The Chief Regulatory Officer (CRO) is a senior executive who reports directly to the Executive Director/CIO of Harris County Universal Services. The CRO serves as the principal authority on regulatory compliance, statutory requirements, policy governance, countywide technology mandates, and intergovernmental coordination.
In addition to overseeing regulatory compliance and records governance, the CRO plays a critical role in coordinating HCUS responsibilities in support of Harris County Elections, ensuring readiness, compliance, and timely execution of all technology, security, and operational components. The CRO also serves as a strategic liaison to the broader justice community, including law enforcement, courts, and partner agencies, to ensure alignment with statutory requirements, data standards, and county priorities.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Regulatory Strategy & Leadership
Serve as the Executive Director’s principal advisor on all regulatory, statutory, compliance, elections-related, and governance matters that impact HCUS operations.
Governance & Compliance Oversight
Oversee regulatory frameworks related to technology support for Elections Administration, ensuring HCUS practices meet requirements outlined in Texas Election Code, cybersecurity standards, and DIR guidelines.
Cross-Government Collaboration
Serve as HCUS’s primary liaison to the Harris County Elections Office for matters involving technology, compliance, preparation, risk mitigation, reporting, and election-cycle readiness.
Policy Development & Advisory
Lead the creation and maintenance of policies that support elections operations, justice system requirements, and regulatory governance across HCUS.
Risk Management & Organizational Readiness
Oversee risk assessments and mitigation strategies related to elections security, systems reliability, and statutory readiness, in partnership with Information Security and Elections Administration.
Elections Coordination
Coordinate all HCUS planning, readiness, deployment, and support functions for countywide elections.
Justice Community Liaison
Serve as the primary HCUS liaison to justice-related departments, ensuring HCUS technology services support compliance with criminal justice information systems regulations (e.g., CJIS), court technology standards, and case management interface requirements.
Stakeholder Communication
Maintain transparent, consistent communication with the Elections Office, justice partners, and internal HCUS divisions.
Harris County is an Equal Opportunity Employer
https://hrrm.harriscountytx.gov/Pages/EqualEmploymentOpportunityPlan.aspx
If you need special services or accommodations, please call (713) 274-5445 or email ADACoordinator@bmd.hctx.net.
This position is subject to a criminal history check. Only relevant convictions will be considered and, even when considered, may not automatically disqualify the candidate.
Education:
Bachelors Degree
Experience:
8 years of related experience
Knowledge, Skills, and abilities
Strong sense of urgency and engagement in designing best practice policies for county government
Excellent oral, written, and presentation skills, and adept in succinctly conveying complex information
Exceptional project management skills to manage a range of projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, changing environment, while maintaining strong, positive working relationships
Extremely detail oriented
Ability to develop and drive new initiatives, work cross-departmentally, work within multidisciplinary teams, oversee projects to completion, and track results
Strong collaborative skills and ability to work autonomously with accountability
Driving interest in developing successful working relationships with government at every level throughout Harris County, the State of Texas, and the United States
Innovative and creative in developing policy solutions.
Applicants for this position will be subject to a criminal background check that includes being fingerprinted. This applies to any position with network access to Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS)or access to an area where CJIS is received, maintained or stored either manually or electronically (i.e. custodian, maintenance).
Automatic Disqualification:
NOTE: Qualifying education, experience, knowledge and skills must be documented on your job application. You may attach a resume to the application as supporting documentation butONLY information stated on the application will be used for consideration. "See Resume" will not be accepted for qualifications.
Advanced degree such as JD, MPA, MPP from an accredited college or university
Location:
406 Caroline St., Houston, TX 77002
Work Arrangement:
Hybrid - It is required that this person is onsite at least 4 days/week.
Reporting Relationships:
Reports directly to Executive Director
Employment may be contingent on passing a drug screen and meeting other standards.
Due to a high volume of applications positions may close prior to the advertised closing date or at the discretion of the Hiring Department.