Public Service Faculty - Strategic Management and Organizational Effectiveness Unit Manager

The Government Services and Research ( GSR ) Division of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government provides applied research, organizational consulting, strategic planning, and decision-support services that help state and local governments strengthen organizational effectiveness, improve operational performance, and address complex public-sector challenges.

The Strategic Management and Organizational Effectiveness Unit Manager provides strategic leadership for the Unit and is responsible for the development, delivery, and continuous enhancement of organizational consulting services that support government clients throughout Georgia. The Unit Manager establishes the strategic direction for the Unit’s consulting practice, leads organizational assessments, strategic planning initiatives, process improvement efforts, performance management projects, and other management consulting engagements designed to improve organizational effectiveness and public service delivery.

Responsibilities include supervising and developing public service faculty and professional staff; managing client relationships, contracts, and project portfolios; providing executive consultation; conducting applied research; facilitating executive-level planning and organizational development initiatives; and building collaborative partnerships with state agencies, local governments, University partners, and other stakeholders. The Unit Manager identifies emerging client needs, develops innovative service offerings, and contributes to the continued success, innovation, and long-term effectiveness of the Government Services and Research Division.

As a Public Service Faculty member, this position advances the mission of the Carl Vinson Institute of Government by providing objective, data-informed consultation, applied research, and organizational expertise that strengthen government operations, improve public sector performance, and enhance the capacity of Georgia’s state and local governments to serve their communities., The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning, as well the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 08.02.18.01.02 ., Strategic Leadership and Consulting

• Lead organizational assessments, strategic planning initiatives, process improvement efforts, performance management projects, and other management consulting engagements for state and local government clients.
• Provide executive consultation and technical assistance to government agencies on organizational effectiveness, operational performance, and strategic decision-making.
• Apply research, analysis, and data-informed decision models to identify organizational challenges and develop practical, innovative solutions.
• Develop strategic plans, organizational assessments, and data strategies while preparing applied research reports and presenting findings and recommendations to elected officials, executive leadership, governing boards, and other stakeholders.
• Facilitate executive planning sessions, stakeholder meetings, and organizational development initiatives using evidence-based and human-centered approaches., Unit Leadership and Operations
• Direct the daily operations of the Strategic Management and Organizational Effectiveness Unit, ensuring the successful delivery of consulting services and project outcomes.
• Supervise, mentor, develop, and evaluate public service faculty, research professionals, staff, and student employees.
• Establish unit priorities, manage project portfolios, oversee workload distribution, and ensure quality and timely completion of deliverables.
• Manage unit resources and utilize financial and operational data to support effective decision- making and continuous improvement., Business Development and Client Engagement
• Develop and maintain collaborative relationships with state agencies, local governments, University partners, and professional organizations.
• Meet with prospective and existing clients to assess organizational needs and develop responsive consulting solutions.
• Develop proposals, pursue grant and contract opportunities, prepare project resource plans, and oversee contract development and deliverables.
• Identify opportunities to expand the Unit’s consulting services and strengthen long-term client partnerships., Organizational Leadership and Collaboration
• Represent the Carl Vinson Institute of Government in meetings, presentations, conferences, and professional organizations.
• Develop collaborative partnerships across the Institute, Public Service and Outreach, and the University of Georgia to enhance interdisciplinary service to government clients.
• Stay informed of Institute expertise, emerging public-sector issues, and evolving client needs to support strategic growth and innovation., + UGAJobs (UGA’s job board)
• LinkedIn
• Handshake
• Indeed.com
• HigherEdJobs
• A current UGA employee
• Other (please provide resource)

Applicant Documents Required Documents

1. Resume/CV
2. Cover Letter
3. Writing Sample
4. List of References with Contact Information

Optional Documents

Master’s degree in public administration, political science, education, finance, accounting, business administration, organizational development, industrial/organizational psychology, sociology, public policy, or a closely related field., * Master’s degree in public administration, political science, education, finance, accounting, business administration, organizational development, industrial/organizational psychology, sociology, public policy, or a closely related field.

• Ten or more years of progressively responsible experience providing organizational consulting, strategic planning, process improvement, performance management, or organizational effectiveness services to state or local government or similarly complex organizations.
• Background leading multidisciplinary consulting engagements and supervising professional staff or project teams.
• Demonstrated success developing client relationships, securing new business opportunities, and managing contracts or externally funded projects.
• Background facilitating executive leadership teams, governing boards, elected officials, or other senior-level stakeholder groups.
• Background designing and implementing organizational assessments, management studies, and data-informed decision support tools.
• Background conducting applied research and translating complex findings into practical recommendations for executive audiences.
• Background utilizing human-centered design, Lean Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Background designing and delivering professional education, executive training, or leadership development programs for adult learners.
• Proficiency with quantitative and qualitative research methods, data visualization, and analytical software used to support organizational decision-making.
• Background working with executive leadership within state government, local government, or similarly complex public-sector organizations.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Knowledge of organizational effectiveness, strategic planning, process improvement, and performance management principles and practices.
• Knowledge of state and local government operations, organizational structures, and emerging public sector issues.
• Ability to assess organizational challenges, analyze complex information, and develop practical, data-informed solutions.
• Ability to lead organizational assessments, facilitate strategic planning initiatives, and manage complex consulting engagements.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative relationships with governmental agencies, University partners, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop faculty, professional staff, and project teams.
• Strong project management, organizational, and prioritization skills with the ability to manage multiple concurrent initiatives.
• Excellent written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate complex concepts to executive and public-sector audiences.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications and experience using data analysis, reporting, and visualization tools to support decision-making.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, work independently, and collaboratively lead interdisciplinary teams in a dynamic client-service environment.

Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/) . The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department

The UGA Carl Vinson Institute of Government - Who We Are As a Public Service and Outreach unit at the University of Georgia, the UGA Institute of Government contributes directly to the university’s overarching public service mission of improving people’s lives by helping to create jobs and prosperity, developing leaders, and addressing critical issues. This public service mission, and the Institute of Government’s role in its success, is at the heart of UGA’s land-grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia and its residents.

We have a wide range of experts who inform, inspire, and innovate every day so that governments, large and small, can be more efficient and responsive to their citizens, address current and emerging challenges, and serve the public with excellence. We are uniquely positioned to provide impartial support to local governments and state agencies and convene multi-disciplinary and intragovernmental groups to plan for and address many of the challenges faced by communities across Georgia.

Our areas of expertise and focus include workforce and economic development; infrastructure and community resilience; government operations and organizational effectiveness; measuring and reporting on impact and outcomes; building skills, knowledge and capacity of government leaders and teams; and maximizing technology and data for governments and their leaders.

Whether it is through our award-winning PROPEL (Planning Rural Opportunities for Prosperity and Economic Leadership) program for rural communities, our CyberArch student program that helps Georgia communities increase their cybersecurity, our efforts to build a visionary plan for military and community partnerships to spur economic prosperity and resilient infrastructure, our financial management certificate program to build the capacity of public officials, or hosting educational events about e-mobility strategies for local governments …. We Know Georgia. Fulfilling our land-grant and sea-grant mission to serve the State of Georgia is more than a project. It’s our purpose.

We are growing and excited to add individuals to our team who share our commitment to public service - building stronger communities, inspiring economic resilience, and improving quality of life for communities across Georgia and beyond.

Our Culture - How We Operate We disseminate knowledge through research, scholarship, and instruction. We collaborate internally across our areas of expertise and across the university with academic researchers to bring best practices and expert insights to the governments and communities we serve. We are committed to fielding a team of experts who have a variety of professional and academic experiences and are grounded in our culture of excellence and approach our work with Georgia’s governments in a comprehensive and objective fashion.