County Manager – Person County, NC

Developmental Associates, LLC; Roxboro (NC); On-site; USD 139,000 - 179,000; Full time

Job summary

The County of Person in North Carolina seeks a strategic County Manager to lead a 454 FTE workforce, oversee an $88.6 million FY2027 budget, and steward county services in partnership with a five-member Board of Commissioners. The ideal candidate will translate board priorities into action, reinforce accountability, and guide the organization through a period of growth while preserving rural character.

Residency within Person County is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Master’s degree in public administration (MPA), business administration (MBA), or related field strongly preferred.
• Five to seven (5-7) years of progressively responsible experience in county/municipal government administration.
• Demonstrated government financial management experience.
• Experience in economic development preferred; rural community experience valued.
• ICMA Certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and professional management of County operations.
• Support department heads and employees to foster accountability and collaboration.
• Work with the Board, staff, partners, and residents to advance priorities and manage resources.

Skills

Public administration

Budgeting

Leadership

Collaboration

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field

Master's degree in public administration or MBA preferred

Tools

ICMA Certification

Job description

About Us

and growth while preserving its rural character.

Person County is seeking a strategic, collaborative, and effective leader to serve as its next County Manager. This executive leadership opportunity offers an experienced local government professional the opportunity to lead a strong organization, work closely with an engaged and committed Board of Commissioners, strengthen partnerships throughout the community, and help shape the County’s future. The County Manager will provide strategic organizational leadership, ensure the effective delivery of County Services, and translate the Board’s goals into action while supporting sound, responsive and accountable county government.

Position Overview

• Annual County Budget: $88.6 million FY 2027 adopted budget
• County Workforce: Oversees a workforce of 454 full-time employees and 193 part-time employees
• Direct Reports: Currently there are 14 positions: the Assistant County Manager, Clerk to the Board, Tax Administrator, Finance Director, IT Director, HR Director, General Services Director, Economic Development Director, Inspections Director, Planning/Zoning Director, GIS Director, Emergency Services Director, Public Information Officer, and Health Director. Person County has a total of 28 departments, and this direct report structure may change at the discretion of the County Manager.
• Governance & Oversight: Reports directly to the five-member Board of County Commissioners while working closely with County staff, community partners, and residents.

About The Community

Located in North Carolina’s northern Piedmont, Person County offers its nearly 41,000 residents a distinctive blend of rolling hills, farmland, forests, lakes, and rural character, while providing convenient access to the economic and cultural opportunities of the Triangle. Roxboro, the county seat, offers a charming uptown area with local shops, restaurants, historic sites, and year-round community events.

Outdoor recreation is a defining part of life in Person County. The County is home to Hyco and Mayo lakes, offering opportunities for boating, fishing, hiking, camping, and enjoying the outdoors. Mayo Lake Park includes cabins, camping, hiking trails, paddle craft rentals, and an 18-hole disc golf course, while Hyco Lake Park features more than 3,750 acres of water, nature trails, bird watching, pickleball, and other recreational opportunities.

The community also offers a strong connection to its history, arts, and local culture, with attractions including the Person County Museum of History, Kirby Cultural Arts Center and Gallery, local wineries, community festivals, farmers markets, and a variety of parks and recreational facilities. Person County is home to North Carolina’s oldest county recreation department, with programs dating to the 1940s and full County funding beginning in 1961. Today, Recreation, Arts & Parks provides a wide range of athletic, cultural, community, and outdoor programs throughout the County.

Duties/Responsibilities

The next County Manager will play a key role in guiding the organization through this period.

The County Manager Is Responsible For

• Providing executive leadership and professional management of County operations.
• Supporting department heads and employees and fostering effective communication, accountability, and collaboration throughout the organization.
• Working with the Board, County staff, community partners, and residents to advance County priorities and support the effective management of County resources.

Key Position Priorities

• Executive Leadership: Build a strong, collaborative relationship with the Board, foster a cohesive governing body, establish clear boundaries between elected officials and staff, and help commissioners understand their roles and responsibilities.
• Financial Management & Budget: Work with the Board to align staffing, resources, and the budget with Board priorities, realistic service levels, and tax objectives.
• Staff Leadership & Organizational Culture: Build on a culture of engagement, trust, transparency, and leadership empowerment by supporting and developing department heads and employees, respecting their expertise, and fostering accountability.
• Economic Development: Lead economic development efforts, build relationships with state and federal leaders and community partners, balance growth and development with Person County’s rural character, and strengthen the County’s economic development capacity, including filling the Economic Development Director position during the first year.
• Capital Planning & Investment: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of County facility needs and develop and implement a 5-, 10-, and 15-year capital needs and spending plan addressing facility upgrades, renovations, replacements, infrastructure, and other long-term capital needs.

Qualifications

Minimum and Preferred Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field.
• Note: A master’s degree in public administration (MPA), business administration (MBA), or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Five to seven (5-7) years of progressively responsible experience in county or municipal government administration, including experience serving as an assistant county/municipal manager, manager, or in a comparable senior management role such as a department head of in an equally sized or larger organization.
• Demonstrated government financial management experience.
• Strongly prefer experience in economic development, with a demonstrated record of verifiable successes.
• Strongly prefer experience working in or with a rural community, including an understanding of the opportunities and challenges associated with rural economic development.
• International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Certification preferred.

Residency within Person County is required for this position and the timeline will be negotiated at time of hire.

Person County’s vision is to be a "safe, thriving, and diverse community where people come to live, work, learn, play, serve, and grow". Guided by the values of Community, Professionalism, Transparency, Opportunity, and Stewardship, the next County Manager will provide the leadership needed to advance this vision while building on the County’s strong organizational culture and planning for its future.

Expected hiring range for this position is $139,465-$178,711, with a salary range maximum of $217,956. Salary will be offered depending on qualifications and experience.