JOB DESCRIPTION

About H-GAC

About the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)

The Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) is one of the largest councils of governments in the United States, serving a 13-county region of more than 7 million residents. Established in 1966, H-GAC operates as a voluntary association of local governments and a regional service platform that supports intergovernmental coordination, regional planning, and program execution across issues that affect the region's economy, infrastructure, and quality of life.

H-GAC is distinguished by a unique mix of tools that enable impact across the full region, serving small towns and rapidly growing communities while also supporting one of the largest cities in the country. This breadth is reinforced through five affiliate boards and entities that expand the organization's reach and flexibility: large regional bodies such as the Gulf Coast Workforce Board and the Transportation Policy Council, which is the regional Metropolitan Planning Organization, alongside smaller and more agile entities such as the Local Development Corporation (small business finance), the Gulf Coast Economic Development District, and the Corporation for Regional Excellence (a 501(c)(3)).

H-GAC's work combines governance support, technical planning, program administration, and funding stewardship. The organization convenes and supports decision-making bodies, manages major grant-funded and contract-driven programs, provides shared services that reduce friction for member governments, and maintains the administrative and compliance infrastructure necessary to move large public funding streams into real projects and services.

The Opportunity

The Executive Director is the chief executive officer of H-GAC. This role is accountable to the H-GAC Board for strategic leadership, operational performance, financial stewardship, talent and culture, and board and stakeholder relationships across a diverse multi-county membership.

The role is structured with substantial leeway to lead the agency and develop new approaches to how H-GAC serves the region. This includes latitude to apply creativity and build durable systems that strengthen the team, improve speed and effectiveness, and expand the organization's long-term impact for the people and communities served.

In practical terms, the Executive Director must lead at three levels simultaneously:

• Regional governance leadership
  The Executive Director supports governance bodies composed of elected officials and senior public leaders, creating decision-ready clarity on options, tradeoffs, and implementation implications. The leader balances member equity, political realities, and regional outcomes, maintaining trust across jurisdictions that often have different priorities, capacities, and timelines.
• Enterprise operational leadership
  H-GAC's effectiveness depends on how quickly it can move from intention to execution. The Executive Director sets the cadence of the organization by establishing expectations, removing bottlenecks, tightening workflows, and holding leaders accountable for cycle time, service responsiveness, and measurable impact — without compromising stewardship and compliance integrity.
• External leadership and partnerships
  The Executive Director is the face of H-GAC in the region and beyond, with a well-positioned national reputation. This includes building durable partnerships with local, state, and federal entities; positioning H-GAC and its members for strategic funding opportunities; and ensuring the organization's communications and public presence reinforce credibility and trust. There is an expectation that H-GAC's leadership role at regional, state, and national levels will continue and increase.

The Ideal Candidate

​THE LEADER H-GAC NEEDS

H-GAC is looking for a leader who understands Council of Governments (COG's) operations and governance from the inside: the cadence of board work, the importance of member trust, and the operational reality that regional progress requires both diplomacy and delivery.

This leader will be known for operational judgment and calm authority, able to reduce bureaucracy without destabilizing the organization, to raise performance expectations without eroding the culture, and to build alignment without becoming captive to process. Candidates should expect a role that requires consistent presence, strong internal leadership, and a practical, outcomes-first approach to modernization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic leadership and agency direction

• Provide strategic leadership and long-term direction for the H-GAC Board, translating regional complexity into clear priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Lead the development and execution of agency strategy and the next generation of vision and goals, leveraging data, technology, and innovation to improve effectiveness and regional impact.

Organizational management and operational performance

• Oversee all aspects of agency operations, including budgeting, finance, human resources, program development, and service delivery.
• Strengthen organizational performance by reducing friction, improving cycle time, and ensuring consistent execution across programs.
• Maintain a strong compliance and stewardship posture across restricted funds, contracts, and pass-through programs while working to continuously improve speed and customer responsiveness.
• Build leadership depth across the organization through coaching, performance management, and succession development.

Boards and governance

• Engage with and provide guidance to boards and advisory committees comprised of elected officials and senior leaders. Support and guide governing boards and advisory committees by preparing decision-ready materials and facilitating effective deliberation.
• Prepare and present reports and recommendations that support timely, well-informed decision-making.

Stakeholder engagement and external leadership

• Cultivate and maintain relationships with local, state, and federal partners, member governments, business leaders, community organizations, and residents.
• Advocate for the organization and serve as the primary spokesperson and relationship leader for H-GAC, building trust with member governments and partners.

Regional collaboration and program delivery

• Promote consensus-building on complex regional issues.
• Oversee major regional plans, studies, and grant-funded programs.
• Identify and pursue collaborative opportunities, innovative funding sources, and strategic partnerships.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Regional Planning, Business Administration, Political Science, or a closely related field.
• At least 10 years of progressively responsible executive management experience in a public-sector, intergovernmental, private, or nonprofit organization of comparable complexity.
• Proven record of managing large, multidisciplinary teams and budgets.
• Significant experience working with boards comprised of elected officials and facilitating decision-making in a public context.

Preferred

• Master's degree or other advanced degree in a related discipline.
• Executive experience in a Council of Governments, MPO, or similar regional agency.
• Experience in the Houston-Galveston region or similarly large, fast-evolving metropolitan regions.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary regional initiatives, strategic planning, and grant administration.
• Demonstrated experience leading digital transformation or major technology initiatives in complex organizations.