County Attorney - Buncombe County, NC

Beautiful Blue Ridge Community of Buncombe County seeks County Attorney

The thriving, innovative, progressive, and inclusive community of Buncombe County, North Carolina, operating under a Board of Commissioners-Manager form of government is seeking a highly competent, diplomatic, and “out of the box” thinker to serve as its next County Attorney. With outstanding strategic leadership skills, the next County Attorney will have extensive experience providing legal counsel in county government and have the ability to partner with a highly engaged, energetic and passionate Board of Commissioners. The successful candidate will have a commitment to the future of Buncombe County, a willingness to navigate the opportunities and challenges, and to invest personally and professionally in the community.

The next County Attorney must be a well-respected and trusted leader who prioritizes establishing trust with stakeholders including department staff and County leadership. The successful Attorney is a natural at building and establishing relationships with others – a strong collaborator who will demonstrate the dignity and worth of all in their interactions with stakeholders including the leadership team, department staff, community, and Board of Commissioners. 

This highly effective leader has a track record of success, values accountability and holds high expectations of self and others while recognizing that making the right and legal decisions, may not always be popular. With significant expertise, the County Attorney will purposefully work to protect and preserve the reputation of the County during a time of ongoing recovery from Hurricane Helene and the tensions of national, regional, state, and local politics that risks division among communities. 

About the Community:    

Buncombe County is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Western North Carolina with Asheville as its county seat.  Buncombe County encompasses 646 square miles that contain the French Broad River; considered by some to be the third oldest river in the world, it flows from the south to north in Buncombe County. With a current population of over 276,000, Buncombe County is the seventh most populous county in North Carolina. 

It’s known for a vibrant arts scene and historic architecture, including the dome-topped Basilica of Saint Lawrence. The vast 19th-century Biltmore estate displays artwork by masters like Renoir. The Downtown Art District is filled with galleries and museums, and in the nearby River Arts District, former factory buildings house artists' studios. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic, record-breaking flooding throughout Buncombe County and Western North Carolina, decimating the River Arts District, but not the drive and will of the local community. Buncombe County and the region continues to work to recover from the storm and support its residents in that recovery process.

As manufacturing jobs became increasingly scarce over the decades, Buncombe County once again turned to the hospitality sector to create economic stability.  Since the 1980s, Buncombe County has continued to attract visitors. More than 12 million people make their way to Buncombe County each year, and tourism remains one of the primary drivers of economic growth with nearly $3B a year spent by visitors. 

There are six key industries that represent ~80% of the Asheville metro area’s economy, based on November 2023 data from Riverbird Research. Education and Health Services includes the Buncombe County Board of Education, Veterans Administration Medical Center, A-B Tech, UNC Asheville, and Mission Health take the lion’s share of this sector’s employment. Leisure and Hospitality includes The Biltmore and Omni Hotels are the largest employers, followed by 1,900+ other hotels, restaurants, and small businesses. Government includes nearly 30,000 workers across federal, state, and local employees. The largest public administration employer is Buncombe County. Other industries also continue to make an impact, including agriculture. Buncombe County is home to at least 21 working family farms that have been in business for over 100 years.  

About the Organization:  

The Buncombe County Commissioners are a seven-member board with the Chair and commissioners serving four-year terms. Buncombe County Government provides services across 38 departments ranging from air quality control to planning with support provided to the local Board of Education and School Superintendent. The County is proud of award-winning programs in the Communications, Public Health, Planning, Public Library, Planning,  and Health and Human Services departments. The County has also been recognized by the NC City County Management Association for strategic planning and recognized by GFOA- for the Finance department’s reporting for 29 years, all of which demonstrate Buncombe County’s commitment to better serve our residents, prepare for the future and be a caring, inclusive, and transparent government.   

The County is regarded as a fiscally responsible, stable, and well-managed government with sound budget and strong fund balance (net assets). For more than 20 years, Buncombe County has been awarded a Triple A bond rating, a designation attained by only 69 counties in the United States and only six of North Carolina’s 100 counties. Buncombe County has an overall budget of approximately $626 million with an operating budget of around $ $440 million. The County employs about 1600 FTE employees. 

The County’s strategic focus areas of Educated & Capable Community, Environmental & Energy Stewardship, Resident Well-Being, and Vibrant Economy guide staff in their daily work. Executive leadership is structured around these goal areas and the County Manager is supported by three Assistant County Managers to carry out the Board’s strategic vision. The County has worked hard to increase transparency and to match the community vision of “Buncombe County is a caring community in harmony with its environment where citizens succeed, thrive, and realize their potential.” The Board has advocated for goals and an actionable strategic plan that includes a robust implementation and departmental dashboards. To learn more about the County, visit the County website.

Salary and Benefits

The hiring range for this position is $190,000 - $ 220,000, depending on qualifications and experience. Information about the County’s benefits can be viewed here. All Buncombe County employees must live within a 2-hour drive of their work location. The County Attorney is expected to work in-office at 200 College Street, Asheville, NC 28801.

To apply, please visit https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/developmentalassociates and click the "County Attorney – Buncombe County, NC” link. 

Please note the following:

• All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the County’s employment application portal or any other external website. 
• Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application. 
• Applicants should apply by April 3, 2025. 
• The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on May 1-2, 2025. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate. 
• Interviews with the hiring team will follow at a subsequent time. 
• Direct inquiries to hiring@developmentalassociates.com.

Buncombe County, NC, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/ and scroll down to “Important Information for Applicants.”