The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services

Vice President of Regulatory Affairs

 

Background: The Texas Alliance of Child and Family Services (TACFS) is Texas’ leading network of mission-driven organizations that have embraced the call to serve vulnerable children, youth, and families in their communities. TACFS members across Texas work to prevent and address child trauma through services including prevention and early intervention, family preservation, residential/foster care services, adoption, post-adoption, youth and young adult transition services, mental health, education, substance misuse, and other programs designed to promote safety and reduce risk for children, youth, and families.

Our vision is to build a vibrant, strong, and unified network of child, youth, and family-serving community providers that provide high-quality support and services across Texas. Our mission is to work collectively to support and strengthen children, youth, and families in communities across Texas. We achieve this mission through research and education, collaboration, and advocacy. TACFS is committed to growing an organization rooted in equity and inclusivity, where we readily acknowledge, accept, embrace, and celebrate the collective sum of the differences each of us brings to the environment. We strive to embody our values of being collaborative, forward-thinking, honest brokers, inclusive, solutions-focused, reliable, and thoughtful.

Reporting: The Vice President of Regulatory Affairs (VP of Regulatory Affairs) will work under the immediate direction of the TACFS Chief Executive Officer. The VP of Regulatory Affairs will serve as part of the TACFS Executive Team and lead our Sr. Director of Mental Health and Heart Galleries of Texas Post-Permanency Director in their roles. This position will work closely with the TACFS Board, Center Board, TACFS staff and membership, and with other community and national partners.

Key Responsibilities: The VP of Regulatory Affairs serves as TACFS’ senior regulatory strategist and translator, by translating complex child welfare rules and policy changes into clear guidance for providers, proactively identifying risks and opportunities, and advising organizational leadership on regulatory, contracting, and system impacts.

This role is critical in advising and supporting network priorities and continuous improvement to strengthen the child welfare system for Texas. The VP of Regulatory Affairs is responsible for coordinating the implementation of the organization’s overall efforts to provide consultation, technical assistance, communication, and other support related to these key areas, including heightened monitoring and other relationships between the State and service providers. The position also provides oversight for the organization’s post-permanency work, as well as support for the mental health partnership and related mental health initiatives.

Key Job Duties (include but are not limited to):

  • Educate providers on compliance related matters, compile pain points, and draft responsive deliverables seeking improvements and making recommendations.
  • Translate statutes, rules, policies, and guidance into clear, actionable guidance for providers, identifying implications, risks, timelines, and implementation considerations.
  • Proactively monitor national, state, and local regulatory and policy developments, anticipating system impacts and elevating emerging issues to TACFS leadership.
  • Build and sustain relationships with providers and partners as well as other subject matter experts to further our work.
  • Work in alignment with State partners (Office of the Governor, DFPS, HHSC) to support service delivery providers with the tools, knowledge, and expertise to meet the State’s child welfare needs in an evolving environment, serving as a bridge between regulatory intent and provider realities.
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO, staff, and Board on regulatory, legal, contracting, and policy matters, including advising public policy and advocacy priorities related to contracting, regulation and other key policies and funding needs.
  • Review TACFS contracts and other agreements.
  • Develop and deliver clear written products, including regulatory summaries, member guidance, internal memos, and external communications.
  • Regularly attend, lead or participate in meetings, representing TACFS, including providing leadership and facilitation for the Regulatory Committee, Kinship Advocates of Texas, and, as needed, the Texas Partnership for Mental Health Services.
  • Seek funding and partnership opportunities to sustain and expand TACFS work and manage grant deliverables as applicable.
  • Participate in business development activities, including grant writing, speaking engagements, member support, and external outreach.
  • Model TACFS values and adhere to the Inclusion Statement in all aspects of work.
  • Other duties as assigned to support TACFS priorities and goals, member priorities, and overall TACFS efforts.

 

Key Qualifications: The ideal candidate is a self-starter who is comfortable navigating a mission-driven, multi-faceted, team-oriented environment.  The ideal candidate has the following core skills and abilities:

  • A strong desire to support the mission of TACFS and to support our members and the greater child and youth serving community through increasing professional skills and knowledge.
  • Deep understanding of child welfare systems and state agency operations, with the ability to assess downstream impacts of regulatory change.
  • Strong regulatory background, including experience with law and rulemaking.
  • Senior leadership experience working with or embedded within Texas child welfare organizations.
  • Proven ability to collaborate effectively with state agency partners and navigate ever-evolving, complex public/private partnerships.
  • Demonstrated ability to review, synthesize, and summarize complex regulatory and policy materials into practical guidance.
  • Strategic thinking and proactive leadership, anticipating change rather than reacting to it.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tailor messaging to providers, agency partners, executive leadership, and boards.
  • Strong relationship-building and diplomacy skills, with credibility across diverse stakeholders.
  • Persistent follow-through and organizational discipline in tracking deliverables, timelines, and commitments.
  • Provider-centered mindset with a focus on sustainability, implementation realities, and continuous improvement.
  • Comfort navigating ambiguity and leading through change in a complex regulatory environment.
  • Legal training or background preferred.

This is a full-time position, with a flexible, accommodating work environment. Travel will be required. This position is supported in part by grant funds. TACFS values our employees and aims to provide compensation and benefits commensurate with experience. TACFS is an equal opportunity employer. TACFS does not discriminate based on race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.