Sampson County government has added an assistant county manager to its employee roll with the hiring of Kevin P. Lowther, the current fire marshal and emergency operations chief for Cumberland County.
County staff sent a release Thursday afternoon announcing the Lowther’s hire, nothing that it would fill a newly-created position that will oversee county departments that officials have “struggled to staff at the department-head level.”
Not in the release was Lowther’s annual salary, ringing in annually at $136,008. He begins his new duties Sept. 8
According to Sampson County Manager Allen Vann, the assistant position was created during the Board of Commissioners most recent budget process as part of a restructuring aimed at addressing leadership needs within county government.
Vann said Thursday the position was discussed throughout the budget process and was ultimately approved as a way to combine responsibilities that, otherwise, would have fallen under two separate department-head positions.
“Before restructuring, we weren’t successful with recruitment of the department head positions, so we were forced to think outside the box with our approach,” Vann explained.
Under the new structure, Lowther will provide executive oversight for those departments — Planning and Zoning, Inspections and Public Works — with an emphasis on strengthening departmental operations, improving coordination and customer service, and supporting service delivery to residents and businesses.
Lowther brings more than 23 years of public service experience to the position, including a background in local government, development services, emergency management and organizational improvement.
“Kevin brings a combination of leadership experience and technical knowledge that will serve the county well,” Vann said. “His experience in inspections and development services gives him an understanding of many issues facing these departments, while his broader leadership background demonstrates his ability to manage complex operations.”
In his current role with Cumberland County, Lowther provides leadership for countywide fire prevention and emergency management operations. His responsibilities include strategic planning, policy development, risk assessment and coordination with county leadership, elected officials, municipalities, emergency service agencies and community partners.
Lowther also previously worked with the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department, experience that more directly aligns with some of his responsibilities in Sampson County.
As a multi-trade building inspector, he conducted commercial and residential inspections involving building, fire, mechanical and plumbing systems. He also interpreted and enforced state building and fire codes and worked with contractors, residents and other stakeholders.
Lowther holds several North Carolina inspection credentials, including Fire Inspector Level III, Building Inspector Level I, Mechanical Inspector Level I and Plumbing Inspector Level I, along with Law and Administration certification.
According to county officials, Lowther plans to begin his tenure by listening to employees, county leadership and community stakeholders to develop an understanding of current operations and identify areas where improvements can be made.
His initial priorities are expected to include reviewing existing workflows and service-delivery processes involving permitting, plan review, inspection scheduling and communication. He also plans to meet with contractors, developers and other stakeholders to better understand their experiences working with county departments.
That review will include establishing baseline performance measures for permit turnaround and inspection response times, staffing and workload, while also examining opportunities to improve technology and consistency across departmental processes.
Lowther earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire and Emergency Services Administration from Fayetteville State University and holds associate degrees in Fire Protection Technology, Emergency Management and General Education.
He is currently completing a Master of Applied Leadership with a concentration in Organizational Leadership at Campbell University and is expected to graduate in December.
His additional professional credentials include the Fire Marshal designation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Certified Healthcare Safety Professional, Certified Healthcare Fire Safety Professional and Certified Healthcare Emergency Professional. He has also completed National Fire Academy and FEMA/NIMS training and has served in senior Emergency Operations Center leadership roles during hurricanes, wildfires and other major events.