Executive Director - IPS

Job Description

The Executive Director is responsible for statewide leadership of the agency including 50+ employees, an $11.5 million budget, strategic planning, workforce development, stakeholder relations, human resources, performance measures, and private fund raising. The Executive Director must establish and maintain relationships with cities through an advisory committee and with the TN Municipal League and other affiliate organizations, state government and various professional associations. The Executive Director is responsible to the Vice President of Public Service for overall agency management.

MTAS is one of seven agencies of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service (IPS). The Executive Director is responsible for working cooperatively with the IPS senior leadership team to ensure the overall missions of MTAS, IPS, and the university of Tennessee are accomplished. The MTAS Executive Director is a critical member of the IPS senior leadership team. This individual is the primary conduit for relations with elected and appointed officials across the state. Relationships set the tone for trust, integrity, and respect for MTAS and, therefore, the image and brand of the University of Tennessee.

Established in 1949, the Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS) provides consulting and training services to 345 incorporated cities in the State of Tennessee, units of state government, and professional associations associated with municipal government as part of the university's public service mission. In addition, MTAS works closely with a large number of state agencies and constitutional offices on matters related to city government. MTAS has office locations across the state of Tennessee covering each of the three grand divisions. This position may be based in Nashville or Knoxville and will require extensive statewide travel.

Responsibilities

Leadership

• Responsible for agency leadership in fiscal management, strategic planning, workforce development, stakeholder relations and private fund raising.
• Lead staff and stakeholders in setting statewide educational and technical assistance priorities and ensuring exceptional assistance to Tennessee cities.
• Anticipate customer needs and planning methods to address them.
• Seek external funding from sources in addition to local and state government including foundations, grants and contracts.
• Lead continuous improvement throughout the organization including performance measures as well as active participation in the IPS Leadership Team.

Relationships

• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with cities and the MTAS advisory committee.
• Establish and maintain positive working relationships with the Tennessee Municipal League, Public Entity Partners, Tennessee Municipal Bond Fund, Tennessee City Managers' Association, and all other affiliate organizations, other affiliate professional organizations/associations of municipal officials.
• Establish and maintain relationships with IPS Administration, other IPS agencies, other University of Tennessee organizations including faculty and student resources and various components of all three branches of Tennessee state government

Agency Management

• General management of agency human resources, budget, performance measures, and other agency functions.
• Responsible for various administrative actions, including annual performance reviews, review and approvals for agreements, time and leave, program reports and financial ledgers.
• The Executive Director must work closely with the MTAS advisory committee and IPS administration.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelors degree required. Master's degree required in Public Administration, City Management, Political Science, MBA, or related field
• Experience: This position requires ten years of successful upper level city government experience and decision making skills including fiscal and personnel management responsibilities.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Required Skills:

• Skilled in written, oral, and other communication skills
• Ability to prioritize competing and/or conflicting work assignments
• Skilled in networking as applied to customers, partners, and other affiliated groups
• Ability to develop strategic goals, manage performance measures, and operate in an environment of uncertainty
• Excellent leaderships skills; Ability to lead a multi-talented, multi-disciplined consulting and training agency
• Excellent budget and human resource management skills
• Ability to motivate and inspire others to achieve top performance
• Ability to meet deadlines and keep commitments to various stakeholders
• Knowledge of personal computer applications and digital literacy
• Ability to travel frequently both within and outside the state

Behaviors: The Executive Director must be able to maintain respect and trust within the Institute. This position requires integrity, honesty and good ethics to successfully work with all levels of the University of Tennessee system.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Doctorate is preferred
• Experience: Strong mayor or city manager experience preferred. Experience in managing staff in remote locations is helpful.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of funding mechanisms, including grants, public-private partnerships(PPPs), and diversified revenue strategies in government, non-profit, or university settings
• Knowledge of state statutes, municipal governance, economic development, infrastructure, and intergovernmental frameworks in Tennessee
• Knowledge of fiscal management in public service agencies

Work Location:

• Location: The position can be located in Nashville, TN or Knoxville, TN and will require frequent statewide travel, including overnight travel.

The Institute for Public Service (IPS) supports a formal Alternative Work Arrangement program currently in place and more information can be provided if candidate progresses through the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before June 21, 2026.

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The College/Department/Division

The UT Institute for Public Service provides outreach and assistance to all of Tennessee. Through our agencies and initiatives, we offer technical assistance, training and consulting on a wide variety of services, including government operations, language services, local planning, law enforcement excellence, leadership training, manufacturing excellence, opioid abatement and much more.