International Relations Officer

City of Charlotte•Charlotte, NC

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

Welcome to the City of Charlotte, America's Queen City, a diverse and inclusive community committed to the mission of delivering quality public services and promoting the safety, health, and quality of life for all residents. Charlotte is the 14th largest city in the United States, serving approximately 980K residents within the Charlotte Metro area. The rapid growth in the international business sector and international community contributes to a significant growth rate, making Charlotte one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation. Nearly 18% of Charlotte residents were born outside the United States, and over 160 languages are spoken in the region. The City works hard to ensure Charlotte remains a certified Welcoming City and a remarkable place to live, work, learn, and play for all. The International Relations Manager role is integral to building collaborative partnerships across various metro area communities. This position is community-facing, tasked with developing and executing a strategic plan that advances the City's international and public diplomacy efforts, while strengthening engagement with the growing international community and international business sector. The primary duty of this role is to lead the City's Office of International Relations, working collaboratively across city departments to establish and execute a strategic plan that keeps Charlotte a welcoming, collaborative, and accessible city. This work will interact regularly with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations Committee and the Charlotte International Cabinet. Success depends on direct, sustained relationships with Charlotte's international community; this position must be personally known and trusted, present where international residents and organizations gather, and connected to community associations, faith leaders, business groups, and informal networks.

Requirements

Demonstrated, hands-on experience building and sustaining direct relationships with international communities, with credibility and trust to be seen as a genuine advocate and point of connection to City government.
Knowledge of principles and best practices for international engagement and effective collaboration in both workplace and community settings, processes and procedures associated with development and implementation of international relations, principles and best practices of change management, and best practices for community engagement and training.
Experience using data and performance metrics to measure programs, projects, and initiatives at an organizational-wide and departmental level.
Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences through an assortment of mediums, including written reports, presentations, and open-discussion settings.
Demonstrated ability to build trust, lead, and work collaboratively with others by setting clear goals and effectively communicating responsibilities and deadlines.
Previous supervisory experience required, to include team building, leadership development, and performance management.
Demonstrated experience in program development, management, and measurement.
Knowledge of local government structure and ability to work within legal, administrative, budget, communications, and public-records requirements.
Must be able to attend meetings in-person, including in community settings where international residents gather (community centers, places of worship, community events, international business districts).
Must demonstrate the ability to build direct, trusted working relationships with individuals, organizations, and community leaders within Charlotte's international community.
Must be able to travel as needed to attend meetings and required events.
Must demonstrate effective conflict management skills.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with demonstrated credibility and trust within Charlotte's international community.
Bachelor's degree and 7 years of related work experience, or a master's degree with 5 years of related work experience required.

Nice To Haves

Ability to communicate in languages other than English is desired yet not required.
Experience engaging with international organizations, businesses, governmental entities, and community partners is preferred.
Bachelor's degree in political science, international affairs, planning & development, public policy, public administration, psychology, or a related field with 7 years of related work experience, or a master's degree with 5 years of related work experience preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as staff liaison to the Community Relations Committee's (CRC) international relations committee: build agendas, conduct research, shape policy recommendations, carry out committee priorities, and report on outcomes.
Attend and regularly report to the Charlotte International Cabinet, keeping the Cabinet informed of city efforts to address international community priorities, emerging issues, and progress on Cabinet-endorsed initiatives.
Align international relations strategy and program priorities with broader city efforts, including Neighborhood Engagement, Community Affairs, Fair Housing, ADA, Dispute Settlement, and Language Access.
Build and maintain direct, trusted relationships with international residents, community organizations, business and civic associations, faith leaders, and informal community networks across the metro area.
Proactively identify and engage international populations not currently connected to City government, ensuring hard-to-reach communities have a seat at the table when City policies, programs, and services are shaped.
Regularly gather input from international community members and organizations to understand their needs and priorities and follow through in a way that builds and sustains trust over time.
Serve as a trusted broker of relationships, resources, and opportunities between the international community and City government.
Track emerging issues and trends in Charlotte's international communities and translate them into strategic recommendations for executive leadership, City Council, and the Community Relations Committee.
Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to executive leadership and community leaders with respect to City of Charlotte programs, services, and international community engagement.
Serve as the City of Charlotte's Liaison to the Charlotte International Cabinet; may also serve on various community boards to support and achieve international community and economic goals.
Support the Office of Economic Development during business recruitment or expansion efforts through presentations, data requests, and support of hosting company representatives.
Identify strategies to address community-based policies and programs necessary to harness international relations within the community.
Ensure policies, procedures, budget decisions, program design, and other City functions are evaluated using an objective community-based perspective as part of the decision-making process.
Assess existing community-based programs, services, and initiatives to identify opportunities to maximize efforts.
Facilitate collaboration of agency task forces, teams, and working groups; build effective partnerships and engage with external organizations and stakeholders, both public and private, to support and achieve broad community goals.
Collaborate with community-oriented organizations and coalitions for the advancement of welcoming initiatives amongst residents.
Work with the appropriate internal City departments to identify opportunities to improve City practices and policies related to external services.
Work with external groups/agencies to identify under-resourced geographic areas of investment and development that can be addressed with changes in the City's external-facing policies and practices.
Promote upward mobility by aligning community initiatives with other City of Charlotte led community-facing strategies, such as Corridors of Opportunity and Small Business and Workforce Development.
Develop annual work plans, budgets, and performance measures for the international relations program, and supervise assigned staff.
Exercise discretion and tact when dealing with sensitive, complex, and confidential issues and situations.