SMS Strategic Project Coordinators Cohort Program : North Carolina Association of County Commissioners

About the SMS Cohort Program

At the core of NCACC Strategic Member Services (SMS) lies a dedicated team of Strategic Project Coordinators, a team of professionals responsible for managing and supporting specific projects within a county. These professionals, all holding master’s degrees in fields such as public administration, finance, public health, and accounting, are essential in assisting counties in the following areas:

Project Management — Overseeing the planning, execution and completion of projects, ensuring they align with organizational goals.
Collaboration — Working closely with various stakeholders, including county officials, community organizations and funding agencies, to coordinate efforts and share resources.
Funding Assistance — Helping counties navigate funding opportunities, such as ARPA or opioid settlement funds, by providing guidance on compliance and project requirements.
Impact Evaluation — Assessing the outcomes of projects to ensure they meet objectives and benefit the community effectively.

Together, these professionals make up the SMS Cohort Program. The cohort of Strategic Project Coordinators play a crucial role in supporting the successful implementation of projects that serve communities. Their expertise allows them to offer tailored guidance and support, ensuring that each county can maximize the benefits of participating in the SMS Cohort Program.

Counties Benefit from Cohort Program

The SMS Cohort Program links young professionals with counties across our state. This dynamic program strengthens communities and enhances local governments, all while engaging a new generation of invaluable public servants.

Counties interested in the SMS Cohort Program can reach out to answer a set of intake questions. This information will help match the county with a coordinator who has the specialized skills to meet their specific needs. With the support of NCACC, there is no cost to the county to participate in the cohort program. The selected coordinator is placed in the requested county on assignment while still enjoying the benefit of sharing experiences and lessons learned through peer-based mentoring and professional development programs made available through the Association.

??? Describe benefit of SPC in counties (quotes from counties)
??? Explain the SPC roles and responsibilities in counties

To begin the cohort program interest form and learn more about how a coordinator can assist your county, click here.

County Interest Form

SMS Cohort Program County Involvement

Cohort Program Placements
- [list from new to old]
- FirstName is assisting Pender County and focused on reviewing on ARPA contracts.
- FirstName is assigned to Onslow County and organizes details specific to the opioid settlement material.
- …
- …
Close accordion

Become the Next Strategic Project Coordinator

The SMS Cohort Program is looking for recent graduates and young professionals to assign them to influential roles within county governments throughout North Carolina. Coordinators gain valuable hands-on experience by cultivating project management principles and getting involved in county project tasks. The cohort of Strategic Project Coordinators are employed by the NCACC but assigned to fulfill a specialized need in a county or counties. There is no cost (for the county or the coordinator) to participate in the cohort program. While placed in the requested county on assignment, the coordinator continues to benefit from sharing experiences and insights through peer mentoring and professional development programs offered by the Association.

Some recent examples of project work requested by counties include:

Project management
Grant management
Subrecipient monitoring and oversight
Expenditure reporting
Community outreach
Communications

This cohort program is seeking master’s level graduates in the fields of public administration (or affairs), finance, public health, and/or accounting with an interest in serving at the local government level. The program application requires a resume, short essay, letter of recommendation and (optional) work/project samples. To begin the coordinator interest form and learn how you can apply your academic background to create positive change in a local community, click here.

Coordinator Interest Form

Success Stories

Meet Matthew Wilson, who began as a coordinator with NCACC Strategic Member Services (SMS) in 2023(?). Wilson has been providing direct assistance to Buncombe, Madison and Graham counties during his time as an SMS Strategic Project Coordinator. Since beginning his career in county government on the NCACC SMS Cohort Program Team, Wilson has been working continuously for the betterment of North Carolina counties especially in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) realm. We are proud to report that Matthew received a permanent job placement in Wake County as a Budget and Management Analyst.