Provides leadership, strategic direction, and implementation of priority initiatives and oversight of specific assignment areas on behalf of Executive Leadership. Manages major County programs and interorganizational projects involving external stakeholders. Contributes to strategic planning and budget processes. Participates as a member of the County Managers’ Cabinet and supports respective Deputy County Manager.

This position is responsible for designing and executing the County’s overarching upward mobility strategies with an emphasis on economic and workforce development to be achieved through building collaborative relationships with educational institutions, industry, internal, and nonprofit stakeholders for collective impact in strengthening our community’s workforce development ecosystem and alignment to community needs. Mecklenburg County’s goal is to maximize workforce development activities throughout the Charlotte region by leveraging services offered by County programs, county-funded service providers, and community partners to increase access to job opportunities and resources for individuals seeking a sustainable living wage and pursuing career pathways for upward mobility. The County’s focus is to implement programs, policies and/or initiatives that either complement community strategies or bridge systemic gaps.

Essential Functions
• Strategic Leadership – Executes organizational goals into operational reality, leveraging innovation and creative strategies to drive change.
• Program Management – Develops, implements, and oversees programs, initiatives, and strategies aligned to the County’s priorities, plans, goals, and objectives.
• Collaboration – Builds and maintains partnerships to maximize achievement of results and impact. Engages with community agencies and intergovernmental partners regarding operational areas, organization priorities, and community needs/issues.
• Assessment and Reporting – Monitors and evaluates performance, impacts, and outcomes of programs and initiatives using quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. Provides actionable insights and recommendations for successful achievement of organizational goals.
• Financial Oversight – Manages program budgets and service provider contracts, explores and applies for grant funding opportunities, and ensures compliance with relevant requirements.
• Other duties as assigned to include and are not limited to:
o Provides complex administrative assistance and support to the Executive Team to include responding to inquiries and requests for information.
o Attends business partner, stakeholder, and community meetings as needed.
o Improves local government management job knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; benchmarking state-of-the-art practices; participating in professional organizations.
Provide leadership and oversight to department projects, initiatives, and personnel.

Minimum Qualifications
Experience: Minimum of five years of progressively responsible leadership experience and managing relevant programs and operations.
Education: Bachelor's degree in business, public administration, or a related field required.

Preferred Qualifications
• Proven leader with experience in policy development, program administration, and collaboration.
• Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of workforce development, policy issues, prevailing trends, and barriers for success.
• Familiarity of federal, state, and local workforce development policies and programs.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), or Business Administration (MBA) is preferred.