City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Director, Office of Budget & Organizational Excellence

Under general direction, this position leads the City’s strategic planning, budgeting, innovation, and performance management efforts. This position is responsible for leading citywide strategic planning and performance management activities; identifying and implementing innovative solutions to key organizational challenges; planning; directing; coordinating the City’s biannual budget process; and monitoring and reporting on the expenditure of funds and program outcomes. This position works with internal and external partners to implement innovative best practices in local government administration to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within the City of Austin.

1. Directs, plans, and coordinates the activities of personnel involved in reviewing, examining, and evaluating proposed budgets, including operating, grants, capital, and special project budgets, as well as focusing on municipal service delivery improvements.
2. Develops processes to determine trends affecting budget needs and to provide budget forecasting. Develops budget preparation guidelines. Interprets budget directives and policies and establishes procedures and practices for implementing policies.
3. Plans, reviews, and conducts special studies in such areas as information flow, work production methods, operating procedures, or cost analysis to determine the most effective method of accomplishing work and to support an organizational culture of continuous improvement.
4. Directs organization-wide strategic planning efforts including performance measurement and strategic alignment programs. Oversees data-driven analysis of complex issues. Facilitates strategic planning, innovation, and performance management sessions to assess and improve organization performance and change-management initiatives.
5. Directs and manage projects with internal staff to improve the quality of life in Austin through design, deployment, testing and performance evaluation of projects.
6. Consults with City management to ensure adjustments are made in accordance with program changes to facilitate long-term planning.
7. Testifies regarding proposed budgets before examining and fund-granting authorities to clarify reports and gain support for estimated budget needs.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of principles and methods of municipal budgeting, performance management, innovation, strategic planning.
• Knowledge of principles and methods of management analysis and research.
• Knowledge of process continuous improvement tools, frameworks, and methods.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Skill in recognizing transformational opportunities and applying them to government operations.
• Skill in handling and prioritizing multiple tasks and projects.
• Skill in collecting, analyzing and interpreting applicable research data.
• Skill in preparing and analyzing budgets, reports and studies.
• Skill in oral and written communications.
• Skill in preparing and presenting comprehensive reports and recommendations.
• Skill in data analysis and problem solving.
• Ability to develop strategic direction and program implementation collaboratively with various stakeholder/community groups.
• Ability to use an equity-lens to budgetary decisions.

• Graduation with a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public or Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, plus six (6) years of experience in municipal financial management, including at least three (3) years of experience in a senior management capacity.
• Graduation with a Master's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, or another relevant field may substitute for one (1) year of experience.