Located in the Hudson Valley region of New York, Ulster County is a short drive to both New York City and Albany. It is geographically the size of Rhode Island with approximately 188,000 residents. The county seat is Kingston, which was the first capitol of New York. Ulster County is also the home of Woodstock, NY which has a vibrant art and music community. Locals enjoy the many breweries and cider houses as well the many hiking trails and other outdoor activities such as farmer’s markets and craft fairs.

The County currently employs approximately 1300 full time employees, and has a 2019 budget of approximately $330 million dollars.

Under the direction of the County Executive, this position serves in an executive capacity to organize and control staff activities to maximize staff productivity in the implementation of policy guidelines. Work involves highly sensitive issues requiring tact, discretion, and responsiveness to the philosophy and public mission of the County Executive in dealing with executive level public officials, elected officials, representatives of the business community, the press, constituents and others. Assignments can be in the staff operational area of intergovernmental relations, public affairs, administration, or government operations. Direct managerial control is exercised by this position over a wide variety of staff operations in the area of assignment.  Examples of responsibility include:

·  Consults with the County Executive on current issues and operational objectives;

·  Directs internal staff operations, in the area of assignment, to insure the implementation of policy directives and operational objectives;

·  Recommends policy changes to the County Executive responsive to public issues or to enhance operational efficiency;

·  Manages staff operations in an assigned area of the Office of the County Executive;

·  Acts as the County Executive's personal representative with public officials, elected officials, the business community, the press and constituents in resolving issues or planning objectives;

·  Consults regularly with other executive level staff members of the Office of County Executive to insure effective coordination of overall and specific County activities;

·  Follows through on policy and legislative changes or proposals needed to implement operational objectives or direction from the County Executive;

·  Hires, motivates, supervises, disciplines, and is otherwise solely responsible for staff operations, completed staff reports, and reassignment or disposition of personnel allocated to this defined function;

·  Proposes changes in organizational structure consistent with policy direction, and/or legislation consistent with policy changes;

·  Consults with the Deputy County Executive, the Budget Director, the Personnel Officer and/or the Commissioner of Finance and the County Attorney regarding major changes in the organization, or functional modifications within County government, to enhance the delivery of more productive or efficient County services prior to seeking the approval of the County Executive and legislative endorsement;

·  Advocates the policy or position of the County Executive;

·  Manages and maintains procedures for effective staff responses to public and legislative inquiries;

·  Attends both internal and external affairs as assigned by the County Executive or deemed desirable by the incumbent of this position.

Extensive knowledge of both County and local government structures and current public issues affecting the County of Ulster; ability to negotiate effectively; ability to supervise a combination of professional, technical and clerical personnel; ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing; ability to effectively engage to public speaking; ability to analyze complex public issues and develop a suggested position consistent with the County Executive's mission; ability to follow through on issues to successful completion; tact; honesty; integrity.

MINIMUM TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

A.  Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited college or university with a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field with 5+ years of full-time paid work experience OR

B. Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited college or university with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, or a closely related field and 10+ years of full-time paid work experience

IF COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IS INDICATED; TRANSCRIPTS ARE REQUIRED AND SHOULD BE ATTACHED TO ALL APPLICATIONS RECEIVED.  A CANDIDATE LACKING THE REQUIRED TRANSCRIPTS WILL RECEIVE A CONDITIONAL APPROVAL PENDING THE RECEIPT OF TRANSCRIPTS.

Special Requirement for appointment to Ulster County positions: In accordance with Ulster County Legislative Local Law Number 14 of 2007 or by other State and Federal Statutes, candidates for employment to all Ulster County positions must obtain clearance for appointment from the Department of Criminal Justice System or other mandated Federal and State regulatory authority based upon fingerprinting and a criminal history background check. 

ULSTER COUNTY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND ALL CIVIL SERVICE LAW, RULES AND REGULATIONS APPLY.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, gender, creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, disabled veteran status, or status as a member of any other protected group or activity.