Hennepin County is seeking an assistant county administrator to lead its Human Services line of business. This line of business plays a critical role in providing core services that support individuals in achieving the outcomes of safety, stability, self-sufficiency and well-being.
The assistant county administrator will provide leadership and direction to the following services areas: Access, Aging, and Disabilities, Behavioral Health, Child Support and Well-Being, Children & Family Services, Economic Supports, Financial Administration, Housing Stability, Internal Services, Safe Communities, Veterans Services, and Health and Human Services IT. Directors from these areas report directly to this position, ensuring alignment with countywide goals and fostering cross-departmental collaboration.
We focus our work on the people of Hennepin County. The Hennepin County Board of Commissioners declared racism a public health crisis (Download PDF reader), recognizing the profound impact systemic inequities have on the health and well-being of residents. The assistant county administrator will provide leadership, direction and strategy to facilitate system changes to reduce and eliminate disparities and advance equitably access to county services.
Hennepin County's commitment to our mission and vision, disparity elimination goals and core values drives the delivery of critical services to our residents.
- About the position type:
This position reports to a deputy county administrator, is full-time, benefit-earning and unclassified (at will). This position is classified internally as an assistant county administrator, to view the job classification click here.
- Location:
This position is hybrid and will be performed both on-site at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis at 300 6th Street South, Minneapolis, MN 55487 and other locations throughout the county. Due to the business needs of the position, it is a requirement that the selected candidate reside in Minnesota or Wisconsin.
- Hiring timeline:
August 26 – September 22: Accepting applications
October - Early November: Interview process
December: Desired hire date
- Need to have:
A bachelor's degree or higher in public administration, business administration or related field and seven or more years of managerial experience. Note: Experience may be substituted for education on a year for year basis.
- How to apply:
Interested candidates should apply online and include a cover letter, resume, and three professional references by Monday September 22 at 11:59 p.m. Click here to apply.
In this position, you will:
- Lead directors within the Human Services line of business and 4,000 staff and management teams from: multiple services areas ranging from prevention services, navigation, assessment, case management, eligibility for public programs, and internal supports functions.
- Guide Human Services directors in aligning departmental strategies with countywide goals.
- Ensure effective resource allocation to support innovative programs and initiatives that advance community well-being.
- Establish and champion goals that transform service delivery, focusing on improved outcomes and resilient communities in alignment with the county’s vision.
- Provide guidance to directors in the preparation of department budgets with an understanding of human services revenues and expenditures.
- Build and maintain strong partnerships with other government entities, commissions, county departments, community leaders, and non-profit organizations to advance shared initiatives and enhance service impact.
- Promote a culture of continuous improvement by leveraging data and community engagement to ensure strategic direction reflects community needs and reinforces our organizational goals.
- Shape and guide legislative strategies to secure favorable outcomes for county residents. Serve as a key advisor to state and federal policymakers on human services legislation and policy development.
- Provide elected officials, County Administration, and department leaders with expert analysis, status updates, and policy recommendations to support informed decision-making.
- Collaborate across all county business lines to identify and implement innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, improve financial performance, and deliver high-impact services and eliminate disparities in Hennepin County.
Benefits
Our employees receive a combination of competitive benefits and positive workplace culture. This includes meaningful work that impacts our community, competitive pay, work-life balance, a variety of benefits and opportunities to grow. Learn more at The Bridge (login as 'Guest').
Important attributes:
- Experience and skill:
- In administration and management of human service programs, human services administration, or in an organization focused on community engagement.
- In the human services field that includes direct client service, an understanding of protective and crisis services, and familiarity with preventative services.
- Leading and managing cross-functional teams and senior leaders, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and high performance.
- Strategic oversight of organizational budgets, resources, and personnel.
- Collaborating with culturally diverse teams and communities and leading work to eliminate disparities in human services.
- Working with governing boards and/or elected officials.
- Establishing and maintaining a network of partnerships internally, nationally, across jurisdictions and within the community.
- Knowledge and demonstrated ability to examine and directly address the impacts of structural and institutional racism and successfully apply diversity, equity, and inclusion best practices to eliminate disparities, including:
- Leading an environment where team members follow a holistic and responsive approach for service delivery specifically with historically marginalized or underserved communities.
- Working understanding of cultural differences and the impacts of culture on service delivery, organizational dynamics and ability to build relationships with staff, partners, and those we serve.
- Ability to:
- Provide responsible, progressive leadership and obtain support for the county's goals in assigned program areas.
- Anticipate future trends, assess impact of issues and display a systems thinking approach with a countywide perspective.
- Build and maintain relationships with governing boards, local, state, and federal policy makers, intergovernmental agencies, and community leaders.
- Lead equity driven policies and initiatives aligned with the declaration of racism as a public health crisis.
- Cultivate relationships with governing boards, policymakers at all levels, intergovernmental agencies, and community leaders, spanning Minnesota and the broader national landscape.
If you have questions about this career opportunity, please contact:
Givonna.Kone@hennepin.us