Executive Director - Ohio River Commission

Ohio River Commission Leader with Statewide and Regional Impact

The Ohio Department of Development seeks a visionary and dynamic leader to serve as Executive Director of the Ohio River Commission. The Ohio River is one of our state’s most vital natural assets—supporting commerce, recreation, and regional economic development.

What You’ll Do:
As Executive Director, you will lead strategic, administrative, and programmatic functions of the newly created Commission, coordinating multiple state agencies and external stakeholders. With dedicated biennial funding of $500,000 per year for FY 2026 and FY 2027, this role offers the opportunity to shape long-term impact through policy, partnerships, and initiatives that support the environmental and economic vitality of the Ohio River and its communities.

Your Job Duties:

• Direct the Ohio River Commission and oversee implementation of all priorities and directives in accordance with enabling statutes, Commission bylaws, and interagency agreements.
• Lead policy development, operational planning, and strategic execution for all Commission initiatives.
• Manage a biennial budget of $1 million ($500,000 annually) from the Ohio River Commission Fund; oversee fiscal planning, reporting, and grantmaking activities. 
• Solicit, review, oversee grants and research initiatives related to economic development, environmental sustainability, and travel/tourism along the Ohio River and its tributaries.
• Coordinate and prepare agendas, reports, and logistics for Commission meetings; establish and support subcommittees and working groups as needed.
• Lead education, outreach, and advocacy efforts to raise awareness of the river’s strategic importance; serve as the Commission’s primary spokesperson and public representative through speech writing and delivery.
• Engage with local governments, tourism agencies, regional coalitions, businesses, and citizens across Ohio's river communities.
• Apprise Commission members of current national, regional, and legislative developments impacting the Ohio River.
• Supervise Commission staff; develop operating plans, assign tasks, and conduct performance evaluations.
• Ensure alignment with the Commission’s mission and compliance with state laws, policies, and procedures.
• Represent the Commission in public forums, legislative meetings, regional consortia, and state committees. 
• Respond to public inquiries and provide briefings and presentations to various audiences.
• Evaluate program outcomes and recommend changes or new initiatives based on data and stakeholder input.
• Collaborate with state agencies including the Departments of Development, Natural Resources, and Transportation.

At the State of Ohio, we take care of the team that cares for Ohioans. We provide a variety of quality, competitive benefits to eligible full-time and part-time employees*. For a list of all the State of Ohio Benefits, visit our Total Rewards website! Our benefits package includes:

• Medical Coverage
• Free Dental, Vision and Basic Life Insurance premiums after completion of eligibility period
• Paid time off, including vacation, personal, sick leave and 11 paid holidays per year
• Childbirth, Adoption, and Foster Care leave
• Education and Development Opportunities (Employee Development Funds, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and more)
• Public Retirement Systems (such as OPERS, STRS, SERS, and HPRS) & Optional Deferred Compensation (Ohio Deferred Compensation)

*Benefits eligibility is dependent on a number of factors. The Agency Contact listed above will be able to provide specific benefits information for this position.

Required Education, Skills, And Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Planning, Business, or related field. 
• Proven leadership experience, preferably in public administration, government affairs, economic development, or nonprofit management.
• Working knowledge of state and local government operations, especially in areas of grants, public finance, or regional planning.
• 5+ years of experience in policy, program administration, strategic planning, or fiscal oversight.
• Demonstrated •experience managing public funds and coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and manage budgets, grant programs, and procurement processes. 
• Strong public speaking, written communication, and relationship-building skills. 
• Supervisory experience and ability to lead teams effectively. 
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint). 
• Proven results with navigating complex public issues and sustaining productive cross-sector partnerships. 
• Demonstrated commitment to public service, transparency, and continuous improvement.

Preferred Skills And Experience:

• Experience in partnering with C-level executives, governmental officials, and internal stakeholders. 
• Industry experience in sectors such as transportation, environmental planning, marine commerce, or tourism. 
• Hands-on familiarity with platforms such as Salesforce or OAKS. 
• Extensive organization and project management skills. 
• Experience with multimedia content creation and event planning. 

Ohio is a Disability Inclusion State and strives to be a model employer of individuals with disabilities. The State of Ohio is committed to providing access and inclusion and reasonable accommodation in its services, activities, programs and employment opportunities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable laws.

The State of Ohio is a drug-free workplace which prohibits the use of marijuana (recreational marijuana/non-medical cannabis). Please note, this position may be subject to additional restrictions pursuant to the State of Ohio Drug-Free Workplace Policy (HR-39), and as outlined in the posting.