Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Flagstaff, AZ
Job Type: Regular Full Time- At Will
Job Number:Department: County Manager's Office
Opening Date: 09/09/2026
Closing Date: 10/9/2026 5:00 PM Arizona
Nature of WorkThe County Manager's office is seeking a Deputy County Manager who is highly skilled professional, committed to collaboration and partnership, and experienced in leadership and supervision of a wide variety of external facing departments, leadership staff, and teams. The Deputy County Manager will collaborate with department directors on the setting of strategic priorities and provide support for departments to work together to achieve those priorities. The Deputy County Manager will assist in the resolution of complex departmental issues and personnel matters involving staff and community. This individual represents the County and the County Board of Supervisors, team members, citizens, outside agencies and partners. The Deputy County Manager is a key contributor to the leadership vision of Coconino County. Additional criteria for consideration are interest and desire to serve the needs of Team Members, a commitment to public service, and the ability to function in a fast-paced, high-demand and collegial environment. The selected candidate is expected to be flexible and adaptable, responsive to the needs of the entire organization, and able to manage tactical and strategic issues simultaneously.
Coconino County: At 18,661 square miles geographically, Coconino County is the second largest county in the continental United States and 16% of the entire state of Arizona. The current population is 144,368. Incorporated cities and towns within the County include Flagstaff, Page, Williams, Fredonia, Tusayan and part of Sedona.
With only 12% of privately-owned land, most of Coconino County is consists of public land, including United States Forest Service and National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Tribal Trust Land and State of Arizona. The County is home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Grand Canyon, as well as many other National Parks and National Monuments. Strong partnerships and relationships with federal, tribal, state, local government and community partners are essential in this role.
Coconino County has an educated and diverse citizenry, including 32% having earned a college degree, 14% of population of Hispanic descent and 27% of Native American descent. The County is proud home of the Havasupai, Hopi, Hualapai, Kaibab-Paiute, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribes, as well as a large part of the Navajo Nation. Additionally, residents of the County have great opportunity for quality higher education, including Northern Arizona University (NAU) and Coconino Community College. The County is also home to the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station, Camp Navajo, the United States Geological Survey Flagstaff Science Campus, the Museum of Northern Arizona, Lowell Observatory and the Arboretum at Flagstaff. Flagstaff was the first community designated as an International Dark Skies Community and in 2012, Flagstaff was named America's first STEM Community.
Flagstaff:The County seat of Flagstaff is a vibrant community nestled at the base of the San Francisco Peaks with a population of approximately 77, 260. At 7,000 feet elevation, you experience the 4 seasons and world-class outdoor recreation opportunities, including miles of biking and hiking trails, kayaking, fishing, hunting, camping and skiing and snowshoeing. In this region you will experience a unique blend of history, culture, and breathtaking beauty.
The Position:Under direction, performs complex executive-level professional leadership, administrative, managerial, analytical and strategic duties in support of the County Manager and Board of Supervisors including overseeing external service delivery by leading senior staff, engaging elected officials, and facilitating collaboration with internal and external partners, ensuring teamwork and collaboration across departments; performs related work as assigned.
Typical Duties
(Illustrative Only)
- Provides consultative leadership, empowerment, partnership and coordination of resources to foster collaboration across County departments, community partners, and stakeholders to achieve strategic goals, resulting in significant positive impacts on our citizens and communities.
- Reports directly to the County Manager, works closely and partners with members of the Executive Leadership Team and departments in meeting the vision, goals and priorities of the Board
- Establishes short and long-term priorities, goals and objectives to assure significant positive impact on our citizens and communities, and in doing so by maximizing effectiveness of County resources
- Ensures that directives, decisions, policies, resolutions, ordinances and regulations issued by the Board of Supervisors and the County Manager are implemented
- Identifies and implements steps to be more impactful, efficient and service oriented while solving problems across departments, divisions and work groups
- Ensures senior leadership, departments and programs are aligned in budget and operation with the vision, goals and priorities of the Board of Supervisors
- Leads interdepartmental and interagency work teams to improve County service integration and performance to address a wide range of public policy issues affecting the citizens of Coconino County
- Represents Coconino County before Federal, State, Tribal, regional and local government units
- Stays abreast of trends, legislative matters, and best practices affecting County government to apply new techniques to keep the organization current, responsive and setting a national standard for county effectiveness
- Facilitates communication between partners to build trust, and motivate and engage teams while building meaningful and inclusive relationships to improve services and benefit citizens
- Demonstrates political astuteness and awareness of community preferences, yet apolitical
- Demonstrates confidence, humility, integrity, accessibility, compassion, innovation, creativity, accountability and thoroughness while facilitating strategy and vision
- Supervises department directors, staff and County departments while building and maintaining organizational culture
- Carries out special projects for the County Manager
- Oversees the adherence of all applicable regulations and standards required in each professional field of discipline
- Investigates and responds to complaints and concerns
- Acts as Manager's representative with County departments to coordinate procedures, find solutions to complex and/or controversial problems
- Collaborates with Department Directors
- Prepares executive level budget updates, is aware of fiscal constraints, and oversees budgets
- Chairs committees as needed
- May act as County Manager in the County Manager's absence
Essential functions include but are not limited to: working with and around others; working with frequent interruptions; repetitive (hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder) motion for computer work; visual acuity (near and far) for computer work; color vision for working with computer screen; hearing and speech for ordinary conversations and presenting to groups; touch for computer work.
Minimum QualificationsBachelor's degree in public administration, business administration or related field and five years progressively responsible administrative or supervisory experience in a political/governmental environment; OR any combination of education, training and experience, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position.
The
ideal candidate will have at least ten years work experience in a comparable or larger county or municipal environment, with at least five years in a senior managerial capacityand will have a work history reflective of dedication to and value of working with assorted ethnicities, backgrounds, and geographies; is expected to be flexible and adaptable, responsive to the needs of the entire organization; will have experience collaborating with department directors on the setting of strategic priorities and budgets as well as providing support for departments to work together to achieve those priorities. The candidate will have experience assisting in the resolution of complex departmental issues and personnel matters.
Preferred Qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in business or public administration, political science or a related field; a graduate degree in a related field is strongly preferred. Additionally, at least ten years work experience in a comparable or larger county or municipal environment, with at least five years in a senior managerial capacity. and the understanding and ability to create and sustain internal and external partnerships. Additional criteria for consideration are a commitment to public service, and the ability to function in a fast-paced, high-demand and collegial environment.
This position is exempt from overtime.
This position is at-will.
Please Note: Resumes are welcome, but completion of County application is mandatory.
Relocation expenses may be negotiated as part of the overall compensation.
Starting salary range negotiable and competitive with excellent comprehensive benefits package.
Must successfully complete a background investigation and criminal history check relevant to employment.
Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesThorough knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of public administration
- Public organizational policy analysis
- Governmental Finance and Budget Management
- Human Resources programs and planning
- Employee relations and discipline
Considerable knowledge of:
- Principles and practices of departmental administration, management, supervision, research methods, business English and report writing
General knowledge of:
- Use of technology to enhance workflow
- Principles and practices of transformational leadership and creating thriving work environments
- Statistical analysis and understanding of program design and evaluation by statistical review methods
Ability to:
- Analyze complex administrative problems and recommend solutions
- Develop and implement management decisions and policies
- Interpret County policies and actions to diverse ethnic, cultural, social and business groups
- Represent the County Manager and Board of Supervisors
- Effectively carry out difficult and complex assignments requiring considerable independent judgment and initiative with a minimum of supervision
- Plan, initiate, and manage projects from beginning to end, with minimal direction
- Work safely and support the culture of workplace safety
- Establish and maintain effective working relationships with elected officials, appointed department directors, staff, other agencies, the media and the general public
- Follow written and oral instructions
- Communicate effectively both orally and in writing
Employee BenefitsCoconino County offers a comprehensive employee benefits
package to regular employees working 30 or more hours per week that includes:
(Regular Part Time employees receive some benefits on a pro-rated basis. Temporary and Seasonal employees do not receive benefits. Elected officials are not eligible for vacation and sick leave.)
- Vacation/Annual Leave
- Sick Leave
- 10 Holidays Per Year
- Health Care Insurance
- Dental Plan
- Vision Plan
- Group Life Insurance
- Pre-Tax Deduction Plan
- Sick Leave Conversion Plan
- Personal Day Purchase Program
- Vacation Sell Back Program
- Tuition Reimbursement Program
- Wellness Program
- Long-Term Disability
- Arizona State Retirement System
- Employee Assistance Program
- On-going Training Opportunities
- Free bus transportation/ EcoPass bus pass
Elective Coverage - Dependent Medical, Dental, and Vision
- Supplemental Life (for employees & dependents)
- Flexible Spending Account
- Health Savings Account
- Tax-deferred investment program
- Accidental and Disability Insurance
- Short Term Disability
01
Please describe how your education, training, and experience have prepared you to be the ideal candidate for this position.
02
Please describe how you have tailored your leadership style to different teams, cultures, and operational needs.
03
Describe a major initiative that involved and/or impacted the community which you lead. What were the outcomes? What obstacles did you encounter and how did you overcome those obstacles?
Required Question