Policy Specialist

Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) is excited to announce that we are now recruiting for a RJI Policy Specialist as part of our new Rural Justice Initiative (RJI). This position will be based in Austin, TX.

The Rural Justice Initiative Policy Specialist is a project-funded position established as part of Disability Rights Texas' (DRTx) participation in the Rural Justice Initiative (RJI), a collaborative effort designed to expand access to civil legal services for low-income Texans living in designated rural communities and legal-desert counties. The position is full-time, exempt, reports directly to the Supervising Attorney of Education, and is designated as union-eligible. Because this position is funded specifically through the Rural Justice Initiative, continued employment in the position is dependent upon the duration and availability of project funding.

The Policy Specialist serves as a subject-matter expert on assigned policy issues and leads and supports Disability Rights Texas (DRTx) andpolicy advocacy designed to protect and advance the legal and civil rights of people with disabilities, with a rural justice focus.

The Policy Specialist conducts policy research and analysis; monitors legislative, regulatory, and administrative developments; develops policy reports, testimony, educational materials, and other communications; and provides training and technical assistance to DRTx staff and external stakeholders. The position collaborates with DRTx teams to identify policy advocacy opportunities and ensure policy activities are coordinated with the organization’s priorities and other advocacy strategies.

The Policy Specialist representsDRTx before policymakers, governmental agencies, advisory bodies, community organizations, coalitions, and other stakeholders. The position develops and maintains collaborative relationships with local, state, and national organizations, agencies, legislators, public officials, and other partners involved in protecting and advocating for the rights of people with disabilities.

The Policy Specialist also supports organizational planning, grant and program reporting, and other policy-related activities and may assist with additional subject-matter areas based on RJI programmatic needs.

Policy Research and Analysis

Research and analyze state and federal laws, regulations, policies, and emerging issues affecting Texans with disabilities in rural and underserved communities. Identify systemic barriers to accessing education, disability-related services, and legal protections, and develop policy recommendations to address identified needs.

Community Engagement and Systems Advocacy

Collaborate with all RJI staff, community partners, and local and state level stakeholders to identifyand translate community-identified needs and service data into actionable policy priorities, recommendations, and advocacy strategies.

Legislative and Regulatory Monitoring

Monitor proposed legislation, regulatory changes, and administrative policies affecting the rights of Texans with disabilities. Prepare policy briefs, issue summaries, talking points, and other materials to support the initiative’s advocacy and inform internal leadership and community partners

Data-Informed Policy Development

Analyze information gathered through community assessments, outreach, asset mapping, and legal service delivery to identify trends, gaps in resources, and opportunities for systemic advocacy. Collaborate with grant team members to ensure policy activities are responsive to the needs identified in participating rural communities.

Essential Functions

The following functions are essential to the position and may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Policy Expertise & Research

• Develop and maintain advanced subject-matter knowledge of assigned policy areas, including applicable federal and state statutes, regulations, administrative policies, programs, and emerging policy developments.
• A baseline assessment of systemic barriers identified through RJI service delivery and community engagement.
• Serve as an internal subject-matter resource within assigned areas of expertise and provide policy-related technical assistance to RJIInititative.
• Identify significant policy issues, trends, barriers, and opportunities affecting people with disabilities and recommend appropriate policy strategies and priorities.Creating periodic regional policy issue summaries.
• Conduct policy research and analysis and synthesize complex legal, legislative, regulatory, programmatic, and policy information into understandable and actionable information.
• Write Policy briefs and administrative advocacy materials linked to approved project priorities.
• Review relevant publications, legislative and administrative materials, registers, reports, and other information sources and communicate pertinent developments to appropriate internal and external stakeholders.
• Monitor implementation of and compliance with relevant federal and state laws, regulations, policies, and programs within assigned areas.
• Work collaboratively with RJI team to provide annual assessments of systemic advocacy outcomes at community and state level.

Legislative & Administrative Advocacy

• Monitor relevant legislative, regulatory, and administrative activity and evaluate its potential impact on people with disabilities and DRTx priorities.
• Track relevant legislation and other governmental policy initiatives and provide timely analysis and information to DRTx staff and appropriate stakeholders.
• Attend legislative hearings, meetings, administrative proceedings, and other policy-related activities as appropriate tomonitor developments, gather information, and represent DRTx.
• Educate policymakers, governmental officials, agencies, and other stakeholders regarding the potential impact of proposed legislation, regulations, policies, and administrative actions.
• Develop and present public statements, policy positions, testimony, comments, briefing materials, and other communications consistent with DRTx priorities and organizational direction.
• Respond to appropriate requests for policy information, technical assistance, and subject-matterexpertise.

Policy Communications & Publications

Develop clear, accurate, and accessible policy reports, briefs, analyses, testimony, presentations, correspondence, educational materials, and other written communications., and accessible policy reports, briefs, analyses, testimony, presentations, correspondence, educational materials, and other written communications.

Coordinate the collection, development, and distribution of policy-related information for internal and external audiences.

Ensure that policy-related training materials and public information developed or distributed within the scope of the position accurately reflect applicable state and federal laws, regulations, and DRTx policy positions.

Contribute RJIsubject-matter information and analysis to organizational reports, grant reports, program reports, communications, and other publications.

Training & Technical Assistance

Develop and deliver education, training, presentations, briefings, and technical assistance regarding DRTxRJI services.

Provide policy-related training and technical assistance to DRTxRJI staff to support effective advocacy and consistent understanding of relevant laws, policies, programs, and emerging issues.

Present complex policy and legal information in a manner appropriate to the intended audience, which may include employees, advocates, policymakers, public officials, boards, advisory councils, community organizations, service providers, professionals, and members of the public.

Stakeholder Engagement

Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with state and national advocacy organizations, individual advocates, disability organizations, governmental agencies, policymakers, public officials, community organizations, and other stakeholders.

Represent DRTx and actively participate in appropriate workgroups, advisory boards, task forces, committees, coalitions, conferences, and similar activities.

Facilitate collaboration among stakeholders and disability organizations regarding policy issues and advocacy priorities.

Communicate DRTx policy priorities and activities effectively to internal and external stakeholders and respond appropriately to requests for information and expertise.

Planning, Reporting & Organizational Collaboration

• Develop and periodically update written policy plans consistent with RJI prioritiesand supervision that identify significant issues, establishobjectives, and outline strategies and activities for achieving identified objectives.
• Coordinate and contribute to annual planning and reporting related to assigned programs and organizational priorities.
• Participate in organizational strategic planning and implementation activities as appropriate to the position.
• Collaborate with DRTxRJI team and employees to coordinate policy, training, outreach, communications, and advocacy activities.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of organizational outreach activities related to assigned policy areas.
• Maintain accurate, thorough, and timely records of work activities and other information required by DRTx.
• Manage assigned responsibilities and projects to ensure work is completed accurately and within established deadlines.

Additional Duties

Perform other job-related duties as assigned that are consistent with the scope and level of the position and the purposes of the Rural Justice Initiative.

Required Qualifications

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Public Policy, Political Science, Government, Education, Disability Studies, Social Services, or another related field of study, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.

Experience

A minimum of seven (7) years of relevant public policy, legislative, governmental, regulatory, advocacy, or closely related professional experience, including demonstrated experience with disability-related issues.

Knowledge and Skills

Relevant advanced education and directly related fellowship or internship experience may be considered toward a portion of the experience requirement. However, candidates must demonstrate sufficient directly relevant professional experience to independently perform the essential policy advocacy functions of the position.

Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, interpret, and communicate complex policy, legislative, regulatory, and legal information.

Strong professional writing skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate complex issues clearly, accurately, and concisely to varied audiences.

Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively through verbal, written, presentation, electronic, or other effective communication methods.

Demonstrated experience developing and delivering presentations, training, policy briefings, public testimony, or similar communications to audiences such as boards, councils, conferences, policymakers, governmental officials, professionals, community organizations, or members of the public.

Demonstrated interpersonal, relationship-building, collaboration, and negotiation skills.

Demonstrated ability to develop productive relationships and influence outcomes through collaboration, expertise, communication, and consensus building.

Experience working with governmental entities, policymakers, regulatory agencies, legislative bodies, or similar public-sector organizations.

Demonstrated working knowledge of complex state and federal laws, regulations, rights-protection statutes, public programs, or other legal and policy frameworks relevant to the position.

Knowledge of policy issues, programs, initiatives, and legal protections affecting people with disabilities.

Demonstrated ability to develop and implement effective policy or advocacy strategies.

Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize multiple assignments, manage competing deadlines, maintain attention to detail, and adapt to changing priorities.

Demonstrated ability to independently manage assigned responsibilities and ensure services, projects, reports, and other work products are completed accurately and timely.

Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, train, or provide technical assistance to others.

Ability to travel to locations necessary to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Technical Skills

Proficiency using Microsoft 365 applications and other technology necessary to conduct research, prepare documents and presentations, analyze and organize information, communicate, and collaborate effectively.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in public interest, legal aid, disability rights, special education, public benefits, or other civil legal services.
• Existing professional or community ties to the assigned RJI service area.
• Lived, professional, advocacy, peer-support, or other meaningful experience with the Texas mental health system, disability service systems, or programs affecting people with disabilities.
• Experience working with or supporting individuals with disabilities and/or disability advocacy organizations.
• Experience with data analysis, data visualization, or policy-related quantitative analysis.
• Proficiency with analytical or geographic information systems tools such as R and GIS.
• Experience with Texas legislative, regulatory, or administrative processes.
• Spanish bilingual proficiency (written and spoken), as required for this position.

Work Environment & Functional Requirements

This position involves regular use of computers, telephones, videoconferencing systems, case-management systems, and other communication tools to perform legal work, including research, documentation, client communication, and collaboration with geographically dispersed colleagues.

Duties may be performed in a seated, standing, or alternative position. The role requires managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, traveling throughout the assigned service area, and engaging in complex or sensitive legal matters.

The position includes work performed in a variety of environments, which may include DRTx or partner offices, courthouses, administrative hearing locations, schools, libraries, community organizations, clinics, community events, and other locations within rural communities.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.