TDIS Associate Program Director

Job Title

TDIS Associate Program Director

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Institute For A Disaster Resilient Texas

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Houston, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Who We Are

The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) at Texas A&M University brings together research, data, and collaboration to strengthen communities against natural hazards. Established to bridge the gap between science and decision-making, IDRT delivers cutting-edge analytics, tools, and evidence-based solutions that support state agencies, partners, and local communities in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters. Through innovative research and a commitment to public impact, we help build a more resilient Texas for the long term. To learn more, visit idrt.tamu.edu ↗

What We Want

The Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas (IDRT) is seeking a highly motivated Associate Program Director to guide the Texas Disaster Information System (TDIS). TDIS is IDRT's flagship platform, a statewide system that delivers disaster-related data, analytics, and decision-support tools to state agencies, local governments, and the public. It is one of the Institute's largest and most visible awards, and has been central to growing IDRT with expanding statewide and national visibility. Given its scale, funder expectations, and public profile, TDIS is a high-visibility, high-stakes program for the Institute.

TDIS is shifting from initial build-out toward sustained operations, expanded adoption, and long-term programmatic growth. This transition calls for steady, experienced leadership to guide the program through its next chapter. This is a management and strategic leadership role, not a technical or development position.

What we want

The Texas Disaster Information System Associate Program Director , under general direction, is responsible for assisting with the overall management, strategic direction, and long-term sustainability of the TDIS program. The Associate Program Director oversees deliverables and project management across TDIS applications, leads and participates in business development efforts to sustain the program beyond current grant funding, and serves as the point of contact for stakeholder engagement, user feedback, and awareness-building across TDIS applications.

What you need to know

Salary: Will be commensurate based on the selected hire’s education and experience.

Please Note: This position is grant funded; future employment may be contingent upon future funding.

Resume/Cover Letter: A cover letter and resume are strongly recommended.

Travel: May travel as required.

Qualifications

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Eight years of related experience i.e. Program Management, Project Management.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, planning, or a related field.

• Experience in program management, business development, or public-sector/agency-facing roles.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated skill in program and project management, including planning, scheduling, and tracking deliverables across multiple concurrent workstreams and contracts.

• Ability to develop and articulate a program sustainability strategy, including pricing/licensing approaches, diversified funding streams, and long-range financial planning.

• Strong financial acumen, including budget development, contract and grant administration, and expenditure monitoring across a multi-award portfolio.

• Excellent relationship-building and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively with state agency partners, executive leadership, technical teams, and end users.

• Skilled communicator able to translate complex platform capabilities and technical concepts for non-technical audiences, including in written materials, presentations, and public-facing engagements.

• Ability to gather, synthesize, and act on user and stakeholder feedback to inform product and program prioritization.

• Experience supervising or coordinating the work of staff, application owners, and outside consultants, including setting priorities and monitoring performance.

• Strong organizational skills and sound judgment; ability to multitask, manage competing priorities, and exercise independent decision-making with limited direction.

• Working knowledge of the disaster resilience/emergency management landscape and public-sector funding environment in Texas.

• Experience in business development identifying funding sources, cultivating partnerships, and building revenue or cost-recovery models that sustain a program beyond initial grant funding.

• Ability to travel independently to other and/or remote locations by driving and/or flying on commercial airlines.

• This position may direct and/or evaluate the work of others.

Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Planning

• Plans, organizes, directs, and manages day-to-day operations of the TDIS program, coordinating across TDIS applications and their respective development/operations teams.

• Establishes performance goals and metrics to evaluate the success of areas of responsibility.

• Assists in developing and implementing program management procedures, workflows, and reporting standards for TDIS.

• Coordinates with technical leads and application owners to ensure deliverables align with contractual and grant obligations.

• Assists in developing strategic plans and goals to guide the continued growth of the TDIS program.

External Relations and Collaboration

• Serves as point of contact for TDIS stakeholders, partner agencies (e.g., GLO, TDEM), and end users.

• Gathers, synthesizes, and channels user feedback across TDIS applications to inform prioritization and roadmap decisions.

• Plans and leads stakeholder briefings, demos, workshops, and outreach activities to build awareness and adoption of TDIS applications; represents TDIS at conferences and partner engagements.

Business Development and Program Sustainability

• Leads business development efforts to identify and pursue funding sources, partnerships, and revenue opportunities that sustain TDIS beyond current grant cycles.

• Develops and maintains a program sustainability strategy in coordination with IDRT leadership, including pricing/licensing models, cost recovery approaches, and diversified funding streams.

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Staff and Team Coordination

• Coordinates and provides direction to program staff, application owners, and contracted/consultant support involved in TDIS delivery; supports staff development and performance planning for TDIS-dedicated personnel.

• Other duties as assigned.

Budget Management and Fiscal Oversight

• Assists with yearly budgetary and contract processes for TDIS; coordinates with accounting and grants personnel on invoicing, budget tracking, and expenditure monitoring across the TDIS award portfolio.

Why Texas A&M University?

We are a prestigious university with strong traditions, Core Values, and a community of caring and collaboration. Amenities associated with a major university, such as sporting and cultural events, state-of-the-art recreation facilities, the Bush Library and Museum, and much more await you. Experience all that a big city has to offer but with a reasonable cost-of-living and no long commutes.

• Medical, prescription drug, dental, vision, life and AD&D, flexible spending accounts , and long-term disability insurance with Texas A&M contributing to employee health and basic life premiums

• 12-15 days of annual paid holidays

• Up to eight hours of paid sick leave  and at least  eight hours of paid vacation   each month

• Automatic enrollment in the  Teacher Retirement System of Texas

• Health and Wellness: Free exercise programs and