ASSISTANT COUNTY MANAGER - CABARRUS COUNTY

Applicants are encouraged to apply early. The application review process will take place immediately and continue until the position is filled. This recruitment may close any time after the first review or when a sufficient number of qualified applications have been received.

Assistant County Manager:

$132,184.00 -$158,017.60 is our starting point but not our ending point. Let's talk today! Cabarrus County is willing to compensate the right candidate. Salary will be based on education, experience, and internal equity. Plus, a comprehensive benefits package.

Cabarrus County, North Carolina is conducting a comprehensive search for a results driven leader with a passion for public service to be our next Assistant County Manager. This is an exciting opportunity to provide leadership and support for one of the fastest growing and diverse counties in North Carolina.

We are looking for a collaborative and innovative professional with broad experience in operations, budgeting, and organizational effectiveness. The successful candidate will be detail-oriented, analytical, and a natural problem-solver who values teamwork, transparency, and continuous improvement.

The Assistant County Manager plays a critical role in driving Cabarrus County’s vision forward. This executive leader partners closely with the County Manager to shape strategy, oversee complex operations, and ensure the effective delivery of services. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and accountability, the role champions a high-performance culture, strengthens partnerships across the organization and community, and ensures resources are aligned with the County’s most important priorities.

The ideal candidate will be an effective communicator, able to convey ideas clearly in both verbal and written formats. They will present confidently to employees, community groups, advisory boards, and the Board of Commissioners. The Assistant County Manager will tailor communication strategies to fit diverse audiences, ensuring messages are accessible and well understood. They will approach challenges with creativity, flexibility, and a solutions-focused mindset.

This position provides strategic leadership to a portfolio of departments aligned with one or more service areas of the County. The Assistant County Manager serves as a connector between the County Manager’s Office, department leadership, community stakeholders, and partner agencies. Responsibilities include working with departments to develop and implement operational and budget goals, support strategic initiatives, and carry out programs and policies set by the Board of Commissioners and/or County Manager. The role also oversees key countywide initiatives that involve collaboration across departments and with external partners.

Beyond the Basics:

• Experience working in county government organizations.
• Broad experience in entity-wide budget, financial, human capital, program management, and operations.
• Experience in local government strategic planning.
• Demonstrated success working with both internal departments and external partners to build inclusive relationships that advance common goals.
• Demonstrated leadership, collaboration, decision-making, and technology skills.
• Knowledge of open data and integrated data systems concepts and experience operationalizing data to advance data-driven decision making and joint community interests
• Experience building organizational innovation capacity.
• Serving in a leadership role at the Department Head level in one or two of the following areas is strongly preferred: Constructions Management, Building Maintenance, Risk & Safety Management, Emergency Management, and Waste/Environmental Management.

About Cabarrus County, NC

With more than 230,000 residents, Cabarrus County is the ninth largest county in North Carolina. With 1300 employees in more than 32 departments, we provide vital public services as diverse as law enforcement, property assessment, water conservation, health and human services, codes enforcement, recreation activities and many more. The community relies on forward-thinking and innovative leaders to manage the rapid growth and service needs of our vibrant community.

Cabarrus County employs dedicated professionals committed to preserving the dignity and integrity of the workplace as well as protecting the rights of each employee. With a vase variety of different employment options, the County offers a lifetime of opportunities and careers! We offer a well-defined benefits package with a work life balance approach. Join us and discover a rich selection of health care options, robust retirement plans, and the flexibility to work, relax, and rejuvenate in order to reach your fullest personal and professional potential.

Cabarrus is home to Atrium Health Cabarrus and the North Carolina Research Campus. Other industries include biotechnology, healthcare, manufacturing, industrial and business parks, warehousing and distribution, entertainment and hospitality, retail, and aviation.

General Definition of Work:

Performs complex professional and difficult executive work assisting with a broad range of general administrative, operational and management functions of county government. Primary purpose of this role is to conduct and oversee a wide variety of projects by applying project/program management methodology. Work is performed under the general supervision of the County Manager. Supervision is exercised over County staff as assigned.

Examples of Duties

Essential Functions:

• Under the direction of the County Manager and Deputy County Manager, provides support and direction to County departments assigned by the County Manager. Work may be accomplished through department directors who manage operational details. Duties include short and long range planning, establishing effective and efficient systems and policies, budgetary direction and guidance, long range and capital improvement planning, and working closely with the County Manager and Deputy as members of the County Management Team on major initiatives and priorities.
• Performs research; provides information and analyses for decision making.
• Prepares reports and documents for the County Manager and Board of Commissioners.
• Conducts special projects, seeks methods for improving systems, and works with Board members and public officials from various jurisdictions on assigned issues.
• Coordinates and oversees budgetary and financial operations and/or special projects operations.
• Supervises subordinate personnel through the chain of command; supervisory duties may include instructing, assigning, reviewing and planning work of others; maintaining standards; coordinating activities; allocating personnel; reviewing employee concerns.
• Develops, plans and implements goals and objectives, policies and priorities for supervised departments.

(These are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work performed. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment to the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Typical Tasks:

• Develops and manages project timelines, budgets, financials, forecasts, spend, operating expense impacts.
• Serves as a primary liaison to department/service provider leaders to identify and prioritize initiatives, projects, and requested deliverables.
• Works directly and creates strategic partnerships with municipalities, businesses, non-profits, community groups and appointed boards.
• Reviews County contracts providing technical assessment, making recommendations, collaborating with the County Attorney and other parties as needed.
• Represents the County Manager and attends Board of Commissioners and other meetings as required.
• Maintains appropriate records and prepares reports.
• This position is considered essential under County policies and will be required to perform work before, during, and/or after emergency/disaster situations.
• Performs related tasks as required.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Comprehensive knowledge of public management and organization theories, principles, practices, laws and regulations of public management at the local level and budget preparation, approval and administration; comprehensive knowledge of the organization, function and methods of operation of the County's legislative, executive staff and operational departments; thorough knowledge of public finance processes and administration; thorough knowledge of project management, general construction principles, and operations management and logistics; general knowledge of the theories, principles and practices of public personnel administration; ability to analyze a variety of complex administrative problems, make sound recommendations for their solutions, prepare working procedures and develop budget estimates; ability to communicate ideas effectively orally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with public officials, civic and business leaders, Board of Commissioners, employees and the general public.

Minimum Education / Experience requirements

Education and Experience:

Requires graduation from an appropriately accredited college or university with major course work in public administration, business or field related to assigned functions and considerable experience. Experience in government administration preferred. Master’s degree in public administration or other relevant field is preferred. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.