County Administrator

County Administrator

Culpeper County, Virginia, is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as County Administrator, the chief administrative officer responsible for the overall management and operations of county government. This position reports directly to the seven-member Board of Supervisors and plays a pivotal role in implementing board policies, overseeing departmental functions, and ensuring efficient, transparent, and responsive public services. Following a significant multi-day network and systems outage in June 2025 that impacted critical services including E911, the County is in the midst of comprehensive technology modernization efforts across most systems to improve resilience, cybersecurity, and operational efficiency. The Administrator will lead these initiatives while serving as the County's representative on at least 10 boards, commissions, and committees. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in local government leadership, strategic planning, fiscal management, project management, and fostering community partnerships in a dynamic environment.

Job Functions

• Direct and supervise the day-to-day operations of all county departments and agencies under the Board's control, ensuring alignment with strategic goals and compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
• Prepare, administer, and present the annual operating and capital budgets; oversee fiscal management, revenue forecasting, and expenditure controls to maintain financial sustainability.
• Advise the Board of Supervisors on policy matters, long-range planning, economic development, and emerging issues; provide data-driven recommendations and facilitate informed decision-making.
• Manage and evaluate department heads and staff; promote professional development, performance accountability, and a collaborative organizational culture.
• Serve as the County's representative or liaison on several boards, commissions, and committees; foster intergovernmental and regional collaborations.
• Lead project management for major county initiatives, including infrastructure development, economic growth projects, and the ongoing modernization of technology systems to address vulnerabilities exposed by the June 2025 outage.
• Coordinate intergovernmental relations, including partnerships with state and federal agencies, regional organizations, and community stakeholders; represent the county in public forums and negotiations.
• Oversee the development and implementation of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), infrastructure projects, and technology modernization initiatives to support community growth and efficiency, with a focus on enhancing cybersecurity and system reliability post-2025 outage.
• Ensure effective risk management, procurement, grants administration, and enterprise resource planning; promote innovation and continuous improvement across operations.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Board of Supervisors to advance county governance and public service excellence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, political science, or a related field; Master's degree (e.g., MPA or MBA) preferred.
• At least seven (7) to ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in local government administration, including leadership roles in fiscal management, operations, policy development, project management, and technology oversight.
• Strong knowledge of Virginia state laws, local government operations, budgeting processes, and parliamentary procedures.
• Proven expertise in strategic planning, organizational leadership, stakeholder engagement, and intergovernmental relations; demonstrated ability to manage complex projects, drive innovation, and lead systems modernization efforts.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills; ability to present complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
• High level of integrity, discretion, and commitment to public service.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings for Board meetings and events.
• Preferred: Professional certifications such as ICMA Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM), Certified Public Manager (CPM), Project Management Professional (PMP), or equivalent; experience in Virginia local government, including crisis response to IT outages and technology upgrades.