County Manager

County Manager

County of Person, NC

Person County is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and effective leader to serve as its next County Manager. This executive leadership opportunity offers an experienced local government professional the opportunity to lead a strong organization, work closely with an engaged and committed Board of Commissioners, strengthen partnerships throughout the community, and help shape the County's future. The County Manager will provide strategic organizational leadership, ensure the effective delivery of County Services, and translate the Board's goals into action while supporting sound, responsive and accountable county government.

Position Overview:

• Annual County Budget: $88.6 million FY 2027 adopted budget
• County Workforce: Oversees a workforce of 454 full-time employees and 193 part-time employees
• Direct Reports: Currently there are 14 positions: the Assistant County Manager, Clerk to the Board, Tax Administrator, Finance Director, IT Director, HR Director, General Services Director, Economic Development Director, Inspections Director, Planning/Zoning Director, GIS Director, Emergency Services Director, Public Information Officer, and Health Director. Person County has a total of 28 departments, and this direct report structure may change at the discretion of the County Manager.
• Governance & Oversight: Reports directly to the five-member Board of County Commissioners while working closely with County staff, community partners, and residents.

About the Organization, Department and Position:

Person County is entering an important period of economic development and investment. The next County Manager will play a key role in guiding the organization through this period. The County is focused on strengthening its tax base, addressing long-term capital needs, and preserving the rural character and quality of life that define the community, while navigating potential development surrounding Microsoft's 1,385-acre data center site, continued development of the Person County Airport, and the proposed Person County Multimodal Rail Trail. Major investment proposed from Duke Energy (who has been here since 1965), Enbridge and other advanced manufacturing investments and expansions are taking place that further demonstrates a priority to continue preservation of our history and community culture.

The County Manager will be a key partner to the Board of Commissioners, providing executive leadership and professional management of County operations. The Manager will work across the organization to support effective decision-making, strong communication, accountability, and alignment of staffing and resources with Board priorities. With Board elections taking place in November, the next County Manager will have the opportunity to build relationships with the incoming Board and help establish a strong, cohesive partnership between the Board and County staff.

The County Manager is responsible for:

• Providing executive leadership and professional management of County operations.
• Supporting department heads and employees and fostering effective communication, accountability, and collaboration throughout the organization.
• Working with the Board, County staff, community partners, and residents to advance County priorities and support the effective management of County resources.

Person County's vision is to be a "safe, thriving, and diverse community where people come to live, work, learn, play, serve, and grow." Guided by the values of Community, Professionalism, Transparency, Opportunity, and Stewardship, the next County Manager will provide the leadership needed to advance this vision while building on the County's strong organizational culture and planning for its future.

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Note: A master's degree in public administration (MPA), business administration (MBA), or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Five to seven (5-7) years of progressively responsible experience in county or municipal government administration, including experience serving as an assistant county/municipal manager, manager, or in a comparable senior management role such as a department head of in an equally sized or larger organization.
• Demonstrated government financial management experience.
• Strongly prefer experience in economic development, with a demonstrated record of verifiable successes.
• Strongly prefer experience working in or with a rural community, including an understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with rural economic development.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Certification preferred.

Please note: Residency within Person County is required for this position and the timeline will be negotiated at time of hire.

Salary and Benefits:

• Hiring Range: $139,465 -$178,711. Maximum of range is $217,956 (Starting salary depends on qualifications and experience.)
• Benefits: Person County provides a comprehensive benefits package, including:

o Health, Dental & Vision Insurance

o Participation in the N.C. Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, plus an Empower 401(k) plan with a 5% County contribution.

o Life Insurance

o Paid Leave

o Tuition reimbursement, longevity pay, merit increases, and certification incentives.

o Wellness programs, including low-cost gym membership and structured walking and workout programs, plus up to 24 hours of paid volunteer leave annually.