County Administrator
Iowa County, WI (Population 23,963), seeks a dynamic and proven leader to serve as its next County Administrator. Located in southwestern Wisconsin, Iowa County offers the best of both worlds: a small-town quality of life located within forty miles of the metropolitan areas of both Madison and Dubuque and a two-hour drive to Milwaukee. Iowa County’s many peaceful communities offer a variety of housing options, quality schools, growing businesses, and job opportunities. Iowa County is located in Wisconsin’s scenic Driftless Region and boasts a variety of year-round recreational activities, including canoeing, kayaking, and fishing on its numerous rivers and streams. Thousands of acres of parks and public land are available for hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, and hunting, with trails for snowmobiling and ATVs. The County’s total land area of 768 square miles is organized into 14 towns, 13 villages, and two cities. The County seat is Dodgeville (Population 4,984).
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 twenty-one-member nonpartisan Board of Supervisors. A $43.6M expense budget (all funds) supports 185 county positions.
Immediate priorities for the new County Administrator include maintaining quality services in light of strict statutory levy limits, recruiting and retaining employees, and promoting selective economic development consistent with the character of the County. A proven track record of success in maintaining positive and productive relationships with other units of government and among elected officials and staff is a priority.
Desire a strong finance background, including a sound knowledge of budget development and capital improvement planning. The successful candidate will possess exceptional strategic planning skills. A thorough understanding of human resources is important. The successful candidate will be an approachable leader who possesses open and positive communication skills and has a collaborative leadership style.
The salary range for this position is $140,000 to $165,000 DOQ, plus excellent benefits.
Requires a Bachelor’s Degree in public or business administration, finance, human resources or a related field, with a Master’s degree in public or business administration preferred. A combination of education or experience may be substituted for the specific degree major. Significant experience in the administration of a complex organization with a minimum of four years in upper-level management required. Private sector and military candidates who have led comparably sized, complex organizations are encouraged to apply.
Email cover letter, resumé, three professional references, and salary history as a single PDF to Dave Bretl, Public Administration Associates, LLC at smcdade@public-administration.com. Include Iowa County, WI Administrator Search in the subject line. Questions regarding the position should be directed to Mr. Bretl at (414) 350-3328. The deadline for applications is October 24, 2025.
Confidentiality may be requested, but cannot be provided for those selected as final candidates.
https://www.iowacounty.org/departments/employee-relations/EmploymentOpportunities
Deadline Note: