Deputy Chief Operating Officer

Salary Range: $220,000+ depending on education and experience

This position is non-merit and serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority.

DeKalb County, Georgia - 764,382 residents calling it home

DeKalb County operates under a robust government structure led by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who serves as the top elected official overseeing the executive branch, and a seven (7) member Board of Commissioners (BOC) that comprises the legislative branch, a court system that is the judicial branch, and other elected officials and constitutional officers.  The County’s 2025 operating budget is approximately $1.92 billion. 

The County employs a diverse workforce of approximately 6,500 full and part-time employees, 70 percent of whom are merit and 30 percent at-will. The merit positions are allocated to departments under the purview of the CEO which include police, fire rescue, animal control services, medical examiner, water supply and distribution, sewage collection and treatment, parks, and recreational facilities, refuse collection and disposal, library services, registrar and elections, airport, road construction and maintenance, planning, land use, development, building inspection services, and administrative services. The at-will (non-merit) positions are allocated to departments headed by other elected/appointed officials. 

Shape the Future of a Thriving Community - Join DeKalb County as Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO)

Are you an innovative, strategic leader with a passion for public service and a commitment to excellence!

DeKalb County is seeing a Deputy Chief Operating Officer (DCOO) with the vision and drive to shape the future of a thriving diverse community.

Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO), the DCOO plays a vital leadership role in advancing the CEO's strategic priorities, enhancing operational effectiveness, and fostering collaboration across departments to deliver high-quality services to the community.

This key role performs the following responsibilities:

• Collaborates closely with the COO to implement the county-wide strategic plan while tracking organizational performance expectations and goals.
• Implements priorities and policies developed by executive leadership working with department leaders to align resources, monitor initiatives, and achieve desired outcomes.
• Provides leadership and direction to departments as directed by the COO, ensuring efficient service delivery and coordination among different departments to align common goals.
• Assists in budget planning for county operations and identifies opportunities for cost-savings and operational efficiencies.
• Manages special projects, researches new policies, proposes legislation, and evaluates its impact on County services.
• Prepares reports on department activities, monitors compliance with service agreements, and ensures adherence to laws and regulations.
• Builds and maintains relationships with County staff, officials, and the public; communicates with citizens and groups to address inquiries and gather support for County programs.

Essential Functions:  

The following duties are normal for this position. The omission of specific statements of the duties does not exclude them from the classification if the work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for this classification. Other duties may be required and assigned.

Manages, directs, and evaluates assigned staff; oversees employee work schedules to ensure adequate coverage and control; reviews timesheets; approves/processes employee concerns and problems and counsels or disciplines as appropriate; assists with or completes employee performance appraisals; directs work; acts as a liaison between employees and County administrators; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures.

Organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; prioritizes and schedules work activities in order to meet objectives; ensures that subordinates have the proper resources needed to complete the assigned work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff to assist with complex/problem situations; and provides progress and activity reports to COO.

Provides executive leadership and strategic planning for assigned departments; participates in key decisions as a member of the executive team; oversees the management of outsourced services to third party vendors; develops and establishes operational best practices and procedures consistent with policies of the Board of Commissioners (BOC); determines strategic direction of assigned department in alignment with County’s overall strategic objectives; establishes policies to ensure adequate management development; oversees and monitors financial functions of assigned areas; analyzes a variety of administrative operational, fiscal, and social issues; and formulates recommendations and proposals for problem resolution.

Oversees the development and preparation of the cluster group annual budgets, ensures departments are on track with budgetary goals and meeting financial targets.  

Manages and conducts varied special projects as requested by the COO; researches and develops new policies; proposes new legislation for approval; and analyzes its impact on County operations and services.

Appraises, evaluates and reports activities of the assigned departments; creates timely and systematic reports to the COO and Board of Commissioners; monitors compliance with shared services service level agreements.

Interfaces with various external organizations and ensures county work adherence and compliance with appropriate specifications, and County, State, and Federal laws, regulations, ordinances, and other guidelines.

Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other County personnel, officials, and the general public; meets and communicates with citizens and various professional, business, and community groups to answer inquiries and secure assistance and support in executing various County programs.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or related field required (Master’s degree preferred); fifteen years of progressively responsible experience in public or business administration, with a minimum of five years of experience at the department head level in a large metropolitan government or comparable corporate environment; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Specific License or Certification Required:  None.