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County administrator outlines recruitment options; staff recommends hybrid HR-plus-consultant approach
Summary
County Administrator outlined four recruitment strategies for his replacement and recommended a hybrid approach where HR handles technical screening while a retained consultant manages outreach and front-facing candidate recruitment; commissioners asked for time to consider and signaled openness to the hybrid option.
County Administrator Philip Smith Haines told commissioners May 27 that his employment agreement ends March 31, 2026 and that, to ensure a smooth transition, the commission should begin recruitment well ahead of that date. He presented four recruitment strategies: in-house promotion, open recruitment managed by internal HR, use of a national executive recruitment firm, and a hybrid option in which county HR handles internal technical work and a contracted consultant conducts external outreach and initial vetting.
Haines and staff outlined pros and cons: national firms often charge $20,000'$40,000 but run the entire search; internal-only searches can create awkward messaging for candidates; and the hybrid approach could cost roughly $9,000'$12,000 while leveraging HR's institutional knowledge and reducing staff workload. Haines recommended the hybrid option; he said the process should begin in September to permit RFPs, contract execution and an on-board date near April 1, 2026.
Commissioners discussed the timeline and methods. Several commissioners expressed support for the fourth (hybrid) option, praising HR staff experience and preferring a limited external contract for the front-facing work. The commission did not make a final decision but asked staff to continue preparations and provide more information; commissioners were told they did not need to decide immediately but were encouraged to provide direction within weeks so staff could begin procurement and scheduling.
Haines noted that discussion of specific internal candidates would be handled in executive session if needed, while process and timeline discussions must be public under open-meetings rules.
