The search for the new Orange County Administrator is underway.
Current administrator Glenda Paul announced her Jan. 1, 2027 retirement back in June. Paul had originally intended to retire at the end of 2025, however when then county administrator Ted Voorhees suddenly resigned in June of that year, she agreed to delay her retirement and step into the vacant role. Paul has a long history of employment in Orange County. She was hired as the finance director in 2011 and became deputy administrator in 2021.
Since the announcement, details on the search process have been few and far between. However, on Sept. 25, a link to a job listing appeared on the Virginia Association of Counties (VACO) website. The organization maintains a listing of employment opportunities with Virginia localities.
The link points to a job listing maintained by search firm, Raftelis. The management consulting firm, which has offices in several major cities within the U.S., offers a variety of services for local governments and utilities including executive recruitment. It’s unknown when the Orange County Board of Supervisors voted to utilize the search services, but chair and District 5 Supervisor Bryan Nicol said via email the county is utilizing a cooperative contract with Prince William County for the executive search services which include both the county administrator position and a director of finance and budget position. Each search service is at a cost of $37,900. During Tuesday’s board meeting, a supplemental appropriation was included in the consent agenda for $38,000 for “professional services search for a county administrator.”
The job listing on Raftelis states the county is seeking “an experienced, service-oriented local government leader” with the next county administrator helping the board “connect policy choices, financial capacity, land use, infrastructure and service expectations while keeping residents and stakeholders informed.”
“The ideal candidate will appreciate Orange County’s rural landscape, farms, forests, historic resources, small towns, and established community relationships,” the listing states. “They will also recognize that the County is changing. Success will require respect for the past, openness to practical innovation, and the ability to guide growth in a way that supports economic opportunity, essential services, private property rights, and the County’s quality of life.”
The listing states a variety of qualities for candidates including prior experience in local government administration with service as an administrator, deputy or assistant administrator or as an executive in a public organization preferred. Knowledge of economic development, land use and planning, public records requirements, human resources, organizational development and intergovernmental relations is also valued along with the ability to demonstrate a commitment to ethical public service and the ability to build relationships with employees, elected officials, residents and regional partners. A graduate degree in public or business administration or a related field and ICMA Credentialed Manager status are desired. The starting salary range is listed at $220,000 to $225,00 depending on qualifications and experience, plus a comprehensive benefits package.
The position is listed as being open until filled with a first review of applications beginning last Friday. As of Oct. 22, Nicol said interviews hadn’t been scheduled. It’s unknown if that has since changed. The board had an approximately 2 hour and 23 minute closed session meeting Tuesday evening. The county administrator position was listed as one of the reasons for the closed session. No action was taken when the open meeting resumed.
