Director, Domestic Relations Office

Directs the administrative and operational functions of the Travis County Domestic Relations Office (DRO) within a comprehensive family and civil courts system.

Provides leadership and strategic vision and direction for office-wide programs and operations, which serve families, County Departments and Courts pursuant to Texas Family Code §203.004. DRO services include child support and visitation enforcement, court-ordered custody and adoption evaluations, friend of the court functions, and other related compliance requirements. Ensures operations are conducted in accordance with applicable laws, regulations, policies, contractual requirements, and court orders.

Directs, plans, organizes, implements, monitors and evaluates department-wide operations and staff in complex functional or programmatic areas, and ensures compliance with State, Federal, County, Local laws, guidelines, policies and court orders.

Oversees and participates in the development of policies, procedures, programs, and strategic plans that advance DRO departmental goals and objectives. Provides oversight of administrative functions, including finance, budgeting, human resources, purchasing, information systems, facilities, resource planning, and records management.

Distinguishing Characteristics

This classification is distinguished by executive-level responsibility for multiple specialized programs within a complex judicial and governmental environment. The Director works extensively with the Travis County Juvenile Board, Family Court judges, attorneys, Travis County leadership and departments, the Texas Office of the Attorney General, state and federal agencies, community organizations, service providers, clients, and the public. 

The candidate brings substantial leadership and management experience in a court setting, family law, child advocacy, child welfare, social services, legal services, or related public-sector environment. Experience with family court operations, guardians ad litem, child support programs, custody and access matters, adoption, visitation services, or other programs serving children and families.

• Directs, plans, organizes, implements, monitors, and evaluates DRO operations and staff across complex functional and programmatic areas. Ensures compliance with applicable State, Federal, County, and Local laws, guidelines, policies, and court orders.
• Develops departmental strategic plans to accomplish goals and objectives and supports the development and implementation of programs for the effective and efficient delivery of services by DRO.
• Plans, develops and implements departmental goals, objectives, policies and procedures. Maintains oversight of day-to-day staffing and operations across DRO program areas.
• Directs management and staff in daily operations to include hiring, training, performance management and staff development.
• Prepares and administers budget for areas of oversight. Monitors and approves budget expenditures, and establishes and maintains internal procedures for budget-related matters.
• Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with County partners and agencies that support DRO operations and services.
• Maintains effective communication and coordination with stakeholders, including the Courts, Travis County Commissioners Court, state and federal agencies, the legal community, local entities, clients, and the general public.
• Implements procedures in assigning, monitoring, and ensuring the timely completion and dissemination of court-ordered Child Custody Evaluations pertaining to custody and access requirements.
• Monitors and oversees DRO operations to ensure services are delivered in accordance with contractual requirements, including agreements with the Texas Office of the Attorney General, Child Support Division, and applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, regulations, and standards.
• Monitors and oversees automated systems and processes used in the reconciliation of child support records and payments to provide an accurate, comprehensive record and computation of child support payments as required by the Travis County Family District Courts. Ensures compliance with requirements of the State Disbursement Unit.
• Prepares and reviews a variety of programmatic, fiscal, administrative and statistical reports and interprets findings. Evaluates current programs, services, procedures and practices on an ongoing basis.
• Plans and develops policies, procedures and programs to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness and monitors workload to ensure the delivery of quality services.
• Provides direction and guidance on policy interpretation to managers and staff regarding the application of appropriate procedures and legislative and statutory mandates.
• Represents the Domestic Relations Office and serves as a liaison and representative to local and statewide committees and task forces, advisory groups, and the general public.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration or Business Administration or one of the Social or Behavioral Sciences or a directly related field AND seven (7) years of increasingly responsible experience in a social service, community corrections or a juvenile agency, including four (4) years of mid- to senior level supervisory or management experience; 

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:

Valid Texas Driver’s License.

 

Preferred:

Juris Doctorate Degree or Master’s degree in Court Administration, Public Administration, Social Work or Behavioral Sciences, Finance, Business Administration or directly related field
Or Graduation from the Court Executive Development Program of the Institute for Court Management (ICM)

Knowledge of:

• Management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques.
• Court system administration and oversight principles.
• Policies, practices, procedures and terminology of assigned function.
• Federal, State, Local program laws and requirements.
• Accounting, purchasing and budgetary theory, principles and practices.
• Management information systems.
• Community resources and services.
• Modern office practices, procedures and methods.
• Computer equipment, use of spreadsheets, databases and software packages.
• Business communication and report preparation.
  
  

Skill in:

• Strategic planning, developing, monitoring and evaluating court systems and services.
• Managing staff, allocating resources and evaluating programs.
• Leadership, collaboration and effective communication.
• Problem-solving and decision-making.
• Interviewing and investigative practices and processes.
• Developing and monitoring program budgets.
• Preparation of reports and ability to make presentations to various audiences.
  
  
  

Ability to:

• Direct, motivate, train, develop and evaluate staff.
• Develop and recommend program initiatives and services.
• Prepare and analyze administrative and statistical reports.
• Work independently and efficiently.
• Perform multiple tasks and organize diverse tasks.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with departmental clientele, representatives of outside agencies and providers, other County employees and officials, and the general public.
  
  
  

Physical requirements include the ability to lift/carry up to 5-15 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, climbing stairs, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, pushing, pulling, balancing, client/customer contact, and 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: Monday-Friday, 8:00 - 5:00 PM; Works some nights and weekends.

Location: 1700 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78701

Department: Juvenile Probation

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

Drug and Alcohol Tests Required. 

For updates or questions on this position, contact [email protected].  

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.