THE OPPORTUNITY

Step into a role where leadership meets legacy, and every decision helps shape the safety and future of an entire county. The Placer County Sheriff’s Office is seeking an exceptional, forward-thinking professional to serve as its next Deputy Director – a rare opportunity to stand at the intersection of strategy, service, and public trust. This is more than a leadership position; it’s a chance to drive innovation, strengthen partnerships, and make a lasting impact in one of California’s most dynamic counties. If you are ready to lead with integrity, inspire excellence, and elevate public service to its highest standard, your next chapter starts here.

ABOUT PLACER COUNTY

Placer County is an extraordinary community characterized by a healthy and diverse economy, an attractive business environment, and residents who benefit from high-quality educational, safety, and healthcare infrastructure in addition to a wide variety of outstanding recreational opportunities. Outdoor recreation activities are abundant all year long, from hiking and biking to horseback riding, rafting, snowshoeing, and skiing. Placer County is consistently ranked first for its quality of life and is one of the healthiest counties in California.

The government center of Placer County is located in the City of Auburn and is well-positioned 30 miles northeast of Sacramento. The total population is approximately 428,000 in unincorporated and incorporated areas of the County combined (Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Loomis, Rocklin, and Roseville), including areas of the Sierra Nevada region, the foothills of Auburn, the historic Gold Country, and North Lake Tahoe. Encompassing 1,506 square miles, Placer County is part of the greater Sacramento region, including El Dorado, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Nevada, and Yuba counties.

THE PLACER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE

The Placer County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) serves the people of Placer County by providing law enforcement services to the unincorporated areas, from the Sacramento County line to the Nevada state line at Lake Tahoe and provides contract law enforcement services to the City of Colfax and the Town of Loomis. The Sheriff’s Office also provides jail services, coroner services, court security, and marshal duties to the entire county. The PCSO’s mission is to maintain the quality of life enjoyed in Placer County and to ensure that the county is a safe place to live, work, and visit. The Sheriff’s Office has an approved FY 2025/26 operating budget of $206.4 million, which supports 608 staff members.

THE POSITION

The Deputy Director is a key member of the Placer County Sheriff’s Office executive leadership team and is responsible for both strategic direction and daily management of agency-wide administrative and operational support services. Areas of oversight include budget development and fiscal operations, accounting, human resources, emergency communications/dispatch, records, fleet and facilities management, information technology, grants, contract administration, and legislative and regulatory compliance. The role also provides high-level policy and organizational support to the Sheriff and executive command staff.

The next Deputy Director will play a central role in shaping the department’s long-term vision through strategic planning, policy development, and data-driven decision-making. Success in this role requires strong collaboration, political acumen, and the ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives. The Deputy Director represents the Sheriff’s Office with internal and external partners, with a focus on strengthening relationships that enhance service delivery and support a modern, effective, and community-centered public safety organization.

The ideal candidate will bring deep experience in public safety administration, paired with the political savvy needed to navigate a dynamic law enforcement environment. While public safety experience is preferred, candidates with well-rounded experience in the other noted areas of responsibility will be given strong consideration. This leader will excel at partnering with diverse stakeholders; be adept at balancing competing priorities and guiding teams through complex and politically sensitive issues; be a people-centric leader who values staff and readies them for future opportunities; and demonstrates sophisticated budget management capabilities, including developing and administering division budgets, forecasting resource needs, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public funds.

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience that would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. The most aligned candidates will minimally possess the following:

• Education: Possession of a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with major coursework in public or business administration, government, accounting, finance, human resources, information technology, or related field.

• Experience: Five (5) years of progressively responsible experience with primary responsibility for budgetary and fiscal operations, human resources administration, and/or agency policies and procedures development/implementation, including four (4) years of management responsibility. Experience overseeing complex financial or administrative operations and programs within a law enforcement agency is preferred.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The salary range for the Deputy Director is $153,587 - $191,776, with placement in the range dependent on qualifications. An excellent benefit package is provided including retirement through the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS). Voluntary 401(k) and 457(b) plans are also available through payroll deductions. The County will match one dollar for every two dollars in employee contributions made to a 401(k) account up to a maximum employer contribution of $5,000 per employee per calendar year. Employees are also covered by Social Security.

For additional benefit information, interested candidates are encouraged to review the detailed recruitment brochure by clicking on the .pdf link on this page.

APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

Apply immediately – This recruitment is open until filled and may close at any time. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply immediately.

To apply for this excellent career opportunity, please submit an application, cover letter, and resume via the Placer County website by clicking on 'Apply Here'.