County Manager Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Salary: $72.37 Hourly
Location : 401 Adams St., Friendship, WI
Job Type: Regular Full-time
Job Number: 41-2026
Department: Corporation Counsel
Opening Date: 09/08/2026
Closing Date: 9/29/2026 5:00 PM Central
Description
Performs complex executive work handling all legal matters and serving as legal counsel regarding Child Support, Mental Health, and Guardianship and Protective Placement matters, administrative appeals for Health and Human Services, Truancy and Underage Smoking court matters, all citations for Planning and Zoning, Juvenile matters such as CHIPS, JIPS and Termination of Parental Rights, Tax Foreclosures, negotiating and reviewing all legal documents drafted on behalf of the County, preparing and monitoring department budget, maintaining files and records, preparing documents and reports, and related work as apparent or assigned. Work involves setting policies and goals under the direction of the County Manager. Departmental supervision is exercised over the Legal Assistant.
Examples of Duties

1. Serves as legal counsel to the County Board, County Manager/Administration Coordinator, various County Board Committees and commissions, and other officials of the County.
2. Supervises the legal affairs of the County; monitors state and federal law on matters relating to County affairs.
3. Supervises drafting of ordinances and resolutions for the County Board; provides explanations and answers questions relating to opinions.
4. Negotiates and reviews all contracts, deeds, leases, releases, memorandums of understanding, franchises, and other legal documents on behalf of the County.
5. Handles Human Services issues; oversees all mental health, guardianship and protective placement matters; handles all Child Support issues; attends committee meetings as a member; school meetings; mental health meetings.
6. Responds to inquiries and requests from staff, attends court for Planning and Zoning citations, School Truancy, Underage Smoking, and Parks tickets.
7. Attends all County Board meetings; attends various committee meetings as required or requested.
8. Prepares the departmental budget and oversees expenditures.
9. Represents the County in legal matters, brings suits necessary to be instituted by the County; defends the County in suits brought against it, and handles appellate litigation.
10. Defends County employees in actions brought against them for conduct while in the line of duty.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Performs other related functions and duties as assigned or required.
It is unlikely an employee will perform all the duties listed on a regular basis, nor is the list exhaustive in the sense it covers all the duties that an employee may be required to perform. The examples are merely indicative, not restrictive.
Essential Qualifications
Juris Doctorate degree in law and extensive experience working in governmental law, public sector employment law, or similar legal background. Possession of State of Wisconsin Law Practice License certification upon hire. Valid driver's license in the State of Wisconsin.
Additional Information
OTHER KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:
Thorough knowledge of County and department policies and procedures to include emergency and inclement weather policies; ability to prioritize and manage multiple, concurrent projects; attention to detail and ability to effectively organize time and anticipate, plan and successfully respond to changing circumstances; knowledge of Robert's Rules of Order, Open Meetings and Records law, mental health, guardianship, child support, and protective placement matters; ability to make arithmetic computations using whole numbers, fractions and decimals; ability to operate and use standard office equipment; knowledge and ability to use standard office and position-specific software; ability to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, other departments and the general public.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:?
This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires speaking or hearing and using hands to finger, handle or feel, frequently requires sitting and occasionally requires standing, walking, reaching with hands and arms and lifting; work has standard vision requirements; vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating machines, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities; work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions; work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g. business office, light traffic).
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Exposure to bloodborne pathogens is considered low for this position.
Adams County is not only a County with lots of outdoor activities, like fishing, boating, hunting, ATV'ing, camping, and hiking, but working for the County you receive many benefits as well!
The County offers health insurance coverage through UMR. The County pays 85% of the premium for both single and family coverage, along with a contribution to the Health Savings Account (HSA).
Dental, Vision, and supplemental insurance is also available, with the employee paying the premium.
The County offers a basic life insurance plan (at the County expense) for regular employees. There are also supplemental plans available for the employee to purchase.
The County provides a retirement account in the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) for eligible employees. Employees pay one-half of the required contribution; the County pays the other half.
The County provides a confidential Employee Assistance Program (EAP) to all employees and their family members, at no cost to the employee.
01
Have you read the complete job description and do you verify that you meet the minimum qualifications listed?

• Yes
• No

02
Do you possess a valid Wisconsin driver's license?

• Yes
• No

03
Please explain your educational background and related experience that specifically qualifies you for this position?
04
Do you have any experience working in a County setting? Please explain.
05
Do you have any knowledge or experience of court procedures, state laws, local ordinances and regulations, and legal documents. Please explain.
06
Have you ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence?
07
Have you ever been convicted of a felony?
08
Will you grant Adams County the authority to do a complete and through background check including the Federal Bureau of Investigation Fingerprint-Based Criminal background check, personal and professional references, education, and employment?

• Yes
• No

Required Question