Sussex Seeks Assistant to Village Administrator

Sussex will soon advertise for a lower-level position of assistant to the village administrator rather than continue with the higher-salaried assistant village administrator position from which Jeremy Smith was promoted in autumn.

The move will save the village more than $30,000 according to documents provided to the Village Board.

Recognizing that the village administrator does need an assistant, but wanting the position to be structured differently to cost less, the village will begin advertising for the position in January or February and hopes to have someone in place by May or June.

Smith remains hopeful that despite the lower pay and title, the village "will still be able to attract a candidate who either holds a master's degree or is close to finishing one."

Smith's research showed that most of the peer communities to Sussex "have someone in their organization serving as a Development Director and some additionally have IT (internet technology) and HR (human resources) positions." 

But such director-level positions can command a salary in the range of $75,000 or more. The new Sussex position will focus on human resources and community information work that will be of most help to Smith, with a salary closer to $45,000.

These include compensation analysis, benefit analysis, orientation and training programs, plus communications responsibilities for the village website, social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook) and newsletter, publicity and media work.