Strategic Innovation Leader

Buncombe County Government; Asheville (NC); On-site; USD 115,000 - 164,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance

8% County contribution to employee 401

Free physical therapy

Employee and Family Health clinic with

$0 Tier-1 generic prescriptions

10+ vacation days per year

12 sick days & 13 paid holidays

Job summary

Buncombe County is seeking a strategic, forward-thinking Strategy and Innovation Director to lead policy management, innovation initiatives, and enterprise-wide planning. This on-site role focuses on aligning departments with the county’s strategic plan and ensuring accountable, data-driven decisions.

The selected candidate will oversee staff, supervise budgets, and advance performance metrics while partnering with internal and external stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Direct and supervise the activity of a department or division including the coordination of fiscal and personnel related activities.
• Plans and monitors department operating budget; authorizes purchases and expenditures.
• Analyze workflow and data to inform decision making at multiple levels of leadership.
• Lead enterprise-wide strategic planning and project management.
• Oversee policy management through development, revision and implementation.
• Develop performance metrics and indicators to demonstrate program effectiveness.
• Advise on organizational performance, data collection and procedural changes.
• Research best practices to improve organizational performance.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise the activities of the Strategy and Innovation department.
• Oversee integration of strategic plans with department goals and budgets.
• Facilitate cross-department collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
• Develop and communicate data-driven policy guidance and recommendations.

Skills

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Leadership

Policy management

Communication skills

Budget & finance knowledge

Education

Master's degree in public administration or related field

Job description

Buncombe County is seeking a strategic, forward-thinking Strategy and Innovation Director to lead policy management, innovation initiatives, and enterprise-wide planning. This on-site role focuses on aligning departments with the county’s strategic plan and ensuring accountable, data-driven decisions.

The selected candidate will oversee staff, supervise budgets, and advance performance metrics while partnering with internal and external stakeholders.