Strategy & Innovation Director

Buncombe County•Asheville, NC

16h•Hybrid

About The Position

Buncombe County is hiring a strategic, forward-thinking Strategy and Innovation Director to lead the department and drive policy management and innovation initiatives. The Director supports County departments through strategic planning, evaluation, data and program analysis, business planning, process improvement, innovation, facilitation, performance data access and metrics development, and enterprise-level project management, ensuring alignment with the County’s vision and strategic plan. The Director is expected to provide strong customer experience, follow through consistently, execute with excellence, and model the County’s values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Honesty, and Equity. The Strategy and Innovation Department has nine employees, including the Director. The role oversees three Strategic Policy and Analysis Managers and directs departmental activities, staff, fiscal and personnel functions, and the operating budget. Key work includes oversight of the strategic plan and departmental business plans; community survey contract management and analysis; development and implementation of the county-wide Mindworks innovation program; and collection, analysis, synthesis, and presentation of data and recommendations. The position is based at 200 College Street, Asheville, North Carolina. The employee must reside or relocate to a residence within a two-hour drive of the work location; residence within Buncombe County is not required. The role requires on-site work during onboarding and acclimation. After six months, the position will be evaluated for a hybrid work arrangement. On-site interviews are targeted for the week of November 30, 2026, and the selected candidate is anticipated to begin in mid-December.

Requirements

Master’s degree in public, business, personnel administration, or a related field, and five years of experience in performance or project management, including at least three years of managerial or supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Knowledge of the organization and functions of County government.
Knowledge of supervisory practices, including communication, delegation, work assignment, handling employee issues, performance evaluation, investigations, and disciplinary actions.
Knowledge of strategic planning methodologies and practices.
Knowledge of public and business administration principles and practices, including budget and finance.
Ability to interpret federal and state legislation and establish county-level policy guidance to ensure operational compliance.
Ability to compile, analyze, and summarize administrative, programmatic, and fiscal data to assess agency capacity.
Ability to develop written documents, oral presentations, and reports conveying information, and to communicate effectively.
Ability to lead, supervise, and direct a team.
Excellent oral and written communication skills.
Ability to organize work and establish priorities to meet guidelines and deadlines.
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with colleagues, elected officials, community organizations, and the general public.
Must reside or relocate to a residence within a two-hour drive of the work location.

Responsibilities

Direct and supervise department or division activities, including coordination of fiscal and personnel-related functions.
Supervise, evaluate, and support staff through formal and informal discussions; provide guidance, support career development and team goals, oversee objectives and performance standards, and resolve personnel issues.
Analyze workflow and delegate projects to meet departmental goals.
Plan and monitor the department operating budget and authorize purchases and expenditures.
Evaluate and analyze data and facts systematically to inform decisions by Department Directors, County leadership, and elected officials.
Manage enterprise-wide departmental business planning, defining and documenting goals, initiatives, actions, and measures aligned with the County’s strategic vision and plan.
Manage enterprise-wide strategic planning to establish the County’s strategic vision and define aligned goals, initiatives, actions, and measures.
Oversee strategic, enterprise-level projects by planning, coordinating, and communicating to achieve organization-wide results with defined beginnings and ends.
Facilitate teams, groups, committees, departments, and leadership teams through designed events intended to achieve specific outcomes or work products affecting County services.
Ensure development and design of performance metrics and indicators that demonstrate the effectiveness of key business initiatives.
Oversee policy management throughout the County policy lifecycle, including development, revision, approval, and implementation.
Participate in policy implementation by reviewing policies and determining applicability and methods of enforcement.
Oversee the creation and maintenance of data management tools for internal and external County stakeholders.
Oversee analysis and modeling of data from multiple sources to create extensible data platforms for operational smoothing and cost-benefit analysis that inform decisions and provide insight to County leadership.
Oversee the County’s innovation training programs.
Advise department managers and staff on organizational performance, data collection, and procedural changes.
Research best practices to improve organizational performance.
Perform other related duties as assigned.