County Administrator

Ellis, County of (TX); Waxahachie (TX); On-site; USD 149,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Benefits package

Job summary

Ellis County in Texas seeks a County Administrator to serve as the chief administrative and operational officer, guiding day-to-day county government operations under the Commissioners Court's direction. The role leads coordination across departments to achieve priorities with transparency and fiscal responsibility.

Qualified candidates will have a bachelor's (public administration or related field) and at least 10 years of management experience, including oversight of budgets and capital

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in public administration or related field required.
• Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible management experience, including at least 5 years as a department head or equivalent.
• Experience with budgeting, capital improvement planning, and strategic planning.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Chief Administrative Officer responsible for executive management of county departments.
• Provide strategic leadership for long-range planning and organizational effectiveness.
• Advise Commissioners Court on administrative, fiscal, and operational matters.
• Lead development and execution of countywide strategic goals.
• Oversee budgets, financial forecasting, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Coordinate among departments to ensure efficient service delivery.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Budgeting

Communication

Bilingual English/Spanish

Policy implementation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration

Master's degree preferred

Job description

ELLIS COUNTY INTERNAL APPLICANTS ONLY

Job Title: County Administrator

Department: Office of County Administrator

• Reports to: Commissioners Court
• Employment Type: Full-Time / Exempt
• Salary: $165,000 annually + county benefits package

Position Summary

The County Administrator serves as the chief administrative and operational officer of Ellis County and is responsible for the day-to-day oversight, coordination, and management of county government operations under the direction and authority of the Ellis County Commissioners Court. The County Administrator supports the strategic goals and policy directives established by the Commissioners Court by providing leadership, coordination, and operational oversight to county departments. The office works collaboratively with department leaders to help them achieve their goals and objectives while ensuring those efforts align with the priorities and direction established by the Commissioners Court. Through this coordinated approach, the County Administrator promotes efficient, transparent, and fiscally responsible delivery of county services.

The County Administrator provides leadership and coordination among county departments, facilitates long-range planning initiatives, oversees operational performance, and promotes effective stewardship of county resources. The position serves as a liaison between Ellis County, other county municipal governments, regional organizations, state and federal agencies, business leaders, community stakeholders, and the public. The County Administrator works closely with elected and appointed officials to ensure county operations are conducted in an efficient, accountable, and service-oriented manner.

Supervision Exercised

Directs and supervises personnel within the Office of the County Administrator and provides administrative and operational oversight of employees in departments assigned by the Commissioners Court.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Duties include the following:

• Serves as the appointed Chief Administrative Officer responsible for executive management of county departments assigned by the Commissioners Court and for ensuring implementation of adopted policies and priorities.
• Provides strategic leadership for long-range planning, growth management, organizational effectiveness, and continuous operational improvement.
• Advises the Commissioners Court on administrative, fiscal, operational, and organizational matters and provides professional recommendations to support policy decision-making.
• Leads development, coordination, and execution of countywide strategic goals, performance management initiatives, and operational priorities aligned with Commissioners Court direction.
• Directs coordination among departments to ensure efficient, consistent, and cost-effective delivery of county services.
• Oversees preparation, administration, and monitoring of the annual operating and capital budgets, including fiscal forecasting, expenditure controls, and identification of cost‑saving opportunities.
• Provides administrative oversight and executive supervision of assigned departments, including organizational alignment, operational performance, and service delivery outcomes.
• Exercises hiring, supervision, evaluation, discipline, and termination authority for department heads and employees within departments assigned.
• Establishes performance metrics and accountability standards for departments and evaluates organizational effectiveness to maximize efficiency.
• Develops and implements administrative policies, procedures, and operational standards in support of Commissioners Court direction and county personnel policies.
• Facilitates communication and coordination among elected officials, department directors, and the Commissioners Court to advance countywide initiatives.
• Monitors legislative and regulatory developments, analyzes operational impacts, and ensures timely implementation of Court‑approved initiatives.
• Serves as liaison to municipalities, regional agencies, state and federal entities, and community stakeholders to promote intergovernmental collaboration.
• Oversee Commissioners Court administrative support functions, including agenda management and coordination, contract execution, and tracking of policy initiatives.
• Promotes a culture of professionalism, professional development, integrity, transparency, accountability, collaboration, and high‑performance service delivery across county operations, and performs other duties as assigned by the Commissioners Court.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Commissioners Court.

Position Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, Planning, Engineering, Finance, or a closely related field or equivalent experience.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), Public Policy, or related discipline preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible management or administrative leadership experience, preferably in local government or public sector administration, including at least five (5) years as a department head, assistant administrator/manager or equivalent.
• Must demonstrate a commitment to professional, nonpartisan public administration.
• Demonstrated experience in organizational leadership, strategic planning, budgeting, and operational oversight.
• Experience working with elected officials, governing boards, or executive‑level decision-makers.
• Proven ability to coordinate multiple departments and manage complex organizational initiatives.
• Experience in budget preparation, fiscal management, capital improvement planning, and strategic planning and budgeting.

Knowledge

• Public administration, organizational leadership, strategic planning, and performance management
• Texas county government, including Commissioners Court functions and elected officials' roles
• Government budgeting, financial management, and capital improvement planning
• Federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies affecting county operations
• Human resources, contract administration, project management, and organizational effectiveness
• Intergovernmental relations and regional collaboration

Skills

• Executive leadership and organizational management
• Strategic planning, policy implementation, and change management
• Budget development, financial analysis, and fiscal oversight
• Written and verbal communication, including presenting complex information clearly; bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred
• Stakeholder engagement, consensus building, negotiation, and conflict resolution
• Analytical problem‑solving, data‑driven decision‑making, and performance measurement
• Managing multiple priorities in a complex, multi‑department environment

Abilities

• Provide objective, professional advice to the Commissioners Court
• Translate policy into effective operational outcomes and align departments toward shared goals
• Foster accountability, collaboration, and high‑performance across departments
• Build productive relationships with elected officials, department heads, employees, and external partners
• Evaluate organizational effectiveness and recommend improvements
• Exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and lead with integrity, transparency, and professionalism in a politically sensitive environment

Certifications & Licenses

• Professional certification, such as Certified Public Manager (CPM), Credentialed Manager (ICMA‑CM), or similar professional certification preferred.
• Membership in relevant professional organizations, such as the International City/County Management Association or National Association of County Administrators (NACA) preferred
• Must pass a criminal background check.
• Valid Class “C” Texas Driver’s License with acceptable driving record required.

Working Conditions

The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Office-based position in a county government setting with frequent interaction with the public, county officials, and staff.

• Occasional evening and weekend work may be required to attend meetings and/or community events.

• Ability to travel to various locations within the county and region, as needed.
• Must be available for after‑hours and weekend emergencies.
• Frequently required to stand and walk and may occasionally reach with hands and arms.
• The position may require occasional lifting or moving of items up to 25 pounds.
• The required vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Note: This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, or qualifications associated with the position. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties as necessary to meet organizational needs

Acknowledgement

I, affirm that I have reviewed and understood the responsibilities, qualifications, and expectations outlined in this job description. Furthermore, I agree to perform the duties described herein in accordance with the county’s policies and procedures, if selected for this role.