Category: 
Job
Organization: 
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
Close date: 
Tuesday, March 17, 2026


Location: Houston, TX

Executive Director

Closing: Open until filled

Description
Mackenzie Eason & Associates has been retained by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) to recruit its next Executive Director.

H-GAC is a mature, multi-program regional enterprise operating at the intersection of regional governance, public service delivery, and complex funding administration across one of the country’s fastest-growing and most operationally demanding regions. The next Executive Director will inherit a strong foundation, an aligned and cohesive board and region, a well-respected agency, and a strong and knowledgeable staff.

CANDIDATE VISION STATEMENT

The ideal candidate will possess the vision, executive leadership, and strategic acumen to shape and advance the future of H-GAC and the 13-county region. This individual will steward and strategically deploy more than $500 million in public funding annually, while aligning the organization’s subsidiary boards, executive leadership team, and professional staff to deliver transformative solutions across one of the fastest-growing and most economically dynamic regions in the nation.

The Executive Director serves as the organization’s chief administrator while also acting as a regional thought leader, coalition builder, and trusted partner to elected officials, state and federal agencies, and community stakeholders. This role demands long-range vision, political acuity, and the ability to turn regional priorities into measurable, results-driven outcomes.

The Executive Director will address the following critical needs:

  • Articulate and advance a bold regional vision that reflects the distinct geographic, economic, and demographic needs of the region, building consensus among elected officials, partner agencies, and community stakeholders.
  • Strengthen regional collaboration by leveraging partnerships with urban, suburban, and rural leaders to advance cohesive policy implementation that benefits the entire region.
  • Lead collaborative solutions to complex regional challenges, including transportation, workforce development, and early childhood education, by working in close partnership with the governing boards of H-GAC’s subsidiary entities, alongside state and federal agencies and local governments, to develop and implement forward-looking, regionally aligned strategies.
  • Empower and align the executive leadership team to effectively implement board- adopted policies, cultivate innovation, and deliver high-performing programs.
  • Drive organizational excellence and operational efficiency, ensuring resources are strategically aligned to maximize impact in workforce development and early childhood education initiatives across the 13-county region.
  • Serve as chief steward of public trust, ensuring transparency, accountability, and strong fiduciary oversight in collaboration with subsidiary boards.
  • Champion best-in-the-nation programming, positioning H-GAC as a national model in regional planning, workforce development, and intergovernmental coordination.

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.

HOW TO APPLY

Mackenzie Eason & Associates is managing this search. To view the full job posting and to submit an application, please go to this link: https://mackenzieeasonassociatesllc.applytojob.com/apply/MmEWB5xwx6/Exec...