Intergovernmental Relations Department Director

The Buncombe County Intergovernmental Relations Department leads intergovernmental relations economic development and special projects for Buncombe County. The Department supports the Countys relationships with Federal State and local legislative and economic development organizations. The Department assesses impacts of legislative policy changes impacts of economic development projects and leads the Countys Strategic Plan objectives to increase economic mobility for residents. The Department serves as a liaison to numerous external entities including legislative representatives various State Agencies (e.g. NCDOT NCDOC) Chamber of Commerce and Council of Government.

This Director-level position reports directly to the County Manager and supervises one employee an Economic Development Program Analyst.

This position works a Monday-Friday schedule from 8AM to 5PM from 200 College Street in downtown Asheville. We expect to interview this position in late January and early February with a hire in place shortly afterwards.

Purpose of the Position: This position serves as Buncombe Countys lead for economic development governmental relations and special projects. This position supports the County Manager by serving as liaison to Federal state and local governments including the Chamber of Commerce Council of Governments NCGA and other non-governmental organizations on policy-related issues economic development and special projects.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire): Bachelors degree in Business or Public Administration or a related field and seven (7) years of experience in the planning and management of a business or governmental program; or any equivalent combination of education training and experience which provides the requisite knowledge skills and abilities.

Essential Functions of the Position:

• Provide leadership counsel and assistance to County Manager the executive team and department directors regarding State and Federal policy.

• Manage Buncombe Countys Governmental Relations activities including Governmental Relations Consultant State Legislative officials and State organizations as needed.

• Monitor legislative activity and assess impact to Buncombe County operations and objectives.

• Coordinate with Buncombe County Departments and partners to develop cost-benefit analysis related to legislative impacts.

• Lead the development of the Buncombe County Legislative Agenda.

• Lead economic development opportunities including cost-benefit analysis development of economic development incentives and coordination of economic development partners.

• Develop negotiate and monitor contractual requirements for economic development opportunities including job creation and capital investment.

• Conduct research on business opportunities manage data prepare presentations support business growth and provide outreach to assigned businesses.

• Develop collect compile and analyze information for dissemination to potential business clients including economic statistical financial population growth demographic and other information.

• Establish and strengthen relationships with existing businesses and new business prospects; and provide information to existing businesses regarding the availability of assistance programs including project management assistance.

• Lead economic development and workforce development projects with local partners including the Chamber of Commerce Department of Transportation Workforce Development Board and other local entities.

• Lead the development of grants to support economic development initiatives including infrastructure development broadband expansion and workforce development programming.

• Lead the development of the Economic Development Budget and Business Plan. Support other efforts such as advancing the Economic Development goals outlined in the Buncombe County Strategic Plan.

• Serve as liaison to external stakeholders and community partners such as the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Coalition Land of Sky Council of Governments (COG) and Tourism Development Authority (TDA); advise on interagency affairs and coordinate interagency outreach activities through interagency agreements and commitments; negotiate and administer contracts lease agreements and project budgets.

• Develop strategy and outreach activities for the purpose of promoting and implementing the organizations initiatives.

• Identify manage and track key issues while building relationships with key agencies.

• Manage special projects from initiation through completion. Analyze feasibility costs ROI and make recommendations about implementation.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• Knowledge of current social political and economic trends and operating problems of local government.

• Knowledge of economic development statutes and policies.

• Knowledge of economic development and workforce development methods and practices.

• Knowledge of State and Federal legislative processes and timelines.

• Knowledge of the principles of effective public relations and interrelationships with governmental groups and agencies private businesses and firms and other levels of government.

• Knowledge of applicable federal state and local policies and policy-making processes.

• Knowledge of standard office procedures practices and equipment including a computer and applicable software.

• Ability to coordinate and lead internal and external partners on complex projects.

• Ability to provide effective leadership and coordinate a variety of assigned intergovernmental relations program activities at the local and regional level.

• Ability to research analyze summarize and present information and data in an effective manner.

• Ability to analyze a complex issue and develop and implement an appropriate response.

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with associates other state officials and the general public.

The selected candidate for this position will be compensated in alignment with County policy and practice. The County Manager reserves the right to make salary determinations in accordance with policy and internal equity.

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 employees 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 addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.