Director of Inclusive Growth & Innovation (Executive Director Office of the Mayor) (U) (Vacancy)

Definition

The City of Columbus is seeking a dynamic, strategic leader to serve as Director of Inclusive Growth and Innovation for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. This role is central to advancing economic opportunity, strengthening small businesses, and ensuring City investments deliver meaningful, measurable results for residents and neighborhoods.

The Director will lead a diverse portfolio spanning supplier development, small business and economic development, innovation, and sustainability, bringing these efforts together into a unified, results-driven strategy. This leader’s key function will be to serve as a connector across departments and regional partners, shaping how the City supports business growth, removes barriers to opportunity, and responds to evolving economic trends.

Success in this role requires strong leadership, sound judgment, and the ability to translate strategy into action, driving outcomes that position Columbus for long-term, inclusive growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Small Business & Economic Development Strategy

• Lead a citywide strategy to support small business growth, entrepreneurship, and neighborhood-based economic opportunity.
• Expand access to capital, contracts, and support services to help businesses start, grow, and scale.
• Stay attuned to economic and development trends and align City efforts with regional partners.

2. Supplier Diversity & Inclusive Procurement

• Oversee supplier diversity and certification programs to expand equitable access to City contracting, Partner with departments to increase utilization of local and diverse businesses and reduce barriers.
• Track and communicate progress and outcomes to drive accountability and improvement.

3. Regional Partnerships & Ecosystem Leadership

• Serve as a connector across business, nonprofit, and public sectors to strengthen the small business ecosystem.
• Build partnerships with regional institutions, chambers, and financial partners.
• Advance coordinated initiatives that support inclusive economic growth.

4. Innovation, Service Design & Performance

• Improve how the City serves residents and businesses through process improvement and innovation.
• Pilot and scale solutions using data, user insights, and continuous improvement methods.
• Establish clear measures to track performance and results.

5. Sustainability & Long-Term Impact

• Lead sustainability and resilience efforts that support long-term economic and environmental health.
• Connect sustainability initiatives to business growth and community impact.
• Partner across sectors to advance forward-looking, sustainable strategies.

6. Strategic Leadership

• Provide leadership and direction across the Office’s work, aligning efforts to City priorities.
• Turn strategy into clear, actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Advise senior leadership and build a collaborative, high-performing team.

7. Data & Decision Support

• Use data to guide strategy, prioritize investments, and measure success.
• Develop clear reporting to communicate progress, risks, and opportunities.
• Provide leaders with insights to support timely, informed decisions.

Core Competencies

• Partnership & Ecosystem Leadership: Builds and aligns relationships across public, private, and nonprofit sectors to create a coordinated and effective support system for businesses and residents.
• Data-Informed Equity & Impact: Uses data to identify disparities, track progress, and guide decisions that improve outcomes for populations and/or areas that have been historically underrepresented or underserved.
• People Leadership & Team Development: Builds and leads high-performing teams through coaching, collaboration, and a strong culture of accountability and service.
• Strategic & Systems Leadership: Connects priorities across economic development, operations, and community impact into a clear, actionable strategy focused on measurable results.
• Economic & Market Awareness: Understands economic trends, business needs, and development patterns, and uses this insight to strengthen small business growth and local competitiveness.
• Operational Execution & Accountability: Drives initiatives from strategy to implementation, setting clear expectations and delivering results with accountability and discipline.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience in economic development, small business ecosystem building, or market-based strategy development.

Preferred

• Experience working with regional economic development organizations, chambers, financial institutions, or entrepreneurship ecosystems.
• Experience designing or scaling small business support programs, capital access strategies, or inclusive growth initiatives.
• Familiarity with emerging economic trends, including innovation districts, workforce shifts, and local economic competitiveness strategies.

• Please submit a cover letter and resume with all application materials.

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