Deputy Executive Director

Western Riverside Council of Governments • Riverside, CA

5d

About The Position

WRCOG is seeking a Deputy Executive Director to provide agency-wide strategic leadership, policy direction, and operational oversight across its departments while directly managing one or more assigned departments or program areas. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role helps implement short- and long-term priorities, including the agency’s Strategic Plan; coordinates organizational work; represents WRCOG with member agencies, elected officials, committees, and regional partners; and serves as the Executive Director in their absence. The Deputy Executive Director divides time approximately equally between agency-wide executive responsibilities and direct management of an assigned department or program area. The department assignment will be determined by the Executive Director based on the selected candidate’s skills, experience, and abilities, and may be reorganized to accommodate the assignment. Potential areas include Administration, Finance, Energy and Environment, the Inland Regional Energy Network (I-REN), and Transportation and Planning.

As an agency executive, the Deputy Executive Director assists with the agency’s long-term vision and strategic priorities, oversees day-to-day operations, coordinates work across departments, advises the Executive Director, monitors organizational effectiveness, and supports policy development, advocacy, grants, funding, and strategic planning. The position represents WRCOG at external meetings and before committees and public and private sector groups, builds relationships among departments and regional partners, and fosters transparent communication, staff engagement, development, retention, and succession planning.

As a department head, the Deputy Executive Director plans, organizes, directs, and evaluates the assigned department’s programs, projects, services, staff, and budget. Duties include managing funding and expenditures, pursuing grants, overseeing contracts and agreements, ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies, and monitoring developments that may affect the department or agency. The role exercises direct supervision over management, professional, technical, and administrative staff in assigned departments, and over all agency staff when the Executive Director is absent.

WRCOG is looking for an exemplary executive who models the agency’s values, develops staff, and strengthens leadership continuity. The position is based in an office environment and includes travel to meeting sites in Western Riverside County and the region, as well as attendance at off-site and evening meetings. The schedule is 40 hours per week on a 9/80 schedule, with every other Friday off. The anticipated start date is on or around January 18, 2027.

Requirements

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with major coursework in public administration, public policy, urban planning, engineering, finance, business, or a related field.
• Fifteen years of increasingly responsible professional experience, including at least five years of senior leadership experience.
• Possession of a valid California driver’s license and proof of automobile liability insurance, maintained throughout employment.
• Ability to analyze complex issues and make sound, well-informed decisions.
• Ability to communicate clearly and persuasively with elected officials, committees, member agencies, staff, and the public.
• Ability to build consensus among stakeholders with differing interests and lead organizational change.
• Ability to build and retain a high-performing team, hold people accountable fairly and consistently, handle sensitive matters with discretion, and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to model WRCOG’s core values and strengthen staff and organizational leadership capacity.
• Ability to perform the stated physical and communication duties, including using a computer and standard office equipment, operating a motor vehicle, attending meetings, and lifting, carrying, pushing, or pulling objects up to 25 pounds.

Nice To Haves

• Public-sector experience.
• Prior service as a deputy in some capacity, such as Deputy Executive Director, Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or Deputy Director.
• Experience with a council of governments, joint powers authority, or similar regional agency.
• Familiarity with the programs of the assigned department.
• Strong command of public administration and organizational management, public-sector budgeting and fiscal stewardship, grants and intergovernmental funding, policy and legislative processes, and laws governing California public agencies.

Responsibilities

• Assist the Executive Director in executing WRCOG’s long-term vision and Strategic Plan, including developing an annual operating plan with the Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer.
• Oversee day-to-day agency operations, implement Executive Director directives and policies, and coordinate programs, projects, and assignments across departments.
• Manage the agency in the Executive Director’s absence, exercising delegated authority over operations and staff.
• Keep the Executive Director informed and advise on agency operations, opportunities, problems, and issues of concern.
• Meet with department directors and program managers to identify and resolve organizational and operational issues.
• Monitor program and procedural effectiveness, establish and track performance measures, and recommend or implement improvements responsive to member agencies’ needs.
• Assess work distribution, support systems, organizational structure, and reporting relationships and implement improvements.
• Lead or participate in strategic planning, legislative platform development, policy updates, bylaws amendments, and classification and compensation studies.
• Advance WRCOG’s advocacy and funding efforts and help member agencies pursue regional, state, and federal grants and funding opportunities.
• Represent WRCOG at committees, member agencies, meetings with elected and appointed officials, intergovernmental and regulatory agencies, and public and private sector groups; prepare staff reports and presentations.
• Build cooperative relationships among WRCOG departments, member agencies, and regional partners; negotiate and resolve sensitive and complex issues.
• Ensure effective, timely, and transparent organization-wide communication and model WRCOG’s values and behaviors.
• Develop, mentor, and coach managers and staff; support succession planning, staff training and recognition, clear performance standards, engagement, and retention.
• Plan, organize, direct, and evaluate assigned department programs, projects, services, and staff, establishing goals, priorities, and performance measures.
• Develop and administer assigned department budgets, forecast needs, monitor and approve expenditures, pursue grants and other funding, and ensure funding, audit, and reporting compliance.
• Select, train, motivate, and evaluate assigned staff; address performance deficiencies and implement discipline procedures in accordance with agency policy.
• Oversee requests for proposals, contracts, and agreements with consultants, vendors, and partner agencies.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and agency policies; monitor relevant legislative, regulatory, technological, and industry developments and recommend changes.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Paid time off starting at 262.60 hours of annual accrual, increasing up to 364 hours per year.
• 40 hours of management leave per year.
• 13 paid holidays.
• 100% employer-paid dental and vision coverage.
• Up to $2,022.56 toward medical premiums (2027 rate).
• CalPERS retirement, based on Classic/PEPRA eligibility.
• A 3% time and tenure benefit after three years of service.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive