As director of strategic partnerships, Sainci leads, plans, directs, and coordinates all intergovernmental relations between the City of Dubuque and county, state and federal governments as well as advances the City of Dubuque’s private and nonprofit sector partnerships. He also manages all government relations related to policy, programs, and appropriations and coordinates all grant applications for the City.
The director of strategic partnerships role focuses on advancing the City’s priorities through strategic funding, advocacy, and relationship-building. Responsibilities include identifying and evaluating state, federal, and private grant opportunities aligned with City Council goals, project readiness, and available matching funds, as well as convening City staff and community partners to prepare and submit competitive grant applications. The position also plans and executes major advocacy efforts such as the City’s participation in Dubuque’s annual Washington DC “fly-in,” Congressional staff visits, and the annual state legislative dinner.
Sainci has been a City of Dubuque employee since 2012 and has worked in multiple city departments including the offices of sustainability, information technology, economic development, and public works before the office of economic mobility.
As director of economic mobility, he was responsible for implementation of the Dubuque Community Equitable Poverty Reduction and Prevention Plan program and collaborated with both public and private partners and neighborhood associations to implement the plan.
Sainci is also engaged on multiple boards on a local and state level, including the Dubuque Community School Board since 2017. He serves on the board of directors for the Dubuque Black Men Coalition, Steeple Square, Dubuque Museum of Art, Northeast Iowa Community College Foundation Board, the Dubuque Boys and Girls Club, and MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center. In 2025, he was reappointed by Governor Kim Reynolds to the Northeast Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board. Additional volunteer activities include facilitating Dubuque’s annual Back to School Bash to provide school supplies to students. Sainci holds a master’s degree in communications and bachelor’s degree in business administration, both from the University of Dubuque. In 2024, he attended the Harvard Kennedy Senior Executive in State and Local Government Program.