County Administrator

Job Description

County Administrator | Cal-ICMA

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at Cal-ICMA, promoting a position located in Lincoln County, OR. Lincoln County is a popular destination on the Oregon coast, known for its diverse natural beauty including rocky cliffs, sandy beaches, navigable rivers, and lush rainforests, home to approximately 50,000 residents across seven unique incorporated cities. The County Administrator role is central to managing county operations for this vibrant community. It involves implementing Board of Commissioners’ policy and providing highly responsible administrative support to ensure the effective and efficient functioning of Lincoln County government, which employs 526 individuals and manages a 2026-2027 budget of $213 million.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full Time
• Location: In-person, Lincoln County, OR
• Pay: $165149–$221945 yearly
• Team: Reports to the Board of Commissioners and supervises non-elected department directors.
• Mission: Lead county operations by implementing Board of Commissioners’ policy and providing comprehensive administrative support to county government.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Strategic Oversight: Manage all county operations, encompassing departments such as Health & Human Services, Public Works, Planning & Development, Finance & Accounting, and Information Technology, ensuring alignment with county goals.
• Policy Execution: Implement and oversee the execution of policies established by the Board of Commissioners (BOC) across all county activities and operations.
• Government Leadership: Plan, organize, direct, and control the broad range of activities and services provided by Lincoln County government, which serves a population of approximately 50,862 residents.
• Legislative Support: Develop and present well-researched policy recommendations for the Board of Commissioners’ consideration, providing comprehensive and complex administrative support to facilitate their decision-making.
• Departmental Supervision: Directly supervise the non-elected department directors, fostering a strong management team that collaborates closely with elected officials to achieve county objectives.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, public administration, or political science, with experience at an executive level in municipal government.
• Experience: Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible administrative or staff experience in municipal government, including at least five years in municipal administration and three years of high-level administrative responsibility at a department head or Assistant City Manager level or above.
• Skills: Public administration, operational leadership, policy analysis and implementation, administrative support, departmental oversight.
• Bonus: Master’s degree in a related field or previous Oregon county administration experience is preferred.