Assistant County Manager

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 1800 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 270000 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 Countys governing body is the seven-member Board of County Commissioners serve staggered four-year terms through partisan elections. Buncombe County operates under the CountyManager 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 10000 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 Countys 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: 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.

Minimum Education Training and/or Experience (required at time of hire):
Masters 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.

Essential Functions of the position:

• 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.

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

• 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.

Organization Conformance Standards for all positions:

• 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 Countys 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 employees 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.

The selected candidate for this position will be compensated in alignment with County policy and practice. The County Manager reserves the right to make salary determinations in accordance with policy and internal equity.

In order to uphold internal pay parity and equity salaries are non-negotiable for new and current Buncombe County employees. All new employees are paid according to their years of relevant education and experience above minimum requirements for the position and employees have the opportunity to obtain pay increases via cost of living increases and promotions.

Buncombe County Government realizes the importance of a diverse professional workforce and the need to foster a responsive and innovative organizational culture one that fully engages all of our employees honoring and building on each employees unique experiences opinions and perspective.

It is the policy of Buncombe County to provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all persons regardless of race natural hair or hairstyles ethnicity creed color sex sexual orientation gender identity or expression national origin or ancestry marital or familial status pregnancy veteran status religious belief or non-belief age or disability or any other legally protected class under federal or NC State law. EEO practices and employment decisions regarding recruitment hiring assignment promotion and compensation shall not be based on any of these protected addition the County expressly prohibits any form of workplace harassment or discrimination.