HAMILTON COUNTY (CINCINNATI), OHIO
The Board of Commissioners is seeking a very unique, cutting edge and talented individual for the Hamilton County Administrator position. The Commissioners want a visionary leader who can conceptualize and develop creative approaches to county management and lead a positive change effort for the future. The successful individual will possess considerable experience in strategic planning, creative financing and performance-based budgeting. The County is seeking a person who can be a highly effective steward of public dollars, while managing a large complex organization. The successful candidate will excel in benchmarking and applying noteworthy techniques of high performing public and private sector organizations, in developing high quality customer service, in further developing and instituting performance measures, merging functions and organizations and improving and streamlining processes. These improved approaches will be facilitated through the application of enhanced technology, developing and implementing e-government services, instituting gainsharing, managed competition, increased staff development and other innovative approaches to the delivery of needed public services. It is required that the successful candidate possess a Bachelor of Arts or Science degree in Public or Business Administration or a related field, with a Master of Public Administration, Business Administration or related degree preferred. The successful candidate should have also continued his/her professional development as evidenced by active participation in professional membership associations such as ICMA and similar state or private sector organizations. An individual who is an ICMA Credentialed Public Manager would be a plus. The successful individual for the Hamilton County Administrator position should possess five to seven years of responsible experience as county or city manager or administrator, deputy or assistant county or city manager or administrator or related experience in a comparably sized, complex county government or related private sector top leadership experience required. The successful candidate should be a change agent who can lead the County toward the future in a positive way. The selected individual should have a positive track record of dealing effectively with creative financing, intergovernmental relations and utilizing technology to improve processes and practices in the workplace. In 1963, the Board of County Commissioners created the appointive office of County Administrator, authorized by the Ohio Revised Code. Section 305-29 of the Code describes the County Administrator as the "administrative head of the County under the direction and supervision of the Board." The statutory duties of the County Administrator include assisting in the administration, enforcement and execution of Board policies and preparation of the County budget. In 1983, the Board, by resolution, formalized the powers and duties enunciated in the Statute and approved a reorganization of the County Administrator’s office which delegated a significant part of the administrative responsibilities of County government over which the Commissioners have jurisdiction to the County Administrator. The County Administrator serves at the pleasure of the Board of County Commissioners and directly supervises 11 professional Department Heads who manage the County Departments of Building Inspections, Communication Center, Administrative Services, Community Development, Public Works, Environmental Services, County Facilities, County Personnel, Job and Family Services and Regional Planning/Rural Zoning. Candidates from all areas will be considered. However, top management experience in a large complex urban county or equivalent private sector experience is preferred. The current Board of County Commissioners is composed of Commissioner Phil Heimlich, President; Commissioner Pat DeWine, Vice President; Commissioner Todd Portune. The Board of County Commissioners has recently instituted a Secret Shopper Program to allow citizens to anonymously evaluate and critique County services. A report card to the Community is also in the process of being developed. The total recommended 2005 General Fund budget for the Hamilton County Board of County Commissioners is $247.1 million. Hamilton County has a total of 5851 full time employees. There are 1874 employees under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners. The Board of County Commissioners has collective bargaining agreements in place with five labor unions, covering a total of 1120 County employees. For additional information on Hamilton County Government, please see www.hamilton-co.org. Hamilton County is centrally located and is approximately 100 miles, give or take, from Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington and Louisville. The County is a regional financial and commercial hub and is home to 10 Fortune 500 corporations including Proctor & Gamble, Kroger, Fifth Third Bank and Federated Department Stores. The 2000 Census population for Hamilton County is 845,303 of which about 39 percent reside in Cincinnati. For more information about Hamilton County as a place to live and work, please see www.CincinnatiUSA.org. The starting salary for the new County Administrator is open, depending on the experience and qualifications of the selected individual. The salary will be market competitive for a top executive of the caliber that the County expects to attract. In addition, Hamilton County expects to provide a relocation allowance and a competitive fringe benefit package to the successful candidate. Brochure available from The Mercer Group. Resumes should be sent by close of business June 6, 2005, to: James L. Mercer, President, The Mercer Group, Inc. 5579B Chamblee Dunwoody Road, #511, Atlanta, GA 30338. Voice: 770-551-0403; Fax: 770-399-9749; E-Mail: mercer@mindspring.com, Website: www.mercergroupinc.com. It should be noted that in keeping with the Ohio Open Records Law, resumes and other application materials may be subject to public disclosure. Hamilton County is an Equal Opportunity Employer.