Chief Strategy Officer

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• Make a Difference : Join a team driving meaningful change in one of the fastest-growing cities in the nation.
  
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• Career Growth : Advance your skills and expertise with professional development and leadership opportunities.
  
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By joining us, you become part of a community that values its people and is committed to making Austin the most thriving and resilient city in the country.

Under limited direction, this position is responsible for strategy formulation and management including developing the department vision and implementation strategy, and oversight of strategic initiatives, including adaptation of legislative updates, change management and communication, and community partnerships and engagement. This position reports directly to a Department Director or Assistant Director.

Job Description:

Purpose:

Under limited direction, this position is responsible for strategy formulation and management including developing the department vision and implementation strategy, and oversight of strategic initiatives, including adaptation of legislative updates, change management and communication, and community partnerships and engagement. This position reports directly to a Department Director or Assistant Director.

Duties, Functions and Responsibilities:

Essential duties and functions, pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following. Other related duties may be assigned.

Plans, organizes, directs, audits, and controls strategic operations within the department. The services assigned to this type of workgroup provide a more complex strategic focus to the overall business operations. Analyzes business and workforce needs to develop targeted short and long range strategies, and implements operational plans to meet performance measures. Operational plans include the strategic involvement and mediation for departmental workforce issues. Works to align the programmatic services and activities of internal systems, which are associated with the desired outcomes for the department. Serves as a direct or indirect resource for the department's organizational needs. Works to influence and serve as an advisor by communicating the business strategy to Executive leadership, City Officials ,or policy makers both internal and external to the department. Confers with the stakeholders to execute comprehensive program development which impacts the departmental policy initiatives. Provides solutions to complex problems and works to resolve difficult issues between involved parties. This position may have the responsibility for the development and monitoring of a departmental budget. In large departments, this job serves as an administrative resource tying budget needs to the programs of the organization. Develops and evaluates short range and long range strategic plans and establishes the criteria for a variety of human resources and business services projects, programs, and plans. Administers contracts and vendors to ensure delivery of agreed upon deliverables. Prepares and reviews reports as part of the process of monitoring and communicating performance results. Makes recommendations associated with purchasing and expenditures for departmental programs.

Responsibilities - Supervisor and/or Leadership Exercised:

• Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Must possess required knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience and be able to explain and demonstrate, with or without reasonable accommodations, that the essential functions of the job can be performed.

• Knowledge of business case development, strategic business planning, reengineering, organizational change strategies, performance measurement, and project management.
  
• Knowledge of fiscal planning and budget preparation.
  
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and Local laws.
  
• Knowledge of City practices, policies, and procedures.
  
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
  
• Skill in oral and written communication.
  
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
  
• Skill in using computers and related software.
  
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
  
• Skill in planning and organizing.
  
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
  
• Ability to analyze and resolve irregular events.
  
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with City employees and the public.
  
• Ability to train others.
  
• Ability to quickly recognize and analyze irregular events.
  
• Ability to establish and maintain effective communication and working relationships with city employees and the public.
  

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Communication, Public Information, Political Science, or other related field, plus eight (8) years progressively responsible professional experience at least three (3) of which were in a supervisory or managerial capacity.
  
• Master’s degree in a related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience. Experience may substitute for education for up to four (4) years.
  

Licenses and Certifications Required:

• None.
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• Knowledge of business case development, strategic business planning, organizational change strategies, performance measurement, and project and program management.
  
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles with empathetic leadership capabilities modeling behavior that others will emulate. Models and holds self and contributors accountable. Communicates clearly and effectively. Protects staff time and aids in the prioritization of projects.
  
• Collaboration, executive presence, credibility, and authenticity. Influence and advise through communication and data analytics to stakeholders, executives, and city officials.
  
• Collaboration, executive presence, credibility, and authenticity. Influence and advise through communication and data analytics to stakeholders, executives, and city officials.
  
• Complexity and systems thinking, understanding the dynamics of the department, what it means to be a public utility, the internal and external pressures and competing interests, and how to manage, respond, and mitigate them.
  
• CIP and budgeting, portfolio management, manages competing interests, and understands the intersection of new projects and asset management.
  

Notes to Candidate:

DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Please learn more about our department and how we serve our community: What does the Watershed Protection Department do?

Notes to Candidate:

The position leads the Strategy and Planning Office which guides and implements the long-term vision and strategic direction of the department. The position works alongside executives to frame decision-making in the context of day-to-day operational needs and long‑-term strategic planning, applying data insights and an equity lens throughout. The position actively aligns quarterly reporting and yearly goals to match the commitments in the strategic plan and build towards the long-term vision of the department. The position collaborates across the department and with other city departments and is a liaison for multiple efforts inside and outside the city enterprise.

Location:

505 Barton Springs Road Austin, Texas 78704

Days and Hours:

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
May require working outside of normal business hours, to support storm events including emergency operations, evenings, weekends, and holidays as dictated by business needs.

Salary Range:

$48.38 - $62.90, depending on qualifications and experience.

EDUCATION:
Verification of education will be conducted on the top candidate.

CRIMINAL BACKGROUND INVESTIGATION:
Job Offer is contingent on passing a Criminal Background Investigation.

ASSESSMENTS:
The candidate selected to interview is subject to pre-employment screening assessments to evaluate skill levels and competencies required for this position.

DRIVING REQUIREMENTS:

If you are selected for this position and meet the Driver Safety Standards in the City of Austin Driver Safety Program, you may drive when necessary to multiple locations as part of your regular job duties. Otherwise, you are responsible for getting to and from these locations.

BENEFITS:
Working with the City of Austin provides a number of health and welfare benefits such as low-cost medical, dental, vision, paid leave time, a highly competitive retirement plan, career development opportunities and more. Please click here for more information.

Important Note to Applicants:
Please be aware that the Job Posting Close Date reflects the final day to apply, but the posting will close at 11:59 PM the day before the date listed. All application steps, including attachments and submission, must be fully completed before that time.

We also recommend that you save or print a copy of the job posting for your records. Once a posting has closed, it will no longer be viewable in the system.

ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION (Please read carefully):
When completing the City of Austin Employment Application:

• Include details on the application or prior or current work history with the City of Austin.
  
• A detailed and complete employment application will help us better evaluate your qualifications and will be used to determine salary if you are selected for this position.
  
• Include details on the application of any previous employment that you wish to be considered as part of your qualifications and relevant experience. Provide each job title and employment dates for all jobs on the application. Your work history should include duties you performed. “See Resume” is not acceptable and your application will be considered incomplete.
  
• Work history must include the month and year of employment and whether it was full or part-time work.
  
• Any relevant work history on the resume must also be reflected in the employment application in order to be considered.
  

EEO Statement for City of Austin:

The City of Austin will not discriminate against any applicant or employee based on race, creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, religion, veteran status, disability, or sexual orientation. In addition, the City will not discriminate in employment decisions on the basis of an individual's AIDS, AIDS Related Complex, or HIV status; nor will the City discriminate against individuals who are perceived to be at risk of HIV infection, or who associate with individuals who are believed to be at risk.

City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you require reasonable accommodation during the application process or have a question regarding an essential job function, please call (512) 974-3210 or Texas Relay by dialing 7-1-1.

Closing Date/Time: 2026-03-24

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• City of Austin

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