Job Description

Salt Lake County…A career with a purpose in the community you love!

Salt Lake County invites you to explore our exciting career opportunities. We seek highly enthusiastic individuals to enrich our County with your experience and talent. If you enjoy working in a team environment that is committed to changing the lives of its community, please keep reading.

What it is like to work here:

At Salt Lake County our culture is woven into all aspects of our work and our employees’ lives, from the way we treat each other to the way we support the community. To promote and foster a fun and healthy work environment, we appreciate employees through great benefits, a healthy work life balance and room to grow and develop.

Surround yourself with:

Peers who are motivated to make a difference in the lives of those we serve. We serve Salt Lake County and envision a safe and beautiful place for all to live, work and have fun. Salt Lake County is about connecting people and championing our community. Community is more than a place….its our heart and service that bring us together.

We encourage a work life balance:

Working for Salt Lake County is more than just a paycheck. A career with /Salt Lake County includes several benefits and perks. We support our employees with 12 Holidays, up to 24 vacation days, 12 sick days and one personal day every year.

Additional Benefits include:

• Retirement options for hybrid pension/401(k) or 401(k) only with a 10% contribution
• Medical coverage including a 100% county paid premium option-Dental and Vision coverage including coverage for adult designees
• Health Savings account with a county contribution up to $1200/year, Flexible Spending Account
• 100% county-paid Long-Term Disability and Short-Term Disability option
• Professional Development including professional membership fees paid
• Plus: Onsite medical clinic and gym; pet insurance auto and home insurance and discounts at County facilities.

For Benefits information Click HERE

To estimate how much your pay and benefits could be worth use our Total Rewards Estimator

Salt Lake County is seeking a Project Director to lead the implementation of its Behavioral Health and Justice Action Plan (https://www.saltlakecounty.gov/mayor/action-plan/) in consultation and partnership with the Leifman Group. The Plan is a ten-year, multi-faceted effort to transform how our systems address behavioral health, criminal justice and homelessness. This work reflects a rare alignment of internal momentum and external stakeholder support around a comprehensive, coordinated approach. Reporting to the Human Services Department Director and also supporting the Office of Homelessness and Criminal Justice Reform, their Criminal Justice Advisory Council (CJAC) and other county agencies (including elected officials), this position will staff the Project Executive Leadership team and lead communications, outcomes development and support action plan development and implementation for a number of workgroups focused on specific recommendations in the plan. This role requires strong organizational and people skills, attention to detail, ability to work in high-pressure and evolving circumstances, and the ability to communicate effectively with state, county and municipal leaders as well as a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This position will be required to work closely with the Project Data Manager, and should also have an understanding of data, performance and outcome metrics. A background in project management is required and a strong understanding of behavioral health and justice systems is a big plus. Funding for this position has been approved for 5 years.

Leads and manages the implementation of Salt Lake County’s Behavioral Health and Justice System Action plan, overseeing a multi-year, cross-agency initiative. Oversees implementation, builds stakeholder consensus, and delivers measurable results.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business, Communications, Public Relations, Public Policy, Marketing, or other closely related field, plus six (6) years of related experience, of which three (3) years must be in project management OR an equivalent combination of related education and experience.

Preference will be given to applicants with a professional project management certification (PMP, PMI-ACP, or CSM).

Due to the nature of this position, the successful applicant must pass a required background check through fingerprinting and enrollment in the continuous RAP Back (Record of Arrest and Prosecution Back) program in accordance with current County Human Resources policy requirements.

A valid Driver’s License accepted by the State of Utah is required at the time of hire. A valid Driver’s License issued by the State of Utah must be obtained within six (6) months of hire to operate a county vehicle.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Leads end-to-end implementation of the Behavioral Health and Justice Reform Action Plan, ensuring alignment with County priorities, timelines, and intended system outcomes. Maintains overall accountability for delivery of all initiative components.
• Develops and maintains comprehensive project management documentation.
• Establishes and oversees systems to track progress, performance indicators, and outcomes.
• Ensures leadership has clear, accurate, and timely information to support oversight and decision making.
• Leads coordination and support of executive governance structures, supporting the project’s executive team and work group leads for meeting preparation, implementation, and follow up.
• Coordinates planning and implementation across state and local government stakeholders, courts, and nonprofit organizations.
• Identifies roadblocks, policy conflicts, funding gaps, operational constraints, and stakeholder misalignment; develops structured options for resolution and presents recommendations to executive leadership.
• Prepares collateral, reports, policy and communications strategies in coordination with executive committee and work group leads
• Prepares executive-level briefings and written updates for the Mayor, County Council, and senior leadership
• Guides the development of dashboards and data summaries to support oversight and decision-making
• Ensures meeting objectives, documentation of decisions, and follow-through on assigned action items
• Establishes and maintains positive relationships with agencies, internal teams, and external partners to ensure exceptional customer service and communication to all organizations
• Serves as a project liaison with elected officials, the Mayor's Office, department directors, and division directors throughout Salt Lake County and its municipalities, to understand, address, and communicate internal and external needs.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES (KSA)

Knowledge of:

• Program management of complex, multi-agency initiatives
• Government systems and cross-sector collaboration
• Project management, program management software and implementation tracking
• Policy and operational analysis
• Effective public relations techniques
• Coalition building and communications strategies

Skills and Abilities to:

• Communicate and express ideas clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing to a variety of audiences in a user-friendly manner, creating interest and excitement, listening to, and responding to questions, concerns, criticisms
• Synthesize large quantities of information into understandable messages
• Problem solve, evaluate alternatives, apply innovative approaches, and develop creative solutions
• Build strong relationships with an innovative approach that leverages further opportunities
• Work as part of a senior management team and lead organizational strategy
• Work with minimum supervision, act independently, take initiative, and make sound judgements
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the public, government, community and private groups, and individuals
• Remain calm under stress, adapt quickly to changing priorities, and manage multiple competing priorities simultaneously
• Maintain confidentiality and professionalism
• Collaborate, promote teamwork, and influence others to break down organizational silos

Additional Information

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position is generally in an office environment. Telecommuting flexibility will be considered.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THIS POSITION

Time-limited Appointed employees will perform work for a specified amount of time dependent on agency funding. They are exempted by law from the rights of a merit employee and work as an at will employee.

This position may be required to work after hours and/or on the weekends depending on the agency’s needs.