Job Details

Pima County, AZ – County Administrator

Serve at the forefront of public service as County Administrator, the chief executive appointed by the Board of Supervisors to lead a dynamic and complex organization. This role is responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of services through 34 central departments, seven Countywide Elected Officials, and Superior and Justice Courts, overseeing a total annual budget exceeding $1.8 billion, and supporting a workforce of over 7,000. Reporting directly to the Board, the County Administrator drives strategic initiatives and ensures high-quality service delivery aligned with the County's Vision, Mission, and Values.

We're seeking an experienced, forward-thinking leader with a strong background in executive management, public policy, and organizational leadership within a comparably complex environment. The ideal candidate brings sharp financial and business acumen, deep knowledge of government operations, and a collaborative approach to working with elected officials, community stakeholders, and diverse teams. This is an opportunity to lead with integrity, navigate complex challenges, and shape the future of the County through innovation, accountability, and inclusive leadership.

About Pima County and Tucson

Pima County's seat of government within the City of Tucson has been home to resilient people for more than 4,000 years; it is the longest continuously inhabited place in the continental United States. Our Indigenous, Hispanic, and Western heritages are not just what we once were, they are part and parcel of what we are now. We are a diverse, inclusive community in which 95% of the County's population lives in an expansive valley crisscrossed by ephemeral rivers and surrounded by 9,000-foot mountain ranges. We are national leaders in ecological and cultural conservation, directly protecting nearly 300,000 acres of sensitive desert and mountain ecosystems.

At a Glance:

Founded: Nov. 9, 1864 (statehood Feb. 14, 1912)

Size: 9,200 sq. miles (about the size of New Hampshire)

Total Population: 1.1 million (2025 est.)

Metro Population: ~1.05 million (2025 est.)

GDP: $63 Billion (2025 est.)

Median Household Income: $70,315 (2024 est.)

Largest Employment Sectors:

• Government – 80,200 jobs

• Professional and Health Services – 66,200 jobs

• Trade, Transportation, and Utilities – 61,000 jobs

About Pima County Government

We A.R.E. Pima County! Accountable | Respectful | Ethical

Pima County is more than just a workplace; it's a career with purpose. Here, you can have a meaningful positive effect on the community you call home. With over 7,000 employees across more than 50 departments, we ARE proud to serve the people and places that make Southern Arizona home. Together, we ARE building a better tomorrow, one job, one person, one purpose at a time.

Vision:Committed to serving residents and fostering a thriving community.

Mission:Creating a prosperous community through sound stewardship and innovative practices, making a difference in quality of life for all.

Values:Accountable | Respectful | Ethical. These values are the foundation of our work and are reflected in every goal, strategy, and service we deliver.

Strategic Pillars

Public Service: Putting People First

Ensure stability and excellence in government; Deliver high-quality, innovative operations; Align budgeting and staffing with strategic goals

Quality of Life: Building a Prosperous and Healthy Community

Strengthen public safety through holistic approaches; Foster generational prosperity; Enhance community health and well-being

Infrastructure & Growth: Planning for Tomorrow

Build and maintain forward-thinking infrastructure; Drive economic growth to meet workforce and housing demands; Promote sustainable development practices

Sustainability & Conservation: Protecting What Matters

Balance land conservation with responsible growth; Strengthen regional sustainability and climate resilience; Implement climate action and environmental stewardship strategies

Job Description

The County Administrator is appointed by the Board of Supervisors and functions as the County's senior executive officer. This role is responsible for delivering a comprehensive range of services through 34 central departments, seven Countywide Elected Officials, and Superior and Justice Courts, overseeing a total annual budget exceeding $1.8 billion, and supporting a workforce of over 7,000. The County Administrator reports to the Board of Supervisors, provides executive leadership across multiple operations, service delivery, and major initiatives, that are in line with the County's Strategic Plan, Vision, Mission, and Values. Duties may be further enumerated in an individual employment contract between the incumbent and the Board of Supervisors.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in public or business administration or related field and 10 or more years of executive-level management and administration experience in a public or private sector organization that has similar complexity as Pima County.

Experience should include working with government leaders on public policy, economic development, environmental issues, and other private/public sector issues of considerable complexity and scope.

The Ideal Candidate will:

• Be a seasoned and accomplished leader.
• Demonstrate – sound stewardship and innovative practices in problem solving, budgeting, infrastructure, strategic planning, negotiations, community relations, economic and community development, environmental services, criminal justice, technology, and health.
• Have considerable – business acumen with financial expertise and a working knowledge of Arizona budget laws and local government budgets.
• Be knowledgeable and experienced in applying the principles of personnel management, assigning, and supervising the work of others, including department heads.
• Utilize the County's Strategic Plan in decision-making and apply the County's Vision, Mission, and Values when employing those decisions.
• Coordinate with the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors to support Board operations and ensure compliance with applicable laws and procedures.
• Work closely with the Board of Supervisors on routine, recurring, and special reports on County government activities, fiscal matters, and related issues to ensure they are well informed to make key decisions.
• Act as a liaison to Pima County's Elected Officials and foster collaborative relationships.
• Meet with citizen groups and associations to represent the County, to receive citizen input on County operations and to inform the public on such issues.
• Be thoughtful, decisive, mission driven, and team focused.
• Be adept at anticipating and managing areas of potential disagreement and high-profile competing interests in order to avoid and/or minimize conflict and losses to efficiency or effectiveness.
• Have excellent interpersonal skills and be inclusive, accessible, and approachable, exhibiting a high degree of personal and professional integrity in alignment with our values of Accountable – Respectful– Ethical.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans available
• Basic Life Insurance: $50,000 plan paid by the County
• Voluntary Benefits: Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospitalization, Legal plans available
• Short Term Disability: Paid by the County
• Health Savings Account: The County funds Single $1,000/Family $2,000 annually
• FSA: Flexible Spending Account available
• Wellness Program: Promoting healthy living, self-care, and awareness to enhance overall well-being to earn $1300 annually towards benefits premiums
• Relocation Assistance: Up to $10,000
• Employee Assistance Program: Paid by the County
• Educational Assistance Program: Up to $5,250 per year towards educational reimbursements
• Automobile Allowance: $550 per month
• Pension Plan: Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) – a defined benefit retirement plan which includes Long Term Disability
• 457 Deferred Compensation Plans: Nationwide Insurance plans available
• Holidays: 10 paid holidays and 2 administrative leave days per year
• Leaves: Sick, Vacation, and Paid Military Leave
• Paid Parental Leave: 12 weeks paid leave

Salary

The County Administrator is a contracted-employee and salary will be negotiated with the Board of Supervisors, depending on qualifications. The base-pay annual salary for the County Administrator position is $299,042 to $416,041.

To Apply

Submit a letter of application and detailed resume to Human Resources Director, Cathy Bohland at AdministratorRecruitment@pima.gov by May 30, 2026. Applicants will be considered based on the information provided in their application documents. Pima County reserves the right to consider only the most qualified applicants. A thorough preemployment background investigation will be completed for the successful candidate. Applications are confidential. Only finalists' applications will be made public in accordance with the Arizona Public Records Law.

Learn more about this role, application process and Pima County by visiting: www.pima.gov/join-team-pima

Recruitment Brochure: