Los Angeles County is searching for its first ethics czar.
The most populated county in the country with 10 million residents is advertising for an ethics compliance officer to build up and lead the new Ethics Compliance Office, both created by Measure G in November 2024, the county announced on Friday, Oct. 30. The measure was approved by a vote of 51.6% to 48.4%.
The governance reform charter measure created a new ethics office and ethics officer, as well as an Ethics Commission. Their job is to root out conflicts of interest and corruption throughout the county, from the Board of Supervisors to the employees within the county’s 39 departments.
“The Ethics Compliance Officer will report to and take direction from the Ethics Commission, and will build and lead a team responsible for investigations, audits, training, and policy. The Office will support the Commission’s oversight of campaign finance, lobbying, conflict-of-interest, and governmental ethics laws,” the county’s Executive Office and the Board of Supervisors wrote in its announcement of the search.
The winning candidate will earn an annual salary between $223,394 and $347,424, the county agencies reported. Relocation support also is available.
Applicants must have experience in ethics compliance, conducting public integrity oversight, investigations and enforcement. A master’s degree or a Juris Doctor degree is desirable, the county reported.
On Sept. 29, the Board of Supervisors appointed Michael K. Woo to the Ethics Commission via nomination by the Governance Reform Task Force. Woo joins Wilma A. Franco and Amanda Susskind, both who were appointed by the Board on Sept. 15 as the Commission’s first three members.
The three commissioners will nominate the Commission’s remaining four members following a public selection process.
The Commission interviewed eight candidates on Friday, Oct. 30 in a public setting as part of the selection process for the remaining seats on the inaugural county Ethics Commission.
Conselium Compliance Search, a global executive recruiting firm based in Plano, Texas, was hired to conduct the job search.
The position will remain open until filled, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so interested candidates are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, the agency reported.
To apply, email a resume to Steve Harrison, partner, Conselium Compliance Search, at steve@conselium.com and include “Ethics Compliance Officer – County of Los Angeles” in the subject line.