Director Strategic Initiatives

Wake County Public School System•Cary, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

Plays a key leadership role in advancing the facilities and operations division’s vision, mission, and strategic goals. Responsible for providing strategic direction and administrative oversight across multiple areas of the division, including operational and organizational excellence. Leads the successful execution of major projects, managing all phases from planning and resource allocation to coordinating efforts among facilities and operations teams, district personnel, and external stakeholders. Ensures projects are completed on time and in alignment with the strategic objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in education, administration, business, or related field.
Five years of work experience developing and implementing solutions to business problems with a focus on strategy or operations, or in education as an administrator or project manager.
Comprehensive in-depth knowledge and understanding of the principles, practices, and procedures of public school system policies and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.
Considerable knowledge of Microsoft Office, specifically Word, Excel, Project, Access, and Power Point; Google Apps.
Critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Skills in effective leadership of adults, including coaching, evaluation, and team building among a variety of stakeholders.
Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both in oral and written form using a variety of communication techniques and tools to ensure the appropriate flow of information, collaborative efforts and feedback.
Ability to read and interpret technical guidelines, project specifications, and design drawings.
Ability to analyze system processes to identify and correct inefficiencies, optimizing use of limited resources.
Ability to meet deadlines.
Ability to assess department needs and develop and implement long range plant to meet goals.
Ability to establish and effective working relationships with school system staff, contractors, vendors and external agencies.
Must hold and maintain a valid motor vehicle operator’s license according to the State of North Carolina requirements.

Nice To Haves

Ability to obtain Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), Lean Six Sigma, Certified Facility Manager (CFM), or Educational Facilities Professional (EFP).

Responsibilities

Spearheads the identification and implementation of initiatives that enhance facilities and operations, streamline operations, and improve organizational effectiveness, aligning efforts with the districts long-term strategic objectives.
Develops and implements best practices to drive continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions, ensuring the integration of innovative solutions that advance the districts mission.
Collaborate with WCPSS departments to design and refine organizational processes and procedures that optimize performance across the division.
Directs and manages multiple cross-functional project teams, guiding them through all phases of project execution from ideation and resource planning to implementation and post-project review.
Uses a data-driven, hypothesis-based approach to foster a solution-oriented mindset within teams, establishing clear metrics to measure both team and project performance while ensuring accountability for outcomes.
Coaches, mentors, and develops Project Team Leaders, providing guidance on advanced problem-solving techniques, performance management, and leadership development.
Leads the recruitment, evaluation, and professional development of project leadership, making decisions regarding staffing, performance improvement, and, when necessary, disciplinary action.
Resolves conflicts and challenges across teams and stakeholders, ensuring smooth collaboration and maintaining focus on project goals.
Establishes performance metrics to measure the impact of projects, tracks milestones, and ensures timely delivery in alignment with success criteria.
Proactively identifies risks, manages scope changes, and implements mitigation strategies to keep projects on track.
Conducts post-project reviews to assess outcomes and generate recommendations for continuous improvement.
Serves as a key liaison with internal and external stakeholders, maintaining clear and timely communication on project expectations, progress, and results.
Prepares and delivers proposals, status updates, and presentations, ensuring transparency and alignment with project goals.
Performs other related duties, as assigned.