Strategic Projects Manager

Under general direction, the Strategic Projects Manager plans, manages, and implements high-level, cross-departmental strategic initiatives for the City of Roanoke. This position provides advanced project management, strategic analysis, and policy support to executive leadership and serves as a key driver of organizational priorities established by City Council and the City Manager.

The City of Roanoke is an Equal Employment Opportunity/AA/M/F/Disability Employer. To elevate the performance of the organization, we are committed to respecting, celebrating, and embracing the collective mixture of differences and similarities between our employees as a rich tapestry. Our behaviors will demonstrate open communication, and we will seek opportunities to learn, recognizing and rewarding actions that promote acceptance while suspending judgment. By doing this, we will foster an inclusive, open work environment that delivers excellent service and creates a more vibrant and inviting community.

This is an exempt position.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

The following duties are illustrative and not exhaustive. Other related duties may be assigned.

Strategic Planning & Project Management

• Leads the planning, coordination, and execution of complex, enterprise-wide strategic initiatives.
• Translates City Council and executive leadership priorities into actionable project plans with defined scope, timelines, and deliverables.
• Develops project charters, work plans, performance metrics, and evaluation frameworks.
• Identifies risks, dependencies, and barriers; implements mitigation strategies to ensure project success.

Executive & Interdepartmental Coordination

• Serves as a strategic advisor to the City Manager, Deputy City Managers, and senior leadership.
• Coordinates efforts among City departments, boards, commissions, regional partners, and community stakeholders.
• Facilitates cross-functional teams and working groups to achieve shared goals.

Performance Management & Data Analysis

• Designs and monitors performance indicators to evaluate initiative effectiveness.
• Analyzes quantitative and qualitative data to inform decision-making.
• Prepares executive-level reports, dashboards, and recommendations.

Policy Research & Organizational Improvement

• Conducts research on best practices, emerging trends, and policy developments in local government.
• Evaluates operational, legislative, and regulatory impacts on City initiatives.
• Recommends innovative approaches to improve efficiency, service delivery, and organizational effectiveness.

Communication & Reporting

• Prepares briefing materials, reports, presentations, and correspondence for leadership, City Council, and external audiences.
• Presents project updates and findings to executive leadership and elected officials.
• Ensures complex information is communicated clearly to non-technical audiences.

Budget & Resource Coordination

• Assists with development and monitoring of budgets related to strategic initiatives.
• Coordinates with Finance and departmental leadership to ensure responsible use of resources.
• Tracks expenditures and supports fiscal accountability.

Supervision & Leadership

• May supervise or provide functional leadership to professional staff, project teams, interns, or consultants.
• Provides guidance, coaching, and performance feedback as assigned.
• Promotes collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Advanced knowledge of municipal government operations, strategic planning, and public administration.
• Strong project management and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze complex data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, executive leadership, staff, and community stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, politically sensitive environment.
• Proficiency in standard office software and data analysis tools.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, Planning, or a related field; and
• Five (5) or more years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, project management, policy analysis, or municipal/public-sector administration.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in public administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Experience working directly with executive leadership or elected bodies.
• Project management certification (PMP or similar).

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret journals, financial reports, or governmental regulations. Ability to respond to inquiries or complaints orally and in writing. Ability to communicate effectively with management, public groups or employees of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions

REASONING ABILITY
Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written or oral form.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand and sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.

This is a job description and not an individualized position description. A job description defines the general character and scope of duties and responsibilities of all positions in a job classification, but it is not intended to describe and does not necessarily list the essential job functions for a given position in a classification.

Overview of Benefits for Full-Time Employees:

Paid leave is time off from work available for use by an employee upon approval by supervisor. The first 24 consecutive leave hours for any illness must be charged to paid leave with additional time charged to extended illness leave. Paid leave for employees of the city shall accrue as follows:

Years of Service Hours Per Month Fire 24-hr shift Employees

Extended Illness Leave: shall accrue at the rate of six (6) hours per month. Fire suppression employees shall accrue extended illness leave at nine (9) hours per month.
Funeral Leave: for family, up to three consecutive days.
Military Leave: Twenty-one work days per Federal fiscal year.
Holidays: The City provides 96 hours of annual paid holiday time.

Mental Health & Well-Being Leave: Employees receive 24 hours (Fire Suppression receives 34 hours) of Mental Health & Well-Being Leave upon hire. Certification of mental health diagnosis is not required and leave will not be paid out upon separation.

Shared Leave