Executive Director, Centralina Regional Council

Developmental Associates, LLC; Charlotte (NC); Hybride; USD 180 000 - 220 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Health, dental, and vision insurance

LGERS retirement system enrollment

401(k) plan

Flexible benefit programs

Residency within nine-county region (R

Résumé du poste

Centralina Regional Council, based in Charlotte, NC, seeks an Executive Director to lead a high-performing team within a $20.5M operating budget and an additional $16.2M passthrough funding. The role focuses on growing earned revenue, strategic risk-taking, and board alignment to advance regional aims.

The ideal candidate will diversify funding, mentor staff, and strengthen partnerships across nine counties. Residency within the nine-county region is expected.

Qualifications

• Ten+ years of progressively responsible administrative experience in local government or regional council operations.
• Five+ years in executive leadership or senior management in a public, nonprofit, or regional organization.
• Proven success developing and managing earned revenue alongside grant and formula funding.
• Experience working directly with a Board of Directors and intergovernmental relations.

Responsabilités

• Provide authentic, strategic leadership to expand regional collaboration and partnerships.
• Strengthen organizational sustainability, fiscal health, and external funding opportunities.
• Guide staff development, foster ownership, and ensure accountability across departments.

Connaissances

Regional planning

Economic development

Grant development

Intergovernmental funding

Transportation planning

Workforce development

Aging & human services

County/municipal operations

Formation

Master’s degree in public administration or related field

Description du poste

Lead Regional Progress. Empower Local Action. Be Proactively Entrepreneurial.

Reopened: Applicants should apply by November 11, 2026. Existing applicants do not need to reapply.

• Do you have executive-level business acumen?
• Do you have a customer mindset that leads to visionary and collaborative leadership to shape future services of one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation?
• Do you have a track record of success in expanding services, programs, and revenue?
• Do you have local government experience and expertise working with boards, services, and programs?

If so, Centralina Regional Council is seeking its next Executive Director to guide its high-performing team into a dynamic new era.

Headquartered in the vibrant metropolis of Charlotte, North Carolina, Centralina unites 69 communities across nine counties to tackle complex challenges, spark economic opportunity, and enhance the quality of life for 2.5 million residents. If you excel at building trust-based relationships, diversifying resources to ensure financial and organizational stability, and bringing diverse stakeholders together around shared goals, this is your opportunity to make a lasting regional impact.

Centralina serves as a trusted:

• Regional Convener: Creating common ground for research, relationship building, and strategic planning.
• Service Coordinator & Project Manager: Facilitating efficient regional initiatives across planning, infrastructure, and development.
• Resource Partner & Technical Advisor: Providing data, training, and tailored capacity support to member communities.
• Administrator: Managing regional institutions across economic growth, environmental resilience, and human services.

About the Organization: Established in 1968, Centralina Regional Council is a public council of governments authorized by the General Assembly—one of 16 regional councils in North Carolina (Region F). Governance is anchored by a Board of Delegates comprised of elected officials who represent member local governments within the nine-county service area that meet four times a year. Overseeing the work is an 18-member Executive Board that meets six times a year.

About the Position: The Executive Director serves as Chief Executive Officer, reporting to the Board of Delegates and Executive Board. The Executive Director leads Centralina's operations and its financial model and plan, including growing earned revenue. A critical competency in the next Executive Director is the ability to evaluate investments leading to disciplined and strategic risk‑taking in determining where to invest resources, what services to grow, and what to stop, while building board and member buy‑in.

With an operating budget of $20.5M and $16.2M in passthrough funding ($36.7M total), Centralina employs 47 dedicated staff structured across six departments and seven focus areas:

• Focus Areas: Aging & Health, Community Economic Development, Local Government Support, Natural Resources & Resilience, Planning & Placemaking, Transportation & Mobility, and Workforce & Talent.
• Organizational Structure:
  • Internal operations (Administration & Finance, Strategic Engagement & Technical Services) and external services (Regional Planning, Community Economic Development, Area Agency on Aging, Workforce Development Board).

Centralina’s staff serve as subject‑matter experts, ensuring the organization meets critical business strategic priorities and remains responsive to those who need the most help. Friendly, talented, and professional staff help Centralina remain a trusted source of data and analysis that informs decision‑makers and calls attention to important trends. The next Executive Director must have a track record of mentoring staff, supporting growth and organizational change, and building a culture of ownership and accountability.

Centralina’s mission is to lead regional collaboration and spark local action to expand opportunity and improve quality of life. Guided by a regularly updated Strategic Plan, leadership focuses on four overarching goals:

• Goal 1: Collaborate to prepare, plan, and act on issues that respond to today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities.
• Goal 2: Strengthen capacity, efficiency and innovative practice to improve quality of life and enhance economic opportunity.
• Goal 3: Cultivate relationships to advance regional awareness, collaboration and impact.
• Goal 4: Invest in the talent and infrastructure needed to support Centralina as a high‑performing, highly desirable place to work.

Learn more about the organization by reviewing its FY26 Annual Report, Annual Financial Report, and FY27 Work Plan.

About the Community

Headquartered in Charlotte—the energetic Queen City—Centralina serves the thriving nine‑county region encompassing Anson, Cabarrus, Gaston, Iredell, Lincoln, Mecklenburg, Rowan, Stanly, and Union counties. An average of 135 people move to the region each day. It offers a balance of big‑city economic vitality and historic charm with breathtaking natural beauty. As one of North Carolina’s premier economic engines, rapid growth brings inspiring possibilities, making visionary, collaborative leadership more vital than ever.

Life here revolves around sunshine, community, and active living. With a mild four‑season climate and over 210 sunny days a year, outdoor recreation is woven into daily life. Boaters and water sports enthusiasts flock to Lake Norman and Lake Wylie, while thrill‑seekers explore the 1,300‑acre U.S. National Whitewater Center—an official Olympic training facility featuring world‑class rafting, climbing, and miles of trail systems. Winding urban greenways and welcoming neighborhood parks connect communities, while a prime geographic location places the Blue Ridge Mountains just two hours west and Atlantic beaches three and a half hours east.

Beyond the scenery, the region offers an unmatched lifestyle for every family. Center City features renowned cultural destinations, like the Levine Center for the Arts and the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, home to Broadway national tours, symphony, and ballet. Sports fans cheer on NFL, NBA, and MLS teams in Uptown, catch stock car racing at Charlotte Motor Speedway, or enjoy Minor League baseball at some of the best ballparks in the nation. Foodies love the 40+ craft breweries and a bustling food scene featuring James Beard‑named chefs.

The region offers an ideal quality of life, with walkable communities, arts‑driven areas, and picturesque landscapes within minutes of each other. Many of its communities are ranked among the best places to live nationally, offering top‑rated schools and amenities for everyone in the family. Underpinning this extraordinary quality of life is world‑class infrastructure. Charlotte Douglas International Airport offers direct flights worldwide, while the LYNX Blue Line light rail connects southern suburbs through Uptown to UNC Charlotte. Backed by nationally recognized healthcare networks, including Atrium Health and Novant Health, alongside exceptional educational institutions, the Charlotte region is an unbeatable place to advance your career, raise a family, and thrive.

Characteristics of a Successful Candidate

Stakeholders seek an authentic, strategic, and inclusive leader who can:

• Expand Regional Collaboration & Partnerships: Serve as a convener to address growth, infrastructure demands, housing affordability, and workforce development.
• Strengthen Organizational Sustainability & Fiscal Health: Diversify revenue streams and ensure long‑term operational resilience.
• Secure External Funding & Grants: Proactively identify and capture federal, state, and philanthropic grant opportunities.
• Strengthen Member Engagement & Relationships: Deepen trust and engagement with member local governments, elected officials, and regional delegates.
• Support Local Government Capacity: Provide high‑value technical assistance, training, and implementation support tailored to municipal and county needs.
• Board Engagement Expertise: The Board seeks a transparent, trusted advisor to elected officials who can build consensus among members with diverse interests while clearly explaining financial and strategic choices.

With a demonstrated aptitude for:

• Strategic & Visionary Leadership: Anticipates regional trends, navigates funding shifts, and positions the organization for sustainable growth.
• Relationship Building & Unification: Skilled at bringing together diverse rural, suburban, and urban stakeholders to achieve common goals.
• Collaborative & Approachable Communication: Exceptional listener who maintains political neutrality, communicates Centralina's value clearly, and builds trust.
• Empowering Team Leadership: Promotes staff growth, values work‑life balance, respects internal culture, and inspires continuous improvement.
• Champion for Local Autonomy: Respects local government authority while balancing broad regional goals.

Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree (or equivalent experience) in public administration, urban and regional planning, business administration, urban studies, political science, or a closely related field required.
• Experience:
  • Ten or more years of progressively responsible administrative experience in local government or regional council operations.
  • Five or more years in executive leadership or senior management in a public, nonprofit, or regional organization.
  • Demonstrated success developing and managing earned revenue alongside grant and formula funding.
  • Proven track record working directly with a Board of Directors and intergovernmental relations.
  • Demonstrated background and substantial knowledge in team leadership, financial management, budgeting, grants, pass‑through, and braided funding.
• Core Competencies: Deep understanding of regional planning, economic development, grant development, intergovernmental funding, transportation planning, workforce development, aging/human services, and county/municipal operations.

Salary, Benefits, & Work Environment:

• Salary: Base salary of $200,000 and up, commensurate with qualifications and experience.
• Benefits Package: Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance; enrollment in the North Carolina Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System (NC LGERS), 401(k), and flexible benefit programs. Learn more about their benefits here. Executive benefits negotiated.
• Hybrid Work Option: One of Centralina’s greatest strengths is its flexible and supportive work environment. Employees are encouraged to maintain a healthy work‑life balance, and workplace flexibility is consistently recognized as one of the most valued benefits of working there. Employees may request the option to work outside of the Centralina office at their home on a set day or days of the week via an established and approved work schedule.
• Work Culture: Centralina prides itself on providing an inclusive, creative, and supportive work culture that emphasizes collaboration and staff empowerment.
• Residency: Residency within the Centralina nine‑county region is expected within a negotiated timeframe.

Centralina Regional Council is an Equal Opportunity Employer.