Deputy Executive Officer - Budget and Finance

County of Ventura; Ventura (CA); On-site; USD 159,000 - 222,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

General salary increase

Educational incentive

Retirement benefits

Health plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Annual leave

Leave redemption

Paid holidays

Deferred compensation

Other benefits

Job summary

County of Ventura is seeking a Deputy Executive Officer to lead cross-departmental priorities, manage capital and budget programs, and supervise staff within the County Executive Office. The role emphasizes strategic planning, policy development, and strong communication across departments.

Ideal candidates bring extensive budget/financial experience and proven leadership, with a track record of delivering complex projects on time while maintaining fiscal stability for county operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and at least five (5) years of budget, financial, or capital/land-use experience.
• Experience supervising employees and leading staff across fiscal/budget programs.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Recommends policy, defines and implements procedures, and administers budgets of program areas and divisions to ensure quality services.
• Leads development of training documentation for staff and supervises division staff.
• Oversees executive projects and ad hoc policy assignments from the CEO.
• Coordinates cross-departmental workflows and ensures aligned administrative processes.

Skills

Written communication

Verbal communication

Budget management

Staff supervision

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Benefits

The County of Ventura offers an attractive compensation and benefits package. The salary range for this position is $158,650 to $222,132 annually, DOQ. An employee in this position will also be eligible for the following:

• General Salary Increase: A general salary increase of 3.5%, effective December 20, 2026, and another 3.5% effective December 19, 2027.
• Educational Incentive: May be eligible for 2.5%, 3.5%, or 5%, based on completion of an associate, bachelor's, or graduate degree from an accredited institution, not required for the position.
• Retirement / Social Security: Defined retirement benefits vest after 5 years of service. The County and you each contribute to Social Security. For more information, visit: www.vcera.org. If you are eligible, you may establish reciprocity with other public retirement systems, such as CalPERS.
• Health Plans: Medical, dental, and vision plans for you and your dependents. A flexible credit allowance of up to $1,024.11 biweekly.
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Increase your spending power by reimbursing you with pre-tax dollars for IRS-approved dependent care and health care expenses.
• Annual Leave: 248 hours earned per year, increasing to 288 hours after 5 years of service, to 328 hours after 10 years of service, and to 368 hours after 15 years of service.
• Annual Leave Redemption: The ability to "cash out" or redeem up to 160 hours of Annual Leave per year after using 80 hours.
• Holidays: 13 paid days per year, including 1 floating holiday to use at your discretion.
• Deferred Compensation: You may elect to contribute to one or both of the County's deferred compensation plans (established under Internal Revenue Code sections 401(k) and 457). If you participate in the County-sponsored 401(k) plan, the County will match part of your contribution up to 3% of your salary, on a per-pay-period basis. Following 5 years of continuous County service, an additional 2% non-elective contribution will be made to the 401(k) plan.
• Other Benefits include: Disability Plans; Employee Assistance Program; County-paid Life Insurance; Tuition Reimbursement; Benefit Reimbursement Program; Wellness Program; and WorkLife Program, which includes child care and elder care referrals.

The Position

The selected candidate’s roles and responsibilities include:

• Leads cross-departmental working groups to execute CEO and Board of Supervisors priorities and strategic initiatives.
• Oversees the lifecycle management of major county capital improvement projects and programs, including large-scale infrastructure developments.
• Leads a team that sets the County’s strategic capital outlay and land use planning outlook, oversees high-priority capital projects, and advances regional sustainability efforts.
• Engages in inter-departmental workflows and implements standardized administrative processes across county agencies to ensure coordinated and effective service delivery.
• Manages high-priority executive projects and ad hoc policy assignments directly assigned by the Chief Executive Officer, ensuring timely and effective execution.
• Oversees real estate acquisition opportunities and analysis, property management, and facility allocation strategies for county-owned assets.
• Leads efforts to optimize operational performance, service delivery, and fiscal stability through inter-departmental initiatives, policy development, and strategic planning.
• Directs the development and implementation of countywide policies, procedures, and programs, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

The ideal candidate will have exceptional written and verbal communication skills, be a seasoned budget and management professional, and have experience supervising and leading staff engaged in a broad range of fiscal and budget program functions. In addition, the candidate will provide excellent customer service, anticipate problems and develop proactive solutions, provide positive leadership through staff development, and foster teamwork, a strong work ethic, and collaboration among staff and County departments.

AGENCY/DEPARTMENT

County Executive Office

PAYROLL TITLE:

Deputy Executive Officer

This position is at-will and excluded from the provisions of the Civil Service Ordinance. Incumbents in this classification are eligible for benefits at the MB2 level.

Recruitment Schedule:

This position is open on a continuous basis; applicants are encouraged to apply promptly for immediate consideration. This position may close without notice.

Review of Application Materials:

The first review of application materials will occur the week of October 26, 2026. Application materials submitted after that date will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The County reserves the right to advance exceptionally qualified candidates forward in the process at any time, regardless of the review schedule. All relevant experience, training, and education must be included to determine eligibility.

Examples Of Duties

• Recommends policy, defines and implements procedures, and administers the budgets of the program areas and division assignments to ensure the quality and continuity of services to CEO, agencies, and departments;
• Leads the development of training documentation for staff and supervises and evaluates division staff;
• Leads staff assignments that are complex and sensitive in nature
• Interprets and applies policies, rules, and procedures; analyzes legislation and regulations;
• Leads a capital management team that creates and implements the strategic development of County land and properties
• Represents the Department/Division in meetings, conferences, workshops, and other forums; may confer with representatives of other governmental jurisdictions and private firms to exchange related information;
• Assists in the formulation of policy, goals, and objectives for the Department/Division while performing a variety of administrative tasks
• Represents the County before the Board of Supervisors, Grand Jury, and the Civil Service Commission, or other groups or organizations;
• Coordinates, directs, and conducts special projects, studies, surveys, and analyses as needed;
• Develops and implements new or modified policies, programs, methods, and procedures to resolve management challenges; researches and presents findings and recommendations for changes in policies and practices to management;
• Staffs and/or coordinates work groups or committees in assigned program areas;
• Responsible for developing and updating the County’s Admin Manual, the B&F’s Desktop Manual for analysts, and other internal strategic documentation
• Represents the Department on various committees and work groups in areas such as County policy development, disaster coordination, or other areas depending on assignment;
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess an educational and employment background with considerable experience in a CEO work unit or related field which has led to the acquisition of the required knowledge, skills and abilities. The required knowledge, skills, and abilities can be obtained by completion of a Bachelor's degree AND at least five (5) years of budget, financial, or capital/land-use experience, including experience with the supervision of employees.

Competencies

• Take independent action and appropriate, calculated risks.
• Make sound, accurate decisions under pressure.
• Communicate your findings and recommendations persuasively to a variety of audiences.
• Prioritize competing timelines, ensuring each project receives appropriate time and consideration.
• Meet obligations and commitments.
• Communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal forms.
• Supervise staff effectively, including accurately assessing staffing levels and training needs, leveraging staff's strengths, and taking appropriate corrective or disciplinary action as necessary.
• Demonstrate leadership and integrity even when challenged by highly stressful or crisis situations.
• Gain and maintain credibility with superiors, co-workers, the public, and managers.

Recruitment Process

• Budget Preparation & Management: Your experience preparing, analyzing, and managing budgets, including the total dollar size, funding sources, and complexity of those budgets;
• Legislative & Regulatory Analysis: Your experience analyzing and interpreting legislation and regulations, as well as determining their fiscal and operational impact on a specific jurisdiction;
• Staff Leadership & Development: Your experience managing, directing, and training staff, including the titles, team sizes, and primary functions of the staff you have supervised; and
• Public & Board Presentations: Your experience preparing and delivering presentations to governing boards, elected officials, professional organizations, and the public.

Interview Process

Well-qualified candidates, as evidenced by their résumés, may be invited to an initial screening interview, which may be conducted by phone, one-way video, or another format at the County's discretion. Candidates who advance will be invited to an in-person panel interview, and top finalists will then meet with the Director of the Health Care Agency and the County Executive Officer for a final interview. The interview process may be consolidated or expanded based on the size and quality of the candidate pool.

Background Investigation

The selected candidate may be subject to a thorough background investigation, which may include inquiries into past employment, education, criminal history, and driving record. In addition, the successful candidate will undergo DOJ/FBI Live Scan fingerprinting.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The County of Ventura is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants regardless of age, ancestry, color, disability, family or medical leave status, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital or medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy‑related conditions), or sexual orientation.

For more information about this position, please contact Bill Friedel at (805) 654‑2419 or at [e-mail].