Executive Director - Kansas City

Overview · OMNI is honored to be retained by Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) in the search for their next Executive Director. This highly visible, regional leadership position is responsible for developing and leading initiatives that build the connectedness and capacity of t ...

Job description

Overview

OMNI is honored to be retained by Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) in the search for their next Executive Director. This highly visible, regional leadership position is responsible for developing and leading initiatives that build the connectedness and capacity of the bi-state metropolitan Kansas City community.

MARC is the nonprofit association of city and county governments and the federally designated metropolitan planning organization for the bistate Kansas City region. Governed by a Board of local elected officials, MARC serves nine counties and 119 cities, providing a forum for regional collaboration to advance social, economic, and environmental progress.

MARC is an integral, non-partisan, voluntary regional organization without taxing or regulatory authority that brings diverse stakeholders together to address major regional issues including transportation, community development, environment, workforce and economy, aging services, quality early learning, public safety communications, and 911 services. Through this cooperative work, MARC identifies priorities, develops innovative solutions, and delivers programs that strengthen and connect the Kansas City region.  

Organization

MARC is led by a 33-member board of local elected officials named by their jurisdiction and guided by extensive community engagement through numerous committees representing technical, policy, business, and public stakeholders. The organization employs 170 staff across six departments: Transportation & Environment, Local Government Services, Aging & Adult Services, Early Learning, Data & Digital Services, Administration & Finance and the Offices of Resource Development and Economic Research.

MARC is funded through federal, state and philanthropic grants, local contributions and earned income, much of which is passed through to local governments and other agencies for programs and services. It serves as the region's Metropolitan Planning Organization and Economic Development District and the Area Agency on Aging for Missouri counties. The adopted 2026 budget is $120 million. Financial Information | MARC

Current Initiatives

MARC's work is guided by its regional vision: Greater Kansas City is a region of opportunity. Its robust economy, healthy environment and social capacity support the vitality of all its people, places and communities.

Advancing the region through a wide range of evolving functions and initiatives, MARC provides leadership in planning, policy coordination, grants management, public information, and cooperative services. Current initiatives focused on key regional goals that move a shared vision forward include:

Efficient Transportation and Quality Places

Long-range planning
• Coordination of federal and other investments
• Corridor studies
• Technical analysis and modeling
• Safe Active transportation
• Freight movement
• Public transit
• Technology deployment
• Commuter and employer services
• Traffic signal coordination

Healthy Environment

Air quality
• Solid waste management
• Climate action
• Energy efficiency and alternative fuel initiatives
• Watershed management
• Water quality
• Green infrastructure and natural resources
• Trails and open spaces

Effective Local Government

Legislative priorities
• Government Training Institute
• Professional roundtables
• Cooperative purchasing
• Shared services
• First Suburbs Coalition
• Cybersecurity
• Small cities program
• Regional research, GIS mapping and analysis
• Regional Housing Partnership

Competitive Economy

Economic forecasts and analysis
• Workforce data and analytics
• Economic Development District
• Civic partnerships

Safe and Secure Communities

Homeland security coordination
• Regional 911 system
• Interoperable radio communications
• Emergency medical services
• Hazardous materials
• Emergency management and preparedness
• Health care and public health coordination
• Hazard mitigation planning
• Training and exercises
• 988 coordination and co-responders

Thriving Older Adults and Communities

Area Agency on Aging support services
• Community care hub and integrated services coordination
• Double Up Food Bucks nutrition incentive program
• Produce prescription program
• Community health worker support
• Veterans self-directed care
• Home-delivered meals repack facility
• Produce prescription program
• Caregiver respite

Quality Early Learning

Head Start
• Early education financing
• Early educator training and capacity building
• Volunteer matching
• School readiness
• Mobile medical unit/telehealth and on-site health clinics

Position Summary

The Executive Director is responsible for the overall management of MARC's complex, multi-faceted organization, ensuring the effectiveness of the agency in meeting the expectations, fulfilling the mission and advancing regional priorities. This position provides oversight of key personnel, financial and programmatic activities, as well as the implementation of the policies and programs of the organization. The Executive Director collaborates with the Board of Directors and serves as the principal liaison to leaders, organizations and other stakeholders at the local, regional, state and national levels, playing a unique role in building awareness and consensus and in advocating for regional priorities, area local governments and community partners while maintaining non-partisan, resolution focused initiatives in a politically diverse Kansas City region.

Responsibilities

Leadership Support

• Collaborates with the Board and leadership to advance MARC's mission.
• Ensures effective stakeholder communication to provide timely and accurate information for informed decisions.
• Proposes new program initiatives and provides staff support to the Board and other committees.

External Relations

• Represents MARC with a variety of government, business, and stakeholder organizations in the region.
• Develops and maintains effective relationships with federal, state and local elected and appointed officials.
• Maintains and strengthens the organization's relationships with varied partner and stakeholder organizations.

Program Oversight

• Develops and implements reporting and accountability systems for assessing and monitoring agency performance.
• Manages policy development, provide leadership and support to stakeholders in the development and implementation of public policy in a variety of functional areas.

Administrative

• Ensures that administrative, personnel, financial, and communication systems and staff effectively support critical services, manage complex funding, and communicate with partners, civic leaders and the public.
• Provides leadership to board members, professional staff, and partners in articulating and pursuing a strategic agenda for key roles and responsibilities in accordance with organizational values.

Financial Management

• Ensures the agency's fiscal integrity through accurate budgets and financial reports, and oversees fiscal management to operate within budget, maximize resources and maintain a strong financial position.

Staff Management and Development

• Motivates and leads staff by upholding organizational values, fostering open communication and teamwork, providing direction and professional development and modeling strong management practices.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree is required. Master's degree in public administration or related field is strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively complex and responsible related experience, which includes at least 5+ years of managerial experience and substantial experience in public/private sector policy development.
• Experience working at an executive level with a board of directors, or body of elected officials, and with a formal committee system or equivalent is preferred.
• Possesses executive-level proficiency in public relations and high-impact communications, building strong relationships with the public, elected officials, and key stakeholders.
• Ability to demonstrate a keen understanding of the unique characteristics of the Kansas City region and grasp the wide range of topical and contextual issues crucial for this position.
• Ability to build consensus among diverse parties with differing interests and perspectives to create change.
• Demonstrated ability to develop systemic and strategic approaches to advancing progress on complex issues.
• Skilled in facilitating discussions and communicating authentically with diverse audiences, and in serving as a strong spokesperson and relationship builder.
• Ability to initiate, plan and complete work with a high level of effectiveness.
• Ability to prioritize competing demands for time, delegating responsibility to others to meet deadlines.
• Effectively lead and build staff relationships, maximizing individual competencies to accomplish high quality work.
• A comprehensive knowledge of public administration.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking.
• Understands the mission of MARC and exemplifies MARC's core values.

MARC Core Values

• We operate with integrity as public servants—responsibly and equitably managing the work with which we are entrusted.
• We foster trust, collaboration and partnership among people, communities and organizations.
• We cultivate innovation and forward-thinking ideas and demonstrate leadership and excellence to advance our region.
• We foster a culture of respect, valuing diverse perspectives and mutual understanding to create a sense of belonging.
• We provide stewardship of resources and coordinate community-driven solutions to make a meaningful impact on our region—now and into the future.

Salary and Benefits

MARC has a collaborative work environment with a culture based on integrity, innovation, impact, respect, belonging, and leadership. Continued professional development and ensuing career development are central to MARC's value of excellence in performance. Competitive salary and fringe benefit package.

MARC is an equal opportunity employer that provides equal employment opportunities to any characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may come from a less traditional background. MARC may consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and experience to meet minimum qualifications. If you are interested in applying, we encourage you to think broadly about your background and skill set for the role. 

First application review will be March 27, 2026.

We appreciate your referrals to professionals who may have an interest in this outstanding opportunity. Formal interest accepted through the OMNI Executive Career Portal.

Please direct inquiries to:

OMNI Human Resource Solutions

Michelle Anderson, Vice President of Executive Search

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OMNI and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers