Closing Date: 11th December, 2025

Description:

Are you an experienced Deputy Director, ready for a unique opportunity to grow with an environmental state agency?
Join TCEQ! We bring passion and drive to carry out our mission of protecting our state's public health and natural resources.

Your Future Team

As part of TCEQ Legal Services, you would support ensuring that commission decisions follow the law, and that rules we develop comply with statutory authority and are applied consistently. See details about what we do.
This position is a member of our Environmental Law Division.

Key Qualifications:

Law degree from an accredited college or university and admission to the State Bar of Texas
Ten years or more of experience practicing environmental law.
Experience managing a staff of 5 or more lawyers.
Five years or more experience with TCEQ environmental permitting and/or related proceedings.
Five or more years of experience counseling clients before regulatory agencies, or representing regulatory agencies, such as TCEQ.
Ten or more years of experience preparing filings for, and participating in, administrative, court, and/or appellate court hearings.

Here's What You'll Be Doing

Administer and direct the highly advanced Environmental Law Division in carrying out the mission of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
Provide highly advanced leadership and direct the resources, operations, and output of the Environmental Law Division; ensure senior attorneys are informed of applicable performance measures that apply to their work and the work done by the staff they supervise.
Provide highly advanced legal advice to the Office of Legal Services, Office of Air, Office of Waste, Office of Water, Office of Compliance & Enforcement, the Executive Director, and the Commissioners (uncontested matters). Coordinate with the Office of the Texas Attorney General and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on civil matters and serve as a liaison with federal and state agencies on environmental issues. Testify, make presentations before, and meet with local, state, and federal governmental bodies and other associations concerning agency environmental policies and procedures. Participate in the preparation and presentation, as appropriate, of agenda items before the Commission. Coordinate with senior attorneys on litigation strategy for contested permitting matters.
Monitor and evaluate state and federal regulatory, statutory, and judicial developments and assess their effect on agency environmental programs. Certify compliance with Administrative Procedures Act rulemaking requirements.
Direct the division budget and direct strategic planning to maximize division resources.
Oversee staff development by reviewing employee performance, including participating in employee conferences as appropriate; and coordinating with senior attorneys in development of training curriculum. Ensure new employee performance plans are administered in a timely manner in accordance with agency policy, including a well-written description of tasks and standards.
Serve as division contact to the Agency Records Management program concerning records retention, storage, access, and destruction.

Qualifications:
Required Education & Experience:

Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university with major course work in a field relevant to assignment.
OR
Experience in the management of a business function, division, or department to include professional management experience where primary duties consists of planning organizing, controlling, and directing the work of an organization or formal subdivision, or team.
OR
Experience as a special assistant to a TCEQ director or deputy director developing management policies and directing/evaluating operations.
**Employees in this classification series may research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure, including but not limited to a communication infrastructure system, cybersecurity system, electric grid, hazardous waste treatment system, or water treatment facility. See Tex. Business & Commerce Code Section 117.001(2). Accordingly, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the infrastructure is a requirement to be hired for and to continue to be employed with TCEQ.

Transcript / College Hours or Course Work
See instructions on how to attach documents. A copy of your official college transcript or evaluation of foreign credentials in CAPPS is required if needed to meet the qualifications listed above.

Work Schedule:
Standard business hours are M-F, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Benefits:

Optional 401(k) and 457 plans
Insurance: Health, Vision, Dental, and optional FSA
Paid day(s) off from work on national holidays and holidays that the state observes
Professional development opportunities
Longevity pay based on your number of years working for the state
Wellness Program and Activities
Onsite Nurse Practitioner in HQ
Work-Life Balance

Condition of Employment

TCEQ will conduct a criminal history records search, driving history (if required for the job) on candidates offered employment.
In compliance with ADA, if you need any special accommodations during the employment process, please contact HRSS for assistance at (512) 239-0102.

Military Occupational Specialty (M.O.S.) Codes

M.O.S. codes can be found at: https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/
Please click the hyperlink under ‘Occupational Category' for the respective Class Title.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is an Equal Opportunity Employer.