Jefferson County has named five finalists in its search for a new director of community development.
In the three months since Josh Peters left the position to assume his new role as …
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Jefferson County has named five finalists in its search for a new director of community development.
In the three months since Josh Peters left the position to assume his new role as county administrator, the county has opened two application windows to fill the vacancy.
The county hired Prothman, an executive recruiting firm specializing in public sector leadership, to lead the nationwide search and named the finalists on Oct. 6.
The recruitment process drew 10 applicants, “representing an impressive range of professional backgrounds and states,” according to a county press release.
“We are fortunate to have a strong pool of qualified candidates who bring years of experience and fresh perspectives. I look forward to a thoughtful and thorough interview process as we work to find the right leader to continue advancing the important work of this department,” Peters said.
Albert Cairns, the county’s solid waste manager, is one of the five candidates. Cairns was hired as the solid waste manager in 2020. Before that, he served as the conservation district manager for the Jefferson Conservation District, the environmental compliance officer for the Port of Port Townsend and the solid waste coordinator for Jefferson County Public Works from 2006 to 2013.
Out-of-county candidates include Sarah Cawrse, Hal Hart, Janet Koch and Jeremy Williammee, all with varying degrees of experience and education.
Some may recognize Koch’s name, as she held the director role from 2013 to 2017.
The director, tasked with leading over 20 full-time staff members and managing a budget of nearly $4 million, reports directly to the county administrator. They organize the department’s functions, mentor staff, and set the culture and tone of the workplace, according to the Prothman job listing.
The position offers a salary range of $113,928 to $136,036, plus a comprehensive benefits package.
The Board of Jefferson County Commissioners will make the final hiring decision.
To encourage public engagement, the county will host an open house featuring the candidates from 5-7 p.m. on Oct. 13 in the WSU Extension Classroom, located at 97 Oak Bay Road in Port Hadlock.
The county encourages residents to attend the meeting and participate in a question-and-answer session with the finalists.
