County Administrator

Sawyer County, WI (Population 18,074)

Sawyer County, Wisconsin, seeks a collaborative and proven leader to serve as its next County Administrator. Located in northwest Wisconsin, its county seat, Hayward (population 2,584), is approximately 130 miles northeast of the Minneapolis metropolitan area and 75 miles south of Duluth, Minnesota. Sawyer County boasts year-round recreational activities on its numerous lakes and streams. Nearly 860,000 acres of Chequamegon National Forest are available for hiking, skiing, and hunting, with trails for biking, snowmobiling, and ATVs. Residents of the County enjoy a high quality of life in many small communities, a range of housing options,quality schools, growing businesses, and job opportunities. Learn more about Sawyer County by visiting https://www.sawyercountygov.org/

The salary range is $120,000 to $140,000 DOQ, plus excellent benefits. Sawyer County is fiscally sound, with low debt and healthy reserves. The County provides a diverse range of programs in areas including public safety, human services, health, and highway maintenance.The County owns an airport and operates an ambulance service. A $44.7M total annual (expense) budget supports approximately 205 full-time equivalent employees. The County Administrator is the County’s chief administrative officer and carries out the duties and responsibilities set forth in Section 59.18 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Administrator is appointed by and reports to a fifteen-member Board of Supervisors. Immediate priorities for the new County Administrator include maintaining quality services in light of strict statutory levy limits, recruiting and retaining quality employees, fostering productive relationships with other units of local government, including tribal government, promoting affordable housing, maintaining a quality EMS program, and attracting new businesses while maintaining the quality of life that is the hallmark of Sawyer County. Click to view the complete position profile.

Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in public policy, business planning or related field with a Master’s in Public Administration and/or Business Administration strongly preferred. A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in an organization of similar size and complexity, and a thorough understanding of government operations, is required. Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills are needed. Desire a strong background in budget development, including capital improvement planning. The successful candidate will need exceptional strategic planning skills, a proven track record of success in intergovernmental relations, and a strong knowledge of human resources.

The successful candidate should be approachable, possess open and positive communication skills and have a collaborative leadership style. A strong commitment to public service and flexibility to manage change are key attributes.

Email cover letter, résumé, three professional references and salary history as a single PDF to Sue McDade, Public Administration Associates, LLC at smcdade@public-administration.com. Include Sawyer County, WI Administrator Search in the subject line. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Jon Hochkammer at (608) 225-3024 /jonhochkammer@gmail.com. The deadline for applications is April 28, 2025.

Confidentiality must be requested by the applicant and cannot be guaranteed for finalists.

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County Administrator