Job Description
Salary: $145,000.00 - $188,500.00 Annually Location : Goochland, VA Job Type: Full-Time Job Number: 202400222 Department: County Administration Opening Date: 07/08/2025 Closing Date: 7/25/2025 11:00 PM Eastern FLSA: Exempt Goochland County is located in the heart of Central Virginia. Just over 289 square miles of rural countryside, our County is home to just over 26,000 residents and is ideally located within a short drive to beaches or mountain tops. We have great proximity to major cities including Charlottesville and Richmond. Our quality of life is unsurpassed, and our active community welcomes one and all. A community rich in history, the Goochland County Courthouse is widely considered to be the most well-maintained Jeffersonian courthouse in Virginia. Goochland County is the smallest county in the United States to have earned the highest rating from all three credit rating agencies which reflects the County's exceptional financial resilience and is home to an award-winning public-school system. Description Under the direction of the County Administrator, this position assists with developing, directing, coordinating and advising on a broad range of administrative, fiscal, policy and operational activities, with a specific focus on leading the county's economic and community development efforts. ?The position serves as liaison to citizens, boards, committees, outside agencies and organizations, requiring strong customer service, process management, presentation and communication skills. It also leads, supervises, coaches, and mentors assigned directors and department heads in strategic planning, customer service support, and day-to-day operations, requiring superior process management and tracking, workflow analysis, data analysis, and implementation skills. The position has a strong working knowledge regarding laws and regulations pertaining toeconomic development,land use, planning, zoning, and other community development functions relatedto building inspections, utilities, and transportation. Departments are assigned by the County Administrator to best meet the needs of the citizens, county operations, and the furtherance of county initiatives The Deputy County Administrator acts for the County Administrator in his or her absence.? Salary determination will be commensurate with education and experience. Essential Functions Leads staff in the daily operations of the county's community development functions, prioritizing customer service, meeting deadlines, process management, and tracking the office's progress toward completion. Facilitates collaboration between the county's community development functions and economic development functions to ensure collaboration, communication, and cohesion among the two departments. Establish a solutions-focused mindset among employees to prioritize problem solving and customer service with both internal and external customers. Provides strategic leadership to the Economic Development Department on future economic growth, business recruitment, and development as well as managing the retention and expansion of existing businesses. Oversees the work of the Economic Development Department in the development and presentation of tailored prospect packages, including providing timely and effective responses to prospect inquiries to include RFP's, RFI's and providing site/building recommendations. Partners with the Economic Development Authority and represents Goochland County on a regional, state and national level for economic development projects. Serves as a liaison with the Economic Development Authority to align with Board of Supervisor initiatives, ensuring cohesive and transparent communication. Develops and implements projects and initiatives to achieve goals set forth in the Board of Supervisors' Strategic Plan. Ensures the development, planning, and implementation of goals and objectives for assigned departments; Recommends policies and procedures to support stated goals and objectives. Monitors projects and tasks to ensure that applications and processes outlined in the Code of Virginia and county policies are completed within identified timelines. Assists assigned Directors and Department Heads with annual budget development and financial planning. Supervises, conducts performance evaluations, and administers professional development plans for assigned Directors and Department Heads; makes staffing recommendations to the County Administrator in collaboration with the Director of Human Resources. Responsible for maintaining and executing a personal development plan which includes continuing education, cross-training in all county departments, and staying current with pertinent federal and state legislative updates. Represents the County in meetings with representatives from other jurisdictions, private industry and members of the general public to explain programs or project status, resolve problems, negotiate agreements and study potential changes which impact the county Performs the duties of the County Administrator in his or her absence. Other duties as assigned by the County Administrator. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Customer service, solutions-focused mindset. Ability to analyze current processes, structures, and protocols to identify system improvement, if needed. Ability to lead with a strategic approach to alignment with organizational goals and strategies. Knowledge of best and current practices, strategies, and approaches to developing a comprehensive economic development plan within a local jurisdiction. Understanding on local, state, and national context on issues that impact the operation of local, county government Strong background in process management, workflow analysis, and implementation. Working knowledge of planning work, including community development, planning and zoning activities related to comprehensive planning, zoning, proffer administration, subdivisions, architectural design, landscaping, transportation and grants administration in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Ability to lead staff to meeting expected deadlines and deliverables. Track progress toward expected deadlines and deliverables with a focus on measuring results and reporting progress on a regular basis. Exceptional interpersonal skills, showing situational awareness in all levels of communication to include an understanding of the role as a collaborator with the Board of Supervisors, the public and county administration. Clear team leadership skills to include motivating, guiding, and energizing County administration at all levels. Demonstrated knowledge of relevant federal and state laws, county ordinances, department policies and procedures, and legislative processes related to local government. Ability to analyze, interpret, explain and apply complex regulations, laws, directives, policies and procedures. Knowledge of principles and practices of personnel management, including the training, development, evaluation, and supervision of subordinates. Thorough knowledge of and skills in at least one core function of local government. Superior oral and written communication skills, including the ability to draft reports and documents, and present data and reports to the public and governing boards and commissions in an effective, concise manner. Ability to work independently, identifying resources and making independent decisions. The proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships with other governmental and regulatory agencies to coordinate matters of mutual concern in a collaborative manner. Ability to lead organizational change initiatives Ability to work some evening and weekend hours for meetings and special events, as required. Education, Experience and Training Bachelor's degree or similar on the job experience in public administration, business, political science, finance, management, economics, economic development, planning, zoning,or other related field required. Master's degree in public administration, business administration, or management preferred, but not required. Clear demonstrated experience administering local government operations with a minimum of five to ten years of responsible department leadership and supervisory experience. A master's degree may be considered as a substitute for 2 years of required experience. Valid State of Virginia Driver's License with a driving record that meets human resources policy requirements. Pre-employment background check and drug screen are required. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Work is sedentary work, which requires exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Tasks may require the ability to walk or stand for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, the following physical abilities may be required: climbing, bending, reaching, handling, and grasping. WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is performed in a relatively safe, and secure work environment. As part of employment with Goochland County, all employees are required to complete Emergency preparedness and incident management training courses as directed or requested. Goochland County is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to age, color, national origin, citizenship, physical or mental disability, family medical history or genetic information, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state or local laws. Goochland County Government offers an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental and vision, vacation and sick leave as well as retirement benefits for all regular full-time employees. Goochland County participates in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) which requires a 5% mandatory contribution by employees. PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS: As a prospective employee of Goochland County, you may be eligible for federal loan forgiveness programs and state repayment assistance programs. 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