Chief Strategy & Change Management Officer (Manager III) - Open Until Filled

Chief Strategy & Change Management Officer

The City of Portland, OR is seeking a Chief Strategy & Change Management Officer. Portland is transitioning from a government where elected officials directly managed bureaus to one where elected leaders establish policy while professional administrators oversee operations. This shift requires more than a new organizational chart. It requires a new way of thinking, leading, collaborating, measuring success, and delivering public services. The Chief Strategy & Change Management Officer will become the architect behind that transformation. Working alongside the City Administrator, executive leadership team, bureau directors, elected officials, and community stakeholders, this executive will establish the strategic planning framework, accountability systems, governance processes, and organizational capabilities needed to align dozens of bureaus and service areas around a shared vision. The position will also build the City's long-term strategy function and determine the resources and structure needed for its continued success.

The ideal candidate is a highly accomplished and visionary executive who excels at leading organizational strategy, transformation, and continuous improvement across complex organizations. This individual will be a collaborative leader with a history of driving meaningful change, building alignment among diverse stakeholders, and fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. The successful candidate will have extensive experience integrating strategic planning, budgeting, governance, and performance management into a cohesive organizational framework while effectively navigating political, operational, and labor-related complexities. They will be a trusted advisor to executive and elected leadership, bringing exceptional communication skills, emotional intelligence, political savvy, and a systems-thinking approach to solving challenges and advancing organizational priorities. Above all, the ideal candidate will be a relationship builder who can unite teams around a common vision and successfully guide the organization through periods of growth and transformation.

The City is seeking an accomplished executive with a demonstrated history of leading enterprise-wide strategy, organizational transformation, and change within complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.

To Qualify

Minimum Qualifications: Candidates must possess a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and at least six (6) years of progressively responsible professional experience, including four (4) years in a supervisory or management role. Preferred Experience & Attributes: The most competitive candidates will bring significant senior executive or leadership experience, ideally 1215 years of progressively responsible experience in a complex, multi-stakeholder organization. A master's degree in public administration, organizational management, public policy, business administration, or a closely related field is preferred. Additional highly desired qualifications include:

• Demonstrated success designing and implementing enterprise-wide strategy and organizational transformation.
• Experience integrating strategic planning, budgeting, governance, and performance management into a cohesive framework.
• Experience leading significant organizational change in politically complex and unionized environments.
• A track record of leading across organizational boundaries, building alignment, and breaking down silos.
• Exceptional executive communication, facilitation, and relationship-building skills.
• The ability to advise and influence senior administrative and political leadership while navigating competing priorities.
• A systems-thinking mindset coupled with high emotional intelligence, sound judgment, political acumen, and comfort operating in ambiguity.

Benefits

A Career with the City of Portland offers many Employee Benefits. We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including but not limited to:

• Health Care (Medical, Vision and Dental)
• Carrot Fertility
• Wellness Benefits
• Life Insurance
• Long-term disability
• Employee Assistance Plan
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Retirement
• Oregon Public Employees Retirement System (PERS), including contributions to the PERS IAP plan paid by employer
• Family Medical Leave
• City Paid Parental Leave

Benefits may vary depending on bargaining unit and employment status. Click here to review the many different benefits the City of Portland offers.