Executive Recruitment Services

Clatsop County, Oregon, invites qualified executive search and recruitment firms to submit written proposals to conduct a comprehensive nationwide recruitment, candidate assessment, and selection process for the position of County Manager.

Clatsop County operates under a Home Rule Charter with a five-member Board of County Commissioners. The County Manager serves as the chief executive officer of County operations, implementing policy set by the Board, overseeing administrative departments, and stewarding a biennial/annual operating and capital budget across coastal, rural, and urban communities.

The selected consultant will partner closely with the Board of County Commissioners and the Human Resources Director to manage the full lifecycle of the recruitment and ensure a smooth leadership transition prior to the retirement of current county management.

Position Needs Assessment & Profile Development

• Develop Recruitment Timeline
• Conduct Salary Survey and Market Analysis
• Conduct individual and group interview sessions with current and incumbent members of the Board of County Commissioners, County Executive Leadership Team, employee representatives, and designated community/business stakeholders.
• Evaluate leadership competencies, management style expectations, strategic priorities, and organizational culture.
• Develop an attractive, professional recruitment brochure and comprehensive ideal candidate profile.
• Ensure essential functions alignment with position description are captured in candidate profile to include education & experience requirements, Home Rule Charter County Government experience, and experience with similar community complexity.

Sourcing & Outreach

• Execute an active regional (Pacific Northwest) and national outreach strategy targeting qualified local government administrators.
• Leverage professional networks (ICMA, OCCMA, NACO, ELGL, IPMA-HR/PSHRA) and diverse executive directories.
• Engage passive candidates possessing strong track records in coastal/natural resource economies, collaborative intergovernmental relations, and public finance.
• Review all candidate application materials and supporting credentials.
• Oregon Veterans' Preference Compliance: Structure and administer screening rubrics, point systems, or scoring mechanisms in strict accordance with ORS 408.230 and ORS 408.237, ensuring full documentation of statutory preference points for eligible veterans and disabled veterans at each evaluation tier.
• Conduct structured competency-based and behavioral pre-interviews.
• Administer pre-employment background checks, credential verifications, and online presence reviews.
• Present a recommended semi-finalist pool to the Board of Commissioners in an Executive Session.

Finalist Interview Process, Selection, & Transition Support

• Facilitate finalist interview panels, including Board of Commissioners formal interviews, Department director / internal staff panels, and a Community and stakeholder reception / panel.
• Conduct comprehensive background checks on top candidates (criminal history, civil litigation, credit history, degree verifications, driving records, and in-depth reference interviews).
• Assist the Board and County Counsel in employment agreement structuring, compensation analysis, and contract negotiations.
• Provide written closeout debriefs and candidate communications.
• Placement Guarantee: Provide a minimum 12-month placement guarantee. If the selected candidate separates from County service within one year of hire, the firm will conduct a repeat search without additional consulting fees (direct advertising/travel expenses only).

**Submission:** All proposals shall be submitted via **email** attention of: Clatsop County Human Resource Department to: CountyAdmins@clatsopcounty.gov.

Proposals are due **November 8, 2026**. An evaluation committee will score proposals using the evaluation criteria identified below. Clatsop County may also conduct interviews. The highest-rated firm will be eligible for the award of the contract.

Weighted Criteria

| Criterion | Weight |
| --- | --- |
| Firm Qualifications and Executive Search Experience in County/Local Government | 25% |
| Proposed Search Strategy, Stakeholder Engagement, and Oregon Statutory Compliance (ex. ORS 408, ORS 192) | 25% |
| Qualifications and Direct Experience of Assigned Lead Consultant | 20% |
| Past Performance and Client References | 15% |
| Cost of Proposal and Overall Value | 15% |
| Total | 100% |

Cost Proposal: submit a fixed-fee proposal. Each proposal shall be a binding and valid offer for a period of sixty (60) days from the Proposal Due Date.

If a contract is awarded through this RFP, it will be effective upon full execution of the agreement, which Clatsop County expects to be on or about December 9, 2026.