Senior Deputy County Administrator – Exempt (Health Services)

Board of Supervisors has approved a 5% wage increase effective July 1, 2025 for this position.

About the role

The County Administrator’s Office is seeking a qualified local government administrator to join their professional team as Senior Deputy County Administrator – Exempt, focusing on the Health Services policy and operations area of County government. This position offers the opportunity to contribute to enhancing the organization’s effectiveness in serving the residents of Contra Costa County.

Responsibilities

• Supervise the analysis and development of department operating budgets on behalf of the County Administrator for the County Health Services department, including both the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC) and Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP), as well as the County Veteran’s Services department. This portfolio manages nearly $3 billion, or half of the County’s total budget of approximately $6 billion.
• Evaluate program mandates of assigned departments, including staffing, organizational structure, and facilities needs during the annual budget process and throughout the year.
• Review and develop performance measures and operating indicators to support the evaluation of program design and effectiveness in collaboration with assigned departments.
• Review agenda items for Board of Supervisors meetings, including contract approval requests, position adjustment requests, and policy items, along with any related budgetary or labor relations impacts.
• Attend Board of Supervisors’ meetings and meetings of other boards, commissions, groups, and County officials regarding budget, legislation, and policy matters to provide advice and information to the County Administrator’s Office executive management team.

Requirements

• Solid background in health and human services policy and operations of California county government, including budget, policy, and legislative analysis.
• Familiarity with or experience in county administration, healthcare policy, hospital or health plan finance and administration.
• Experience with major California legislative initiatives within the health and human services landscape, such as managed care reform, CalAIM, CARE Court, housing insecurity/homelessness, or other major initiatives.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong working relationships throughout the organization, including with the County Administrator’s Office executive management.
• Political astuteness and ability to navigate sensitive issues in a straightforward and diplomatic manner.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills for presenting complex information to the Board of Supervisors, various boards, committees, commissions, and the public.

Qualifications

• Possession of a valid California motor vehicle operator’s license.
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. A degree with a major in business or public administration, public policy, social or behavioral sciences, or a closely related field is preferred.
• Six years of progressively responsible full-time experience involving professional-level managerial, fiscal, personnel, administrative, or analytical work. Public sector experience is preferred.
• At least one year of lead responsibility and one year of supervisory experience of professional-level staff.

Experience Substitution: Five years of progressively responsible full-time professional-level experience with Contra Costa County in a managerial or administrative capacity may substitute for the required experience, provided it includes at least one year of lead responsibility and one year of supervisory experience. A master’s degree in business or public administration, accounting, or a closely related field may substitute for one year of the required experience, but not for the lead or supervisory experience requirements.

Skills

• Knowledge of California County Health operations and funding.
• Understanding of the legislative process, including state and federal legislative and rulemaking processes and related timing.
• Fundamental understanding of governmental structure, including the responsibilities of federal and state agencies and their impact on local government in health services.
• Ability to deliver results by meeting organizational goals, applying technical knowledge, analyzing problems, and calculating risks.
• Proficiency in navigating legal and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations.
• Adaptability to respond positively to change and modify behavior as required.
• Ownership and accountability for measurable, high-quality, timely, and cost-effective results.
• Professional integrity and ethics, displaying honesty, adherence to principles, and personal accountability.
• Strong communication skills, including active listening, interpreting information, and engaging in productive dialogue with stakeholders.
• Ability to build and maintain relationships, establishing rapport and fostering mutually productive connections.
• Influencing skills to affect or change others’ positions and opinions with factual information.
• Engaging teams by involving others for input, contribution, and shared responsibility for outcomes.
• Coaching and developing others to support their growth and expansion of capabilities.
• Valuing diversity by appreciating the benefits of varied backgrounds and cultures in the workplace.
• Political and organizational savvy to work skillfully with policies, procedures, and protocols across organizational levels and boundaries.
• Strategic thinking and perspective to evaluate immediate actions in the context of long-range objectives.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work with a sizable Health Services department, including a County Hospital and Health Plan, as well as public, behavioral, and detention health divisions, shaping health policy decisions for County residents.
• Flexible work schedule with up to two remote workdays per week.
• Autonomy in operating your respective area of responsibility.

About the County Administrator’s Office

The County Administrator’s Office serves as the principal advisor to the Board of Supervisors and coordinates the work of County departments, special districts, and other agencies under the Board’s jurisdiction. Key duties include:

• Preparation and monitoring of the County budget.
• Review and oversight of the County’s organizational structure.
• Analysis of policy and legislative proposals from federal, state, and other local government partners.

The office is composed of five divisions:

• General Administration: Executes Board direction, provides executive-level guidance, and serves as the administrative hub. Responsibilities include producing and monitoring the County budget, developing financial and strategic plans, staffing Board meetings, analyzing proposals, and managing the County’s legislative platforms.
• Law and Justice Information Systems (LJIS): Provides administration, planning, and coordination of data systems and networks supporting the County justice system.
• Labor Relations: Administers the County’s employee relations program, including collective bargaining, grievance processes, and training on labor relations matters.
• Office of Communications & Media (OCM): Supports centralized communications, administers franchise agreements with cable service providers, and operates the County’s community access television stations (CCTV).
• Clerk of the Board: Provides staff support to the Board of Supervisors, records Board actions, maintains official records, administers agenda development, and supports the Assessment Appeals Board.

The mission of the County Administrator's Office is to:

• Work with the Board of Supervisors, Department Heads, and other agencies to provide high-level services to residents.
• Increase intergovernmental cooperation and public access to government.
• Assist Department Heads in implementing Board policy and vision.
• Preserve the fiscal integrity of the County.