Strategy & Innovation Director

Buncombe County is seeking a strategic, forward-thinking Strategy and Innovation Director. This position is responsible for driving effective policy management and innovation initiatives. The Director is expected to exemplify strong customer experience, accountability through consistent follow up, and execution with excellence when working with internal and external stakeholders. This position is also expected to uphold and model the County’s core values of Respect, Integrity, Collaboration, Honesty, and Equity in all aspects of its work.

Buncombe County’s Strategy and Innovation Department has a total of 9 employees, including this position. This role oversees three (3) Strategic Policy and Analysis Managers.
Key Projects & Oversight for the Strategy & Innovation Director

• Strategic Plan oversight, including departmental business plans
• Community Survey contract management; data evaluation and interpretation; presentation to BOC, dept heads, etc
• Development and implementation of the county-wide innovation program, Mindworks
• Data collection and analysis for a wide variety of departmental projects
• Synthesis of data into concise communication formats (ie. memos, powerpoint)
• Presentation of data and recommendations based on data to all levels of the organization
  

Onsite interviews are targeted for the week of November 30th, 2026. We anticipate the selected candidate to begin employment in mid-December. 

The Strategy and Innovation Director will be required to work on-site during the onboarding and acclimation period. After six (6) months of employment, the position will be evaluated for a hybrid work arrangement. This position must reside or relocate to a residence within a 2-hour drive of the work location (200 College Street, Asheville NC 28801). There is no requirement that candidates reside within Buncombe County limits.

Purpose of the position:

Responsible for directing the activities and productivity of the Strategy and Innovation department to support all County departments by overseeing strategic planning, evaluation, data analysis, program analysis, business planning, process improvement, innovation, facilitation, access to performance data, development of performance metrics, and enterprise level project management to ensure alignment with the County’s vision and strategic plan.
Minimum Education, Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Master’s degree in public, business, personnel administration, or a related field and five (5) years of experience in performance/project management, including at least three (3) years of managerial/supervisory experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Essential Functions of the position:

• Direct and supervise the activity of a department or division including the coordination of fiscal and personnel related activities.  Provide supervision, evaluation, and ongoing support of department staff through formal and informal discussion and evaluation; provide guidance and clarity as needed; including, but not limited to: supporting career development and team goals, overseeing objectives and performance standards, and resolving personnel issues.
• Analyze workflow, delegate projects to meet departmental goals.
• Plans and monitors department operating budget; authorizes purchases and expenditures from budget.
• Conduct systematic and methodical evaluation and analysis of data and facts to inform decision making by Department Directors, County Leadership and Elected Officials.
• Manages Enterprise-Wide Departmental Business Planning through a process that defines and documents goals, initiatives, actions, and measures that align with the County’s strategic vision and plan.
• Manages Enterprise-Wide Strategic Planning through a process sets the County’s strategic vision and that defines and documents aligned goals, initiatives, actions, and measures.
• Oversees strategic, enterprise level project management by planning, coordinating, and communicating, to achieve an organization wide result with a defined beginning and end.
• Assures facilitation of teams, groups, committees, departments, leadership teams by designing and leading a defined series of events with the purpose of arriving at a specific outcome or work product that impacts county services.
• Ensures development and design performance metrics and indicators that demonstrate effectiveness of key business initiatives.
• Oversees Policy Management through facilitating and managing the life cycle of County policies to include development, revision, approval, and implementation. Participates in the implementation of policies to include reviewing policies and determining the applicability and method of enforcement.
• Oversees creation and maintenance of data management tools for use by internal and external stakeholders of the County.
• Oversees analysis and modeling of data from multiple sources to create extensible data platforms for routine operational smoothing and cost-benefit analysis that inform decisions and provide insight to County leadership.
• Oversees the County’s innovation training programs.
• Advises department managers and staff regarding organizational performance, data collection, and procedural changes.
• Research best practices to improve organizational performance.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of the organization and functions of County government.
• Knowledge of supervisory practices and skill in supervising others, including communication skills, delegating and assigning work, dealing effectively with employee issues, evaluating performance, and assisting or conducting investigations and participating in disciplinary actions.
• Knowledge of strategic planning methodologies and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of public and business administration, including budget and finance.
• Ability to interpret federal/state legislation and establish county-level policy guidance related to agency operations to ensure compliance.
• Ability to compile, analyze and summarize administrative, programmatic and fiscal data for assessing agency capacity.
• Ability to develop/ written documents/oral presentations and/or reports conveying information and to communicate effectively.
• Ability to lead, supervise and direct the work of 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 associates, elected officials, community organizations, and the general public.

Buncombe County Government offers a robust benefits package:

• Relocation assistance
• 8% County contribution to employee 401(k)
• Free physical therapy
• Employee and Family Health clinic with $5 co-pay
• $0 Tier-1 generic prescriptions
• 10+ vacation days per year
• 12 sick days & 13 paid holidays

The salary for this position will be determined based on the selected candidate's qualifications. If you have questions, please contact Recruiting Manager Caroline Long at [email protected].

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture, one that fully engages all of our employees, honoring and building on each employee's unique experiences, opinions, and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin or ancestry, marital or familial status, pregnancy, veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment, hiring, assignment, promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected classes. In addition, the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.