Unified Government of Wyandotte County/KCK, KS - County Administrator

SGR•Kansas City, KS

5d•$300,000 - $335,000•Onsite

About The Position

The County Administrator is the chief administrative executive overseeing 2,700+ employees and a $551.3M FY2027 budget. The role spans all city and county operations, budget oversight, capital planning, executive team leadership, and partnerships with elected officials and regional entities. The Unified Government seeks an experienced, strategic executive who is a team builder with sound financial judgment and operational discipline. The ideal candidate understands that successful local government requires disciplined partnership between elected and professional leadership, makes timely decisions with clear accountability, values all departments equally, and communicates risks candidly. Resilient amid competing priorities and grounded in practical implementation, they will demonstrate a long-term commitment to institution-building and delivering measurable results for residents, employees, and elected officials.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field
Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible executive leadership experience in city or county government
At least two years of experience as a City/County Manager or Administrator (preferred)
Successful experience working with a Mayor/Council, Commission, Board, or similarly complex elected governance structure
A record of building, aligning, and holding accountable an executive leadership team
Strong financial leadership, including structural budgeting, long-range financial forecasting, reserve management, capital planning and financing, debt management, and development of strategies to strengthen long-term fiscal capacity
Evidence of carrying major initiatives from concept through implementation and measurable completion
Residency within Wyandotte County within one year of hire

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field
Demonstrated success in an executive-led or similarly complex governance environment involving an active elected chief executive and professional administrator (strongly preferred)
Demonstrated economic-development leadership at meaningful scale, including public-private development and redevelopment, tax-base growth, development agreements, and measurable community outcomes
Infrastructure and capital-program leadership; utility, sewer/stormwater, or consent-decree experience
Experience in a consolidated city/county, countywide, regional, multi-jurisdictional, or similarly complex governmental environment
Public safety, emergency management, or justice-system experience, including work with independently elected officials
Labor relations and collective bargaining in a large public organization
Housing, homelessness, health and human services, or neighborhood revitalization experience
Technology modernization, including ERP, 311/CRM, and data and performance systems

Responsibilities

Overseeing 2,700+ employees
Managing a $551.3M FY2027 budget
Spanning all city and county operations
Budget oversight
Capital planning
Executive team leadership
Partnerships with elected officials and regional entities
Carrying major initiatives from concept through implementation and measurable completion
Economic-development leadership at meaningful scale, including public-private development and redevelopment, tax-base growth, development agreements, and measurable community outcomes
Infrastructure and capital-program leadership; utility, sewer/stormwater, or consent-decree experience
Public safety, emergency management, or justice-system experience, including work with independently elected officials
Labor relations and collective bargaining in a large public organization
Housing, homelessness, health and human services, or neighborhood revitalization experience
Technology modernization, including ERP, 311/CRM, and data and performance systems