Assistant County Administrative Officer

County of Mono; Bridgeport, Mammoth Lakes (CA, CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

CalPERS retirement

Deferred Compensation 457/401(a)

Vacation Leave

Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Merit Leave

Job summary

County of Mono is seeking an experienced Assistant CAO to supervise the administrative and support staff of the County Administrative Office and coordinate with other departments as needed. The role includes serving as Acting CAO when designated and acting as a key liaison to various committees.

The ideal candidate will be a collaborative leader with strong budget development skills, public administration knowledge, and the ability to guide strategic policy matters in a rural resort area.

Qualifications

• Six (6)+ years of experience in administrative and fiscal analysis in a public agency setting.
• Experience managing and supervising a major human services function is mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Supervise administrative and support staff of the County Administrative Office and oversee additional departments as needed.
• Serve as liaison to committees and develop recommendations and reports on operations and efficiency.
• Assist with budget requests, develop final expenditure recommendations, and present the budget to the Board of Supervisors.
• Attend Board meetings, advise on agenda items, and provide guidance to Department Heads and staff.
• Represent the CAO on assigned public, community organizations, and other government agency committees or activities.

Skills

Budget development

Leadership

Public administration

Administrative analysis

Stakeholder coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration

Master's degree in public administration

Job description

About the Position

Under the administrative direction of the County Administrative Officer, the Assistant CAO will supervise the administrative and support staff of the County Administrative Office. Additional departments may be assigned based on the selected candidate’s experience and organizational needs. The Assistant CAO will also serve as Acting County Administrative Officer when designated.

The Assistant CAO will serve as the County’s liaison to various committees, perform special studies and projects, and develop recommendations and reports on the operations and efficiency of the Mono County organization. Additional responsibilities may include assisting with budget requests, developing final expenditure recommendations, and presenting the budget to the Board of Supervisors. The Assistant CAO may also attend Board of Supervisors meetings, provide recommendations on agenda items, meet with Department Heads, answer questions, and provide guidance and assistance.

The Assistant CAO will also assist with responding to resident requests and complaints and represent the CAO on assigned public, community organization, and other government agency committees or activities.

The Ideal Candidate

The CAO seeks a local government professional who is a team player, responsive, discreet, professional, kind, and committed to open, honest communication. The next Assistant CAO will be a confident leader who understands local government and can work effectively with the CAO and the Board of Supervisors to provide feedback, guidance, and recommendations on critical policy matters.

The ideal candidate will lead collaboratively, mentor others, and demonstrate a commitment to developing internal leaders and talent while supporting performance improvement. This individual will be diplomatic, politically astute, experienced in the budget development process, skilled in project management, and proficient at managing multiple priorities. The Assistant CAO must work effectively and independently while understanding when to keep the CAO informed of critical matters.

The ideal candidate will have knowledge of, or experience in, public agency finance and budgeting, human resources, succession planning, community development and planning, housing, infrastructure and capital investments, and emergency response. Experience in rural communities or resort areas with economies heavily reliant on recreation is desired.

Candidates with a demonstrated track record of excellent internal and external customer service and strong administrative and leadership experience in communities of similar size, scope, and complexity are encouraged to apply. Ideal backgrounds include service as a County Administrator, Assistant or Deputy County Administrator, City Manager or Assistant City Manager, or County Department Head.

Candidates who enjoy the wilderness and outdoor activities and have a passion for local government will appreciate the opportunity to work with a supportive CAO and Board of Supervisors, engaged residents, and committed staff in a resort community with breathtaking beauty.

Mono County is a rural region with a community of approximately 13,000 residents, located on the eastern side of California's Sierra Nevada Range. Known as "California's Great Beyond", this natural playground offers a wide range of amenities and activities, making it an ideal place to live and work.

Mono County, California's Great Beyond

Dramatic mountain boundaries enclose more than 3,000 square miles of diverse landscapes, including forests of Jeffrey and lodgepole pine, junipers and aspen groves, hundreds of lakes, alpine meadows, streams and rivers, and sage-covered high desert. The County is conveniently accessed by the state-designated Scenic Byway, U.S. Highway 395, and is serviced by Mammoth Yosemite Airport, providing commercial air service to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, and San Diego.

Mono County, California's Eastern Sierra

With serene natural beauty, year-round recreational activities, safe communities, and a wide variety of lodging, restaurants, cafés, and shops, Mono County is an ideal place for those who enjoy fresh air, clean water, snowboarding and skiing, biking, and paddling a kayak along the shores of Mono Lake. For more information, please visit the County of Mono’s website at www.monocounty.ca.gov.

Benefits

The benefits associated with this position are those provided to employees in the At-Will/Management category and include the following.

• Medical Insurance:
  Choice of CalPERS medical plans, including:
  • PERS Gold (95% of the premium covered by the County), or
  • PERS Platinum (80% of the premium covered by the County)
• Dental Insurance: County-paid dental coverage (100% of premium)
• Vision Insurance: County-paid vision coverage (100% of premium)
• Life Insurance: Free basic term life and AD&D insurance in the amount of $50,000
• Retirement: CalPERS retirement with benefits calculated at 2% at age 62, subject to applicable law and employee contributions (Existing CalPERS members may a have different formula)
• Deferred Compensation:
  Optional 457 and/or 401(a) plan, with up to a 5% County match. Incumbents are automatically vested.
• Vacation Leave(Full-Time, At-will employees:);
  • Initial Employment: At-Will employees can accrue 15 vacation days per year
  • After 10 years of service: 17 days per year
  • After 15 years of service: 19 days per year
  • After 20 years of service: 20 days per year* Maximum vacation accrual is 400 hours, subject to County policy.

• Sick Leave: Accrued at rate of eight (8) hours of sick leave for each calendar month of full-time service. Maximum sick time accrual is 960 hours, subject to County policy.
• Paid Holiday Time Off: up to fifteen (15) paid County holidays annually
• Merit Leave: 80 hours per calendar year (prorated based on remainder of calendar year; no carryover; no cash value), subject to County policy.

Minimum Qualifications

The minimum qualifications include at least six (6) years of experience performing a variety of administrative and fiscal analysis work, preferably including experience in a public agency involving the development and administration of programs, budgets, and public services. Specific experience and background in managing and supervising a major human services function, such as mental health, public health, or social services, is mandatory.

Desirable Qualifications

Advanced educational training in subjects related to the development and administration of county government is highly desirable, including a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a closely related field. An appropriate master’s degree is also highly desirable.

Recruitment Process

Search Schedule

Filing Deadline....................................................................... November 20, 2026
Preliminary Interviews................................................... December 10 & 11, 2026
Recommendation of Candidates.........................................December 14, 2026
Finalists Interviews......................................................... December 17 & 18, 2026

*These dates have been confirmed, and it is recommended that you plan your calendar accordingly.