County Administrator

Warren County; Front Royal (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Warren County, Virginia, seeks a County Administrator to serve as chief administrative and operating officer, guiding programs and operations across county government, reviewing budget requests, preparing and administering the budget, and aligning staffing with the county's strategic direction.

The administrator will attend Board meetings, provide timely policy and governance advice, coordinate with constitutional officers, and help rebuild after governance challenges, bringing strategic vision

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; master's preferred but not required.
• Experience as a County Administrator or in a similarly demanding leadership role will be viewed favorably.
• Residency in the County is required. Relocation is negotiable.
• Strong ability to lead a public organization, advise elected officials, and manage complexity.

Responsibilities

• Lead County government as chief administrative and operating officer.
• Review departmental budget requests and prepare the proposed County budget.
• Administer the adopted budget and align resources with strategic direction.
• Advise the Board of Supervisors and provide timely, accurate policy guidance.
• Coordinate with constitutional officers and represent the County in external meetings.

Skills

Executive leadership

Public policy insight

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Master's degree in public administration or related field

Job description

The Position

Warren County is seeking a County Administrator with the experience, judgment, and commitment to lead a complex local government through a consequential period. The County Administrator serves as the County's chief administrative and operating officer, advising the Board of Supervisors while directing programs and operations across County government. The role includes reviewing departmental budget requests, preparing and submitting the proposed County budget, administering the adopted budget, and helping ensure that resources, staffing, and operations align with the County's strategic direction. The position combines executive leadership, fiscal stewardship, organizational management, and highly visible public service.

The County Administrator attends and participates in Board of Supervisors meetings, committee meetings, and public hearings; prepares written reports and recommendations; and provides the Board with timely, accurate, and practical advice on policy, operations, and governance. The role also requires close coordination with constitutional officers, support for Board-appointed committees and task forces, and representation of the County in meetings with local, state, and federal agencies and organizations. The County Administrator must connect policy direction with operational execution and help maintain clear, professional working relationships throughout the organization.

This recruitment comes at a pivotal time, and the Board is committed to approaching it honestly. Warren County experienced years of stable administrative leadership, followed by a serious institutional strain: a major economic development investigation that resulted in criminal indictments and civil litigation, a prolonged audit backlog, and leadership turnover in the Administrator's role. The County is working through the aftermath of those years and is ready to move forward. The next County Administrator will need strategic perspective and day-to-day discipline and will find a community and staff that are genuinely ready to rebuild.

Qualifications

The position requires, at minimum, a bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field from an accredited college or university. A master's degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field is preferred, but not required.

The Board is seeking candidates with significant and progressively responsible leadership experience in local government or in another complex organization that demonstrates comparable executive, operational, and financial responsibility. Experience as a County Administrator, Deputy County Administrator, assistant manager, department director, or in a similarly demanding leadership role will be viewed favorably. The strongest candidates will demonstrate the capacity to lead a public organization, advise elected officials effectively, manage through complexity, and commit to the position with a long-term perspective.

Residency in the County is required. Relocation is negotiable.