Director of Strategic Initiatives

Position Summary
This position may be eligible for a hybrid work arrangement that may include a partially remote work location consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station. The Director of Strategic Initiatives will serve as a senior externally facing leader for the Frank Hawkins Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise with primary responsibility for advancing external relations policy translation and long-term sustainability for the North Carolina Economic Forecasting Initiative ( NCEFI ). The position will help ensure that NCEFIs economic forecasts and related insights are translated into practical value for policymakers communities businesses and other stakeholders across North Carolina. Reporting to the Managing Director of the Kenan Institute and serving as a member of the Institutes leadership team the Director will cultivate relationships with state agencies county commissions local governments chambers of commerce economic development organizations institutions of higher education workforce organizations funders and private-sector partners. The Director will work closely with Kenan Institute leadership the NCEFI technical team the NCGrowth community engagement team the Institutes external affairs and advancement partners UNC Public Affairs Office of State Affairs and other internal and external stakeholders. The role will also contribute to broader Kenan Institute strategic priorities including university engagement corporate and community partnerships executive convenings thought leadership initiatives and other high-impact priorities identified by Institute leadership. This position is contingent upon the continued availability of funding.

Required Qualifications Competencies And Experience
- Significant senior-level experience in public policy government relations economic development higher education leadership external affairs fundraising business development or a related field. - Demonstrated track record of building and sustaining relationships with government agencies and senior leaders across the public private and nonprofit sectors. - Proven success in fundraising business development or securing sustained funding from public philanthropic corporate or other sources. - Strong understanding of North Carolinas economic political and policy landscape. - Exceptional written and verbal communication skills including the ability to translate complex economic research and technical analysis for nontechnical audiences. - Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across multiple stakeholder groups including public officials agency leaders university administrators corporate executives and community partners. - Ability to manage competing priorities exercise sound judgment in externally facing settings and represent the Institute with credibility and professionalism.

Preferred Qualifications Competencies And Experience
- Advanced degree such as a Masters JD MBA MPA or related degree. - Established relationships with public officials state agencies and key economic development organizations across the state. - Experience with economic forecasting applied economic research evidence-based policymaking or policy translation. - Familiarity with the UNC System and the broader landscape of North Carolina higher education. - Experience working in or with university-based research centers policy institutes or comparable organizations. - Experience contributing to the strategic growth of a complex multi-stakeholder organization. - Track record of contributing to executive-level convenings conferences or thought leadership programs.

Required Experience:

Staff IC