Assistant County Executive Officer - County of Santa Barbara, CA

The County of Santa Barbara is one of the most desirable places in the world to live and work. The County is a mix of urban, suburban, and rural landscapes located on a 122-mile stretch of California’s pristine and breathtaking central coastline with a strong economic base in tourism, agriculture/wine, healthcare, technology and a variety of other industries. Santa Barbara County government is a complex, high-performing organization of approximately 4,440 employees in 23 departments that operate in a dynamic fiscal, political, and community environment. The County organization has a strong foundational system, experienced department leadership, and a highly engaged Board of Supervisors.

The County is seeking up to 2 Assistant County Executive Officers to serve as a results-oriented confidant, advisor, collaborator, problem solver, and project manager, helping execute the goals and objectives of the executive office and Board of Supervisors. The Assistant County Executive Officer will directly supervise department directors and other executive managers and staff. The ideal Assistant County Executive Officer is a seasoned leader who addresses countywide challenges, advances critical initiatives, and ensures the successful delivery of services within the organization and to the public.

The position(s) require(s) a combination of education and experience that would likely provide the knowledge and abilities to perform the variety of tasks carried out by an Assistant County Executive Officer. Typical background and experience would be a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, or a related field, with a master’s degree highly desirable, and 8 years of increasingly responsible administrative and management experience in a full-service municipal environment. The County offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, with a salary range of $240,722 to $312,938, depending on qualifications and experience. Pension benefits are provided through the Santa Barbara Employees’ Retirement System.

Filing Deadline: November 13, 2026
Resumes are acknowledged within 2 business days.

By submitting an application and clicking “submit application” for this position, I agree to the terms of conditions here of the recruitment process facilitated by Peckham & McKenney Executive Search.