Director of Strategic Partnerships

Position Summary

Job Duties

• Identify state, federal, and private sector grant opportunities and assess compatibility based on city council goals and priorities, city eligibility based on project readiness, and available match. Convene city staff and community partners to prepare and submit grant applications.
• Identify Congressional leadership and staff, federal agency and White House leadership and staff, and maintain regular communications and relationships with these leaders across the federal government enterprise including regular travel to Washington DC to advocate for legislative and policy priorities.
• Identify State executive and legislative leadership and staff and maintain regular communications and relationships with these leaders including regular travel to Des Moines to advocate for legislative and policy priorities.
• Maintain communication and relationships with local public, private, and non-profit partners and resident groups.
• Represent City on policy committees, stakeholder coalitions, or other groups that represent the interests of municipalities.
• Plan and execute key advocacy events including but not limited to City’s annual Washington DC fly-in, Congressional Staff Visit, and annual state legislative dinner.
• Supervises staff to include prioritizing and assigning work; conducting performance evaluations; ensuring staff are trained; ensuring that employees follow policies and procedures, maintaining a healthy and safe working environment; and making hiring, termination, and disciplinary recommendations.
• Develop, assist in development, and implement strategic and long-range plans of the department, including annual federal and state legislative priorities.
• Develop new, evaluate current, and adjust initiatives and partnerships to further City goals and/or lead to more efficient government
• Direct and build skills, knowledge, and abilities of human capital through
• training, mentoring, coaching, and other means as needed.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with municipal officials, residents, businesses and community agencies and groups, nonprofits, legislators, advisory commissions, committees, media, and developers. Serve as spokesperson for the City.
• Provides advice in the area of expertise to the City Manager, department
• managers and management teams; and give related presentations.
• Prepare and administer private, state, and federal grants, applications, reports and maintain effective working relationships with government jurisdictions and personnel.
• Collaborating with individuals and organizations to identify community needs, leverage community assets, and solve community problems.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

• Administration and Management - Skills in strategic planning, resource allocation and coordination of people and resources. Knowledge of finance, planning, marketing, budgeting, and grant writing principles, practices, techniques, procedures, and administration.

• Team Development, Community Collaboration/Engagement, and Partnerships – Skills in development of teams and partners identifying collaboration opportunities. Developing community relationships across various demographics. Create and implement a shared vision.
• Interpersonal, Oral and Written Communication – Listening to others for comprehension. Communicate through public speaking and writing clearly with awareness of the audience. Figuring out how to use new ideas or things while listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions through active learning and listening. Ability to understand legislative and legal language.
• Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times. Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
• Communications and Media — Knowledge of media communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Data Collection, Analysis and Clerical - Record keeping abilities. High level ability to work with computers and tech, software programs, maintain and prepare reports, design fliers and forms. Working knowledge of computer hardware and software, including Office 365 Suite.
• Critical Thinking, Analysis, Complex Problem Solving and Decision Marking – Analyzing problems, thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem and identify/implement solutions. Figuring out how a system/process should work, measuring how well it’s working and how to improve it to arrive at equitable outcomes. Use deductive and inductive reasoning to solve problems. Create new and original ideas.

• Information Technology – Ability and willingness to learn and use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology. Ability to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.
• Emotional Intelligence – Ability to understand and navigate one’s own emotions while being attuned to the emotions of others. Demonstrates empathy, self-awareness, and sound judgment to build trust, foster collaboration, resolve conflict, and maintain positive working relationships in a variety of situations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in political science, public administration, public policy, non-profit management, or related field;
• At least five (5) years of relevant experience;
• Or any equivalent combination of experience and experience.
• Possession of, or ability to obtain and maintain a valid Driver's License or, alternatively, the ability to travel independently throughout the community.

• Representation experience in the public sector, preferably at the level of municipal government.
• Education, training, or professional experience working with populations and community members.

Supplemental Information

Our Commitment to You
The City of Dubuque is committed to using a merit-based system in which recruiting, selecting, and advancing employees is based on their relative knowledge, skills, and abilities, in compliance with all applicable federal and state laws. Our organization provides equal opportunities for all individuals, fostering a workplace that values innovation, collaboration, and work-life balance. We offer job stability, a comprehensive benefits package, and an opportunity to serve and support our growing community. In accordance with legal obligations our policies and practices are designed to ensure fair treatment and foster a respectful workplace where all are encouraged to apply.