Chief Administrative Officer

About the role

In June 2026, Democratic primary voters in Montgomery County chose their next County Executive: Will Jawando, a civil rights lawyer, Obama White House alum, and two-term County Council member who won by the widest margin of victory in an open primary in nearly two decades. He won on a promise to fully fund public schools, build affordable housing, and grow the economy from the bottom up. Jawando is building his incoming team now, with a mandate to expand housing options and renter protections, invest in early childhood education alongside K-12 schools, treat equity as a standard for every decision, protect immigrant families and federal workers who call the county home, and craft a budget centered on working people.

The CAO would join the administration at a moment of change, with bold goals for Montgomery County including more affordable housing, stronger schools, safer communities, and a government that delivers for every resident. The Chief Administrative Officer will be central to advancing that agenda. This is the highest appointed, executive level position in the Executive Branch responsible for managing the daily operations of County Government. Contacts are with high-ranking legislative and executive officials within County, State and Federal Governments, officials of equivalent rank in other governmental jurisdictions, and private sector and community organizations and groups. The purposes of the contacts include presenting, justifying and defending controversial positions where conflicting and opposing viewpoints, goals and objectives are strongly advocated and must be reconciled to develop suitable alternatives or arrive at acceptable compromises. The employee in this class directs the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of a diverse range of policies, programs and services in support of the County Executive's established missions and goals