Director of Strategic Initiatives & Planning

First 5 Alameda County•Alameda, CA

1d•$139,000 - $201,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Strategic Initiatives & Planning is a senior operational leadership role responsible for driving the coordination, execution, and implementation infrastructure behind the agency’s highest-priority strategic initiatives, including local tax initiatives. Working closely with Executive Leadership, the Director leads the systems, processes, and cross-divisional practices that translate executive priorities into organized, accountable, and effective action across the organization. The Director oversees the Strategic Initiatives & Planning team and plays a central role in strengthening organizational effectiveness by building clear implementation structures, improving coordination and communication practices, and supporting complex work across multiple divisions, public governance bodies, and external partners. This role requires a highly experienced leader who can bring structure, sequencing, and operational discipline to dynamic public systems environments marked by ambiguity, organizational change, and competing stakeholder priorities. This role requires a leader comfortable operating from vision to execution in dynamic public systems environments. This is not a traditional or transactional project management role; it is an enterprise-scale operational leadership role that requires maturity, political acuity, sound judgment, and experience working within complex public systems environments with competing priorities.

Requirements

Seven (7) years of progressively responsible experience in strategic initiatives, organizational operations, project management, or cross-functional coordination
A bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, Organizational Development, Public Health, or related field (or equivalent professional experience – a bachelor’s degree is not required).

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated track record of leading complex public policy initiatives across multiple stakeholders and operational environments
Experience overseeing complex teams and cross-functional implementation structures
Experience designing organizational coordination systems, governance structures, or operational workflows
Demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and ability to lead through ambiguity and organizational change
Experience facilitating executive-level coordination and decision-making processes
Experience working within complex public systems, government, or cross-sector environments
Experience supporting enterprise-scale organizational coordination or systems-building efforts
Demonstrated ability to lead through ambiguity, organizational change, and competing stakeholder priorities
Knowledge of: Public policy development and implementation practices
Knowledge of: Fiscal policy and resource alignment strategies
Knowledge of: Equity-centered systems-building approaches
Knowledge of: Strategic planning and implementation practices
Knowledge of: Organizational systems, governance, and operating models
Knowledge of: Project and portfolio management methodologies
Knowledge of: Organizational change management principles
Knowledge of: Cross-functional coordination and facilitation techniques
Knowledge of: Performance measurement and continuous improvement practices
Ability to: Translate strategic vision and policy priorities into coordinated operational execution
Ability to: Lead and develop program design, implementation structures, and cross-functional operating models
Ability to: Lead cross-functional teams and complex initiatives within politically and operationally complex public systems
Ability to: Hold accountability while fostering strong collaboration, alignment, and trust across teams and leadership structures
Ability to: Demonstrate strategic anticipation and proactively respond to evolving organizational and community needs
Ability to: Communicate clearly through oral communication, facilitation, policy writing, executive briefings, and operational guidance materials
Ability to: Operate effectively from vision to execution in dynamic and evolving environments
Ability to: Strengthen organizational effectiveness through improved systems and processes
Ability to: Build alignment across divisions with differing operational needs and perspectives
Ability to: Clarify accountability structures and decision-making pathways
Ability to: Design repeatable coordination and communication practices
Ability to: Facilitate collaboration and problem-solving across teams
Ability to: Communicate clearly and influence without relying solely on formal authority
Ability to: Navigate politically and operationally complex environments with maturity and sound judgment
Ability to: Bring clarity, structure, and alignment to evolving organizational priorities and systems
Ability to: Build trust and credibility across divisions, leadership teams, and external stakeholders

Responsibilities

Lead execution of agency-wide strategic initiatives by translating executive priorities into coordinated implementation plans, aligning work across divisions, and addressing operational barriers to support equity-centered systems building and effective implementation of major cross-agency initiatives, including local tax initiatives
Design and implement scalable systems, governance structures, and operational processes that strengthen organizational effectiveness, improve cross-divisional coordination, and support increasingly complex strategic work
Strengthen agency-wide communication, accountability, and alignment practices by improving leadership coordination, organizational clarity, implementation follow-through, and development of executive briefings and strategic communications
Establish clear operational ownership, accountability structures, governance tools, and decision-making processes that reduce ambiguity, clarify cross-divisional responsibilities, and support effective implementation
Coordinate planning and implementation activities across divisions by aligning workflows, timelines, operational needs, and execution practices to support consistent and effective initiative delivery
Lead organizational change efforts that strengthen cross-functional ways of working, reinforce implementation accountability, and support sustainable operational transformation.
Oversee project and portfolio management systems, implementation tracking, workplans, reporting processes, and planning staff to support consistent execution and informed leadership decision-making
Coordinate with internal teams and Executive Leadership to support aligned implementation, facilitate cross-functional working groups, and prepare operational updates and decision-support materials for leadership bodies
Partner with leadership, Finance, and policy staff to align strategic initiatives with fiscal priorities, support long-range planning, and sustain implementation through coordinated resource strategies

Benefits

Medical, Dental, & Vision Coverage
$1,500 credit per year to spend on benefits
Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Employer Paid & Voluntary Life & AD&D Insurance
Long-Term Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans including the ACERA Pension Plan
Commuter Benefits
Employee Assistance Plan
paid vacation
paid time off
sick time
17 paid holidays including the week between Christmas Day and New Year's Day as paid time off