criminal violations, including two [2] years of experience in a supervisory or trainer role.

• Substitutions: Education and experience may substitute for one another on a year-for-year basis.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS:

• Share the belief that all Texas students can achieve at high levels and are able to succeed in college, career, or the military.

• Working knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to background check requirements, criminal history, and administrative and criminal investigations, including Texas Edu Code, Chap. 22; and 19 Texas Admin. Code, Part 2- Chap 153, and Part 7- Chap 249.

• Skilled in investigating allegations of child abuse, financial fraud, manipulation of a certification process, and misconduct.

• Demonstrated ability train and develop staff in reviewing allegations, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and accused individuals regarding alleged acts of misconduct, writing reports, and presenting information in an organized manner.

• Proven ability to critically reflect on performance, determine root-cause of issues, and find solutions that improve work product and efficiency.

• Strong communication (both oral and written), including skill in writing for the intended audience and training others to write reports that are factual, concise, and professionally written.

• Solid experience using a variety of software applications to perform work and develop technical solutions, including but not limited to Office 365, Adobe Acrobat, customized databases, and case management systems; willingness to independently seek training on the use of software to achieve results, improve work product, and train others on best-practices.

• Willingness to seek efficiency in an office environment; stay organized and prioritize tasks to achieve goals and objectives; eager to deliver requirements to internal/external customers and contribute to the agency's priorities.

• A desire to self-reflect, give/receive feedback, and continuously improve.

• Must satisfy the Texas Department of Public Safety's criteria for access to the TX DPS secure website and Clearinghouse.

• Relevant experience in an administrative or regulatory environment and investigating allegations of child abuse, school misconduct, financial fraud, and licensure violations is preferred.

• Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) certification, Tx Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) license, or similar designations, preferred.

As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or veteran status, unless an applicant is entitled to the military employment preference.

To review the Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes from each branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each job classification series in the State's Position Classification Plan (provided by the State Auditor's Office), please access the Military Crosswalk (occupational specialty code) Guide and click on the military "occupational category" that corresponds with the state classification in this job posting title.

This position requires the applicant to meet Agency standards and criteria which may include passing a pre-employment criminal background check, prior to being offered employment by the Agency.

No phone calls or emails, please. Due to the high volume of applications, we do not accept telephone calls and cannot reply to all email inquiries. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted. Please add "capps.recruiting@cpa.texas.gov" and "@tea.texas.gov" to your safe senders list to ensure you receive email notifications from our talent acquisition team and/or hiring division regarding your candidacy.