Deputy County Administrator

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Job Type: Unclassified

Job Classification: 1003 - Deputy County Administrator

Salary Grade: 24

Pay Range

Hiring Range: $223,204 - $290,160 Annually

Pay Range: $223,204 - $357,115. Annually

Range Explanation:

• Hiring Range is an estimate of where you can receive an offer. The actual salary offer will carefully consider a wide range of factors, including your skills, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, training, and internal equity.
• Pay Range is the entire compensation range for the position.

Join us in shaping the future of Pima County as our next Deputy County Administrator. Pima County is looking for an experienced leader to serve as a key strategic partner to the County Administrator, helping lead one of Arizona's largest government agencies. In this role, you will provide executive leadership across multiple County departments, advance strategic initiatives with Countywide impact, foster collaborative relationships with elected officials, community stakeholders, and intergovernmental partners, and help ensure the effective delivery of the vital public services that support our residents. The position also serves as the County Administrator's designee, acting on behalf of the organization in the administration of County operations and policy implementation.

As a member of the County's executive leadership team, you will help guide organizational priorities that affect more than one million residents across a diverse and rapidly growing region. You will lead complex initiatives, contribute to policy development and organizational strategy, support innovation and operational excellence, and represent Pima County in local, state, and national forums. Success in this role requires a leader who can balance strategic thinking with effective execution, build strong partnerships across organizations and communities, and demonstrate a commitment to public service, transparency, and accountable government.

Pima County offers an exceptional opportunity for a forward-thinking leader who is prepared to help lead the organization through opportunities and challenges while advancing the County's mission, strategic priorities, and long-term vision. At Pima County, we are committed to cultivating a workplace culture rooted in our values of being Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical (A.R.E.). We seek individuals who consistently demonstrate these values through their actions, decisions, and interactions with employees, stakeholders, and the community. Every employee plays an important role in upholding our values and fostering an environment of trust, professionalism, and excellence in public service. Together, we bring these values to life. We A.R.E. Pima County!

This classification is in the unclassified service and is exempt from the Pima County Merit System Rules.

Essential Functions:

As defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, this classification may include any of the following tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. This list is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by incumbents of this class. Work assignments may vary depending on the department’s need and will be communicated to the applicant or incumbent by the supervisor.

• Acts in the absence of and on behalf of the County Administrator;
• Provides executive-level leadership for multiple assigned County departments;
• Participates in the formulation, revision and negotiation of contracts and intergovernmental agreements;
• Formulates recommended solutions to remedy or address problems and issues relating to the operation of the County;
• Directs, coordinates, manages, and participates in a continuing program to represent and advance the intergovernmental interests of the County in all policy and administrative forums including the state legislature and congress;
• Represents the County in stakeholder engagement, including attending civic meetings and addressing groups;
• Leads projects with County-wide impact, utilizing organizational expertise and resources;
• Provides direction on the formulation of administrative policies and procedures;
• Prepares specialized reports for the County Administrator and/or Board of Supervisors;
• May chair or serve on committees as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college in public administration, business administration or a related field as determined by the County Administrator at the time of recruitment AND ten years of senior leadership level experience managing cross-functional teams and projects in a large public or private sector organization with complex governance structures. (Senior leadership level experience equates to Department Director – or its equivalency – or higher level of experience.)

(Relevant experience and/or education from an accredited college or university may be substituted.)

Qualifying education and experience must be clearly documented in the "Education" and "Work Experience" sections of the application. Do not substitute a resume for your application or write "see resume" on your application.

Preferred Qualifications: (Be specific in describing your experience in your application. Ensure the descriptions provided illustrate your competencies, specifically addressing the required and preferred qualifications.):

• Master's degree in Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), Public Policy, Law, Finance, Organizational Leadership, or a closely related field.
• Extensive experience advising elected officials, governing boards, chief executives, or senior leadership on strategic, operational, and policy matters.
• Strong knowledge of local government operations, budgeting, public finance, capital planning, governmental regulations, and public policy development.
• Experience negotiating and administering complex contracts, intergovernmental agreements, and public-private partnerships.
• Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with community stakeholders, regional partners, state and federal agencies, and elected officials.

Selection Procedure:
Pima County Human Resources Department reserves the right to admit to the selection process only those candidates that meet the minimum qualifications. All applications will be assessed based on an evaluation of the listed education and experience. Candidates meeting the minimum qualifications may be further evaluated/scored against any advertised Preferred Qualifications. The hiring authority will interview and select the successful candidate from a referral list provided by Human Resources. Additional assessments/testing may be required as part of the selection process.

Supplemental Information:

Licenses and Certificates: Some positions require a valid Arizona Class D driver license at the time of application or appointment. Failure to obtain / maintain the required licensure shall be grounds for termination.

Special Notice Items: Some positions may require satisfactory completion of a personal background investigation by the court or law enforcement agencies, due to the need for access to County Attorney and Court facilities, records, and communication systems. The County requires pre-employment background checks. Successful candidates will receive a post-offer, pre-employment background screening to include verification of work history, education, and criminal conviction history. A prior criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify a candidate from employment with the County. Pima County determines whether a position is eligible for visa sponsorship at the time of recruitment. Eligibility is based on the requirements of the position and applicable laws and regulations. Not all positions with Pima County are eligible for visa sponsorship.

Physical/Sensory Requirements: Physical and sensory abilities will be determined by position.

Working Conditions: Working conditions will be determined by the position.

EEO Information: Pima County Government is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to an inclusive and diverse workforce and will not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, kinship, political interest, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

Why Work Here?

More Than a Job. A Place to Grow.

What if your next job could help you build a career while being part of something bigger? At Pima County, you’ll find meaningful work, room to grow and a team committed to serving the place we call home.

Find Your Place

With 7,000+ employees across 50+ departments, Team Pima does a lot to keep Pima County thriving. Whatever your skills, interests or career goals, there’s a place for you to put them to work.

Benefits That Support You

We offer a comprehensive benefits package and resources designed to support you and your family today and into the future.
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Keep Growing

Your career shouldn’t stand still. We invest in training, education and opportunities to learn new skills and move your career forward. And everything we do is grounded in being Accountable, Respectful, and Ethical.

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Be Part of Something Bigger.