Senior Strategic Initiatives Manager
Group: Multnomah County
Location: Portland, Oregon
Salary Range: $83,763.90 - $128,373.25
Deadline Information:
Deadline Date: 07/10/2024
Posted Date: 07/03/2024
Contact Information for Applicants
CHRISTINE ATKINSON
Christine.atkinson@multco.us
5033138904
Overview
Multnomah County is seeking two Senior Strategic Initiative Managers to help support Multnomah County’s strategic priorities within the office of the Chief Operating Officer (COO). The COO oversees all County departments and key corporate functions of the County. The person(s) in this position provides advice and support to the COO, Deputy COO’s, Director of Strategic Initiatives and other County leaders and manages a number of disparate, complex, and confidential projects. Projects are generally countywide, cross-departmental and/or span multiple jurisdictions. While the position(s) will report to the Director of Strategic Initiatives, they will support the entire COO team.
About us:
Multnomah County, the most populous county in Oregon, is home to over 800,000 residents and responsible for providing a wide array of services to our diverse communities in an equitable and inclusive way. At the County, we operate to foster safety, trust and belonging for our community throughout the work, services, and programs we provide. In order for our employees to best serve the people, we recognize that as an organization, we must cultivate a culture of equity, diversity, and inclusion - fostering a workplace where all staff can flourish and grow professionally and personally.
The 2024-2028 Workforce Equity Strategic Plan was unanimously approved by the Board on March 14, 2024. This renewal of equity efforts builds on the infrastructure, practices and other improvements established in accordance with the first plan.
Who we are seeking:
You're a leader, self-starter, with keen attention to detail, a dedicated work ethic, and project management in your DNA. You’re an advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, and have a desire to prioritize the needs of the most vulnerable in the community. Unflappable, you are able to keep yourself solutions oriented and collaborative in your focus - even when the demands from multiple projects get complex. You’re the person who can communicate challenges into opportunities and influence others to get on board. As a motivated and high energy change agent, you lead with humility, engender trust and value service to others.
The responsibilities of this role:
Project Management:
Lead the planning and implementation of projects; develop project plans; facilitate the definition of project scope, goals, milestones, and deliverables; define project tasks and resource requirements; plan and schedule project timelines; identify project risks and develop contingency plans; assemble and coordinate project staff; manage project budgets; communicate with stakeholders; create and maintain comprehensive project documentation.
Develop, administer, assist, and monitor budgets; develop justifications for budgetary recommendations and/or adjustments; write and manage County budget presentations; participate in forecasting additional funds for staffing and resources; coordinate the finalization of budgets to ensure timely submission.
Troubleshoot and respond to timely and urgent requests elevated to the Office of the COO, including issues related to severe weather and other emergencies, requests from the Chair and Board of Commissioners, etc.
Provide expert guidance to other departments, the general public, and/or outside agencies; represent the county to the public, elected officials, other agencies, governments, and organizations including preparing and making presentations, participating in meetings, and conducting community outreach.
Act as representative on committees, interagency task forces, and special projects; respond and resolve confidential and sensitive inquiries; investigate complaints and recommend corrective actions as necessary.
Provide thought partnership and project support to Central HR for priority workforce development/leadership initiatives including the Executive Learning Series, the Multnomah County Managers Conference, and Mission, Vision and Values project.
Operations Policy Analysis:
Provide strategic analysis and support to management in recommending and implementing policies, guidelines, and procedures.
Develop and conduct surveys for process improvement and other Country issues.
Analyze and review federal, state, and local laws, regulations, policies, and procedures in order to ensure compliance.
Conduct analysis on best practices and trends to inform policy decisions.
Utilize data analytics to support evidence-based decision-making and track performance metrics.
Lead complex studies and projects, including the development of Countywide initiatives, complex organizational studies, identification of administrative issues, and coordination of inter-jurisdictional projects.
Prepare detailed reports or presentations on policy analysis findings for senior leadership and collaborators.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of implemented policies and procedures, providing recommendations for adjustments as needed.
Participate in the annual Countywide budget process, production of budget, and financial reports.
Administer complex contracts with outside contractors and agencies; prepare and oversee requests for proposal (RFP) for specific professional service contracts.
Serve as a liaison to other agencies, boards, committees as directed.
Strategic Communications
Develop and implement comprehensive communication plans to support key initiatives and projects.
Coordinate and facilitate stakeholder engagement activities, including public meetings, focus groups and advisory committees.
Prepare talking points, presentations, and other communications for the COO and Deputy COO’s.
Communicate and interact on an interpersonal and professional basis with elected officials, department directors, and County staff.
To Qualify
We will consider any combination of relevant work experience, volunteering, education, and transferable skills as qualifying unless an item or section is labeled required. Please be clear and specific about how your background is relevant.
Minimum Qualifications/Transferable Skills:
A Bachelor's Degree - in lieu of a degree, will we consider equivalent years of related experience
Three (3) to six (6) years of increasingly responsible leadership experience, including at least two (2) years of senior level consulting experience or project management.
Knowledge of principles and practices of administration in the public sector including methods used in project management, policy analysis, and strategic planning.
Preferred Qualifications/Transferable Skills: You do not need to have the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills to qualify. However, keep in mind we may consider some or all of the following when identifying the most qualified candidates. Please clearly explain on your application how you meet any of the following preferred qualifications/transferable skills.
Ability to interact and work with a diverse group of people at all levels of the organization.
Knowledge and understanding of equity and empowerment frameworks for policy, program, and organizational decision-making.
Ability to analyze and make sound recommendations on highly complex and sensitive County issues.
Ability to create and present proposals and recommendations clearly, logically and persuasively in meetings and before internal and external groups.
Ability to exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with sensitive and complex situations.
Ability to work under tight deadlines and multiple competing priorities.
*Transferable skills: Your transferable skills are any skills you have gained through education, work experience (including the military) or life experience that are relevant for this position. Be sure to describe any transferable skills on your application and clearly explain how they apply to this position.
Screening and Evaluation
The Application Packet:
A completed online application.
A resume covering relevant experience and education. Please be sure your resume includes the following for each employer: name of employer, location, dates of employment, your title, a brief summary of your responsibilities, and the number of employees under your supervision if applicable.
An uploaded cover letter that expands on your resume and addresses:
Why you are interested in this position and;
Demonstrates how your experience and skill set align with the minimum and preferred qualifications listed.
Note: The application, resume and cover letter should demonstrate your work experience/skills and how it is related to those shown in the Overview and To Qualify sections of the job announcement. Please be thorough, as these materials may be scored and determine your eligibility for an interview.
The Selection Process: For details about how we typically screen applications, review our overview of the selection process page. We expect to evaluate candidates for this recruitment as follows:
Initial review of minimum qualifications
An evaluation of application materials to identify the most qualified candidates
Consideration of top candidates/interviews
Background, reference, and education checks
Additional Information:
This recruitment may be used to fill full-time, part-time, temporary, limited duration and on-call positions.
Unclassified Position:
This is an executive unclassified position. Unclassified employees serve at the pleasure of the Department Director and may be subject to discharge at any time. This salaried position is exempt from overtime under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
Equal Pay Law:
Please be advised that the pay range listed for this position is intended to provide general guidance on the earning potential for the role. However, actual compensation will be determined in accordance with the Oregon Equal Pay Law and will take into account factors such as the candidate's relevant experience and education. Candidates should expect that initial offers will be made within the listed pay range and may not be at or near the top of the range.
Multnomah County offers an exceptional benefits package, including employer-funded retirement savings; health and dental insurance at very low cost to full-time employees and their dependents; paid parental leave; wellness programs; a focus on work-life balance; and much more. Find more details on our benefits website.
Hybrid Telework: This position can be designated as “hybrid telework”, which allows the capability of working both remotely (from home) and in the office at least three days per week (Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday). The designation of Hybrid Telework may be subject to change at a future time. All employees must reside in Oregon or Washington; the county cannot support ongoing telework from other locations. The onsite work location for this position is the Multnomah Building: 501 SE Hawthorne Blvd., Portland, OR 97214.
Serving the Public, Even During Disasters: Everyday, Multnomah County staff work together to serve as a safety net for our communities. During a disaster, this safety net becomes even more critical. All County employees have a role in serving the public during inclement weather, natural disaster, or other types of community emergency response. During these emergency responses, while typically there begins with a call for volunteers, county employees may ultimately be reassigned from their current position to a role in the emergency response in order to support the critical needs presented by our communities. For more information, please visit the Disaster Service Worker Information page.