Assistant County Manager

Buncombe County • Asheville, NC

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About The Position

Buncombe County Government is seeking an Assistant County Manager. This Assistant County Manager position currently supports a broad portfolio of departments including: Access and Human Affairs, Communications and Public Engagement, Emergency Services, ID Bureau, Permits and Inspections, Planning, and Public Safety Communications. Buncombe County has an average of 1,800 employees who serve as sheriff deputies, nurses, social workers and caseworkers, physicians, librarians, park rangers, emergency medical workers, telecommunications specialists, building and construction inspectors, environmental health inspectors, solid waste staff, agriculture extension agents, soil and water conservationists, air quality specialists, planners, tax assessors and administrators, and vital support and infrastructure staff, all working to ensure the funding, talent, and partnerships that enable high quality delivery of services and information. With a population of more than 270,000 people and spanning 660 square miles, Buncombe County is the perfect intersection of mountain charm and creature comforts. Asheville is the county seat, and there are five other municipalities as well as a diverse mix of unincorporated areas. Buncombe County’s governing body is the seven-member Board of Commissioners. Buncombe County Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms through partisan elections. Buncombe County operates under the County–Manager model. Read about Buncombe County Manager Avril Pinder . Our community was severely impacted by Tropical Storm Helene, which was the largest natural disaster in the history of the state of North Carolina with an estimated impact of $60 Billion across the state. Buncombe County is located in the center of the disaster area, with over 10,000 homes impacted by the storm in our county alone. Buncombe County Government is committed to restoring and rebuilding our community with a focus on the quality of lives for all Buncombe County residents. Buncombe 2030 is our next five-year roadmap that guides the County’s work and priorities. This plan was nearly done before Tropical Storm Helene made impact but was paused and refocused following the storm. Grounded in our mission and values, the plan sets out goals and objectives across key focus areas, including Growth and Development, Community Health, Education, Energy and Environment, and Public Safety. Read the draft here. Our Mission: We promote a healthy, safe, well-educated, and thriving community with a sustainable quality of life. We provide effective and efficient government our residents can trust. We deliver needed service through a responsive work force committed to excellence, integrity, and teamwork. Read more about our recent initiatives, awards, and news here: https://www.buncombenc.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?CID=1 This position is posted until filled, with a first review of applicants beginning on January 5th. We will hold first-round interviews by the end of January. The selected candidate will tentatively start work by Monday, March 9th. Purpose of the position: The purpose of this position is to assist the County Manager in providing overall strategic and administrative leadership and supervision to County departments to ensure proper planning, implementation and direction of Buncombe County services and programs. At the direction of the manager, this position will also work with community stakeholders, other governmental units, and departments to facilitate coordination and collaboration for the efficient delivery of services to the residents of Buncombe County.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in Public Administration or closely related field and seven (7) years of progressively responsible administrative experience, including five years at a senior management level in local government, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Extensive knowledge of local, state, and federal regulations and statutes and demonstrated ability to establish operating standards and procedures to ensure compliance.
• Extensive knowledge of the principles and practices of public administration, county government operations, organizations, procedures, and policies.
• Knowledge of internal controls and the ability to identify problems and changing requirements.
• Knowledge of principles, concepts, and practices of organizational management.
• Knowledge of management and supervisory principles, practices and techniques including how to delegate authority and assign work, how to deal effectively with difficult employees, how to evaluate performance and to participate in disciplinary actions, and ability to mentor new supervisors.
• Knowledge of professional fiscal theory, techniques, practices, and procedures.
• Ability to communicate succinctly and accurately all major and/or complex situations and actions in plain terms to a wide variety of audiences.
• Ability to interpret rules and regulations, internal and external to the organization.
• Ability to develop and maintain professional working relationships in complex and/or difficult situations in order to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to respond to and resolve difficult and sensitive citizen inquiries and complaints.
• Ability to deliver presentations to managers, boards, commissions, civic groups, County Commissioners, and the general public.
• High tolerance for ambiguity, challenge, and change.
• Ability to show composure in difficult circumstances.
• Interact with other employees, customers, and partners in an effective manner, with professionalism and cultural competency; work effectively and efficiently as a team contributor including interacting and communicating clearly and effectively both orally and in writing.
• Maintain knowledge of the agency organizational rules, policies, procedures, services, and mission.
• Plan, prioritize, and organize work effectively to produce quality work with measurable results and within identified deadlines; Function in highly stressful circumstances and demonstrate the ability to adapt to changing priorities, deadlines, and directions; ability to maintain calm demeanor while dealing with stressful situations and customers.
• Demonstrate the County’s core values through performance and conduct. This expectation extends beyond the workplace and County systems to include off-site and off-duty conduct; conduct must support an employee’s credibility as a representative of the County at all times, both on- and off-duty.
• Conduct business in an ethical manner at all times while maintaining a high level of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Coordinate work efforts with other employees and organizations to accomplish a common task; responsible for managing matters affecting employment and completing personnel-related activities timely and according to County policy.
• Safely and successfully perform the essential job functions consistent with ADAAA, FMLA and other federal, state, and local standards, including meeting qualitative and/or quantitative productivity standards.
• Maintain regular, punctual attendance consistent with ADAAA, FMLA and other federal state and local standards.
• Ability to successfully pass a drug screen and criminal background check.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and direction to Department Directors for program development, work with department directors in meeting program standards and the monitoring and evaluation of service delivery; overall coordination and management of budget activities, provide direction to departments for the recruitment and retention of qualified staff.
• Facilitate consistent improvements in the provision of services, assisting in the development, implementation, and measurement of progress of County-wide objectives.
• Manages and supervises special projects and task forces.
• Carry out strategic plans, goals and objectives for areas of oversight ensuring strategic plans support the broad County mission, goals and objectives.
• Represent the County Manager in the absence of or at the direction of the Manager.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees