Director of Governmental Relations | TMRS PositionCast™
A PositionCast™ Conversation About Public Policy, Relationships, and Public Service
The Texas Municipal Retirement System is recruiting for its next Director of Governmental Relations, a key executive leadership role serving one of the most important public retirement systems in Texas.In this episode of The Clear Voice, guests Debbie Munoz, Executive Director of TMRS, Dan Wattles, former TMRS Director of Governmental Relations, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals, join host James Groom to discuss the opportunity, the organization, and the kind of leader who can succeed in this important role.TMRS serves Texas cities, public servants, retirees, and their families. That makes the Director of Governmental Relations position more than a policy role. It is a relationship-driven position built around trust, credibility, legislative awareness, and a deep understanding of how policy decisions can impact public retirement.
Why This Role Matters
Everything TMRS does is governed by statute. That means legislative changes, whether large or small, can have a direct impact on the system, its operations, its cities, its members, and its retirees.Debbie Munoz describes the role in terms of both offense and defense. At times, TMRS may need to advance legislation that improves or clarifies the system. More often, the organization must monitor proposed legislation and explain how even a small statutory change could create significant ripple effects across the retirement system.The next Director of Governmental Relations must be able to build relationships before they are needed. This is not a role where success begins once the legislative session starts. The work begins during the interim, through stakeholder engagement, internal preparation, legislative strategy, and trusted communication with elected officials, staff members, partner organizations, and TMRS leadership.
A Role Built on Trust
Dan Wattles, who previously served in the role, explains that governmental relations at TMRS depends heavily on credibility. The person in this position must be trusted internally by the Executive Director, senior staff, and the Board, while also being trusted externally by legislators, legislative staff, stakeholders, and partner organizations.That trust matters because the Director of Governmental Relations must often explain complex retirement, pension, actuarial, investment, and statutory issues in a clear and accurate way. The role requires someone who can communicate confidently without overstating, oversimplifying, or creating confusion.It also requires the judgment to know when to engage, when to listen, when to testify, when to prepare others to testify, and when the best strategy is to provide accurate information behind the scenes.
Understanding the System from the Inside
Although the position is externally focused, Debbie and Dan both emphasize that success also depends on strong internal relationships. The Director of Governmental Relations must understand the different parts of TMRS, including benefits administration, investments, legal, actuarial work, finance, operations, and executive leadership.That internal knowledge is critical because legislation can affect the system in ways that are not always obvious at first glance. A proposed change involving contributions, benefit payments, reporting requirements, investments, or administrative processes may create operational or financial consequences across the organization.The right person does not have to manually calculate a retirement benefit or become an actuary. However, they do need to understand enough about the system to recognize potential issues, ask the right questions, and bring the right people into the conversation early.
The Culture at TMRS
A major theme of the conversation is the organizational culture at TMRS. Debbie Munoz describes a workplace focused on organizational health, collaboration, trust, empowerment, and service. She emphasizes the importance of breaking down silos and helping employees understand how their work connects to the larger mission.The next Director of Governmental Relations should be someone who enjoys people, builds relationships naturally, and wants to be part of the organization rather than operating in isolation. Debbie makes clear that she is not looking for someone who simply sits behind a closed door. She is looking for an engaged, energetic, mission-driven professional who can work internally with TMRS employees and externally with stakeholders across Texas.Dan also describes TMRS as one of the most rewarding professional experiences of his career. For him, the work was not just a job. It was a calling rooted in public service and in helping protect the retirement system for those who serve Texas communities.
State and Federal Policy Impact
Most of the governmental relations work is focused at the state level, particularly because TMRS is governed by Texas statute and the Texas Legislature meets every two years. However, federal policy can also affect TMRS, especially through tax law and federal pension-related legislation.The Director of Governmental Relations must be able to monitor issues at both levels, work with partner organizations, and help ensure that policymakers understand how proposed changes could affect TMRS. Federal experience is not required, but it can be a valuable plus.
Candidate Fit
The ideal candidate will bring strong governmental relations experience, excellent relationship-building skills, sound judgment, and the ability to communicate complex information clearly. Experience around the Texas Capitol is especially valuable because the next legislative cycle is always closer than it seems.Candidates from outside the public sector may be able to transition into the role if they bring the right skill set, relationships, credibility, and mission alignment. However, the successful candidate must be willing to learn TMRS, understand the public retirement environment, and commit to the long-term relationship work this role requires.This is not a short-term stepping stone. TMRS is looking for someone who wants to invest in the organization, serve its mission, and help protect the retirement promise made to public servants across Texas.
Living and Working in Austin
The conversation also highlights the TMRS office environment and the Austin location. TMRS operates from a modern, well-designed building with strong meeting and collaboration spaces. The organization is located with access to the Capitol and the broader Austin community.For someone who enjoys public policy, public service, and the energy of Texas government, this role offers the chance to work in a meaningful position connected to both the Capitol and the communities TMRS serves across the state.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Why This Role Matters
03:02 Dan Wattles’ Path to TMRS
06:17 Serving Texas Cities, Public Servants, and Retirees
08:11 Debbie Munoz’s Background and TMRS Mission
12:53 Why Governmental Relations Is Critical to TMRS
15:16 Building Trust Before Legislative Session
18:11 Playing Defense and Protecting the System
21:04 Federal Issues and Pension Policy
25:25 Why TMRS Is Different from a State Agency
28:57 The Culture and Organizational Health at TMRS
32:55 Internal Relationships and Cross-Department Collaboration
38:23 The Work Between Legislative Sessions
42:23 How to Apply for the TMRS Opportunity
45:20 Living and Working in Austin
50:19 Can Private-Sector GR Experience Transfer?
53:17 Final Advice for Applicants
Apply for the Position
About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth. James Groom is the host of the program. As the Vice President of Clear Career Professionals and a retired Police Chief, James brings a unique, high stakes perspective to every conversation. His background in public service and executive leadership allows him to extract practical, actionable insights from industry experts that help modern organizations function with total clarity.
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About Clear Career Professionals
Clear Career Professionals is a specialized recruitment and strategic consulting firm focused on the public sector. We believe that the strength of any municipality or school district lies in the quality of its leadership and the cohesion of its teams.Our team is comprised of former practitioners and retired executives who understand the nuances of public service. We provide organizations with more than just a list of candidates; we provide the strategic oversight and expertise necessary to navigate transitions, maximize taxpayer funds, and implement long term solutions.
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