Operations Manager

Marion County is seeking a highly organized, technology-proficient, and service-oriented Operations Manager to support the coordination, efficiency, communication, and continuous improvement of county operations.
Working under the direction of the County Administrator, the Operations Manager assists in coordinating countywide initiatives, monitoring departmental follow-up, managing public communications, overseeing digital content updates, and facilitating special projects on behalf of the Administrator's Office.

This position serves as a central point of coordination among County departments, helping to strengthen internal communication, track organizational priorities, improve administrative processes, maintain the County's website and digital communications, and ensure timely followthrough on operational initiatives. The Operations Manager plays a key role in advancing organizational efficiency, supporting strategic initiatives, and promoting effective collaboration across County government.

The successful candidate will possess strong technical and organizational skills, exceptional written and verbal communication abilities, sound judgment, discretion in handling confidential information, and a high level of attention to detail. The ability to manage multiple priorities, build positive working relationships, and adapt to changing operational needs is essential. The ideal candidate is a proactive, dependable, and solutions-oriented professional who enjoys improving processes, coordinating complex projects, connecting people and resources, and helping departments operate more effectively. This individual is committed to delivering
responsive, efficient, and high-quality public service while supporting Marion County's mission to serve its residents, businesses, visitors, and community partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a central point of coordination for cross-department communication, collaboration, and operational support to promote efficient County operations.
• Assist the County Administrator in tracking organizational priorities, strategic initiatives, departmental assignments, deadlines, action items, and special projects, ensuring timely follow-up and accountability.
• Coordinate departmental updates, meetings, calendars, reports, and internal communications while maintaining project trackers, contact databases, records, and other administrative systems.
• Prepare agendas, meeting materials, presentations, minutes, correspondence, and reports, and document action items to ensure assignments and deadlines are clearly communicated and completed.
• Foster collaboration among County departments, including Administration, Finance, Public Works, Planning, Economic Development, Tourism, Public Safety, Emergency Services, and other divisions to support coordinated service delivery.
• Identify opportunities to improve communication, streamline workflows, strengthen accountability, and enhance organizational efficiency through process improvements and operational support.

Website, Communications, and Public Information

• Coordinate and maintain the County's website by updating department pages, announcements, forms, public notices, meeting information, contact information, and other public-facing content to ensure accuracy, consistency, and timeliness.
• Develop, draft, edit, proofread, and format a variety of communications, including press releases, public notices, newsletters, website content, presentations, correspondence, social media content, and informational materials.
• Assist with County branding, marketing, tourism promotion, economic development initiatives, and public engagement efforts that enhance the County's image and strengthen community awareness.
• Gather information, photographs, project updates, and department accomplishments for use in public communications, reports, presentations, and promotional materials.

Project Management and Special Initiatives

• Coordinate and monitor assigned projects, grants, capital improvements, community initiatives, beautification efforts, infrastructure priorities, marketing campaigns, and other special assignments.
• Track project schedules, deliverables, milestones, and deadlines while facilitating communication among departments, vendors, consultants, funding agencies, and community partners.
• Compile research, data, maps, photographs, reports, estimates, and supporting documentation for grant applications, funding opportunities, presentations, public meetings, and leadership briefings.
• Prepare project summaries, status reports, briefing materials, and progress updates to support informed decision-making and effective project management.
• Assist with implementing County initiatives related to modernization, technology, customer service, economic development, tourism, revitalization, and organizational improvement.

Administrative and Executive Support

• Provide comprehensive administrative and operational support to the County Administrator and the Administrator's Office, including scheduling, correspondence, records management, meeting coordination, document preparation, and task follow-up.
• Maintain organized files and records while ensuring confidentiality and exercising sound judgment when handling sensitive or confidential information.
• Respond to inquiries from employees, residents, businesses, community partners, elected officials, and other stakeholders or direct requests to the appropriate department.
• Support the planning and coordination of public meetings, community events, departmental meetings, workshops, and special presentations.

Process Improvement and Technology Support

• Evaluate administrative processes and recommend improvements to workflows, filing systems, communication methods, reporting procedures, and operational practices to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Develop and maintain standardized templates, forms, checklists, tracking systems, and standard operating procedures that promote consistency, accountability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Provide support for digital tools, document management, spreadsheets, online forms, shared systems, and other administrative technologies while assisting departments with technology-related needs.
• Promote continuous improvement by identifying practical solutions that strengthen collaboration, modernize County operations, improve customer service, and enhance public access to County information.
• Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned by the County Administrator.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Google Workspace, email, spreadsheets, shared drives, digital file management systems, and other standard office technologies, with the ability to quickly learn new software and web-based applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to draft, edit, proofread, and format reports, correspondence, presentations, public notices, and other professional documents.
• Excellent organizational, time management, and project coordination skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and effectively track assignments with minimal supervision.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, department directors, employees, residents, businesses, vendors, community organizations, and other stakeholders.
• Ability to coordinate projects and initiatives involving multiple departments while maintaining accuracy, attention to detail, and consistent follow-through.
• Sound judgment, professionalism, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality when handling sensitive information.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills, with the initiative to identify opportunities for operational improvements and implement practical solutions.
• Ability to prepare reports, spreadsheets, forms, tracking tools, informational materials, and presentations that support effective communication and organizational efficiency.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced public-service environment while adapting to changing priorities and organizational needs.
• Willingness to learn new technologies, software applications, processes, and administrative systems to support continuous improvement and modernization efforts.
• Familiarity with website content management systems, Canva, social media platforms, project management software, or basic graphic design principles is preferred.
• Knowledge of local government operations, public administration, economic development, tourism, grant administration, community engagement, or public information practices is desirable but not required.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Communications, Office Administration, Information Technology, Project Management, or a closely related field; a bachelor's degree is preferred.
• A minimum of three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in administration, operations, project coordination, public service, communications, digital content management, local government, nonprofit administration, business administration, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.
• Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications, organizational systems, written and verbal communication, and administrative support.
• Valid South Carolina driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

• Local government or public-sector administration.
• Operations management, project coordination, or organizational improvement initiatives.
• Website content management, digital communications, social media, or public information.
• Grant administration, reporting, research, or documentation.
• Community engagement, tourism, economic development, marketing, or public relations.
• Records management, customer service, or public-facing administrative support.
• Preparing reports, presentations, newsletters, flyers, forms, spreadsheets, project trackers, or other professional communications.
• Coordinating projects involving multiple departments, boards, committees, vendors, public agencies, or community partners.
• Developing standardized procedures, administrative systems, templates, or workflow improvements that enhance organizational efficiency.

Marion County is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to fostering a workplace that values diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. The County provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.