To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: APPOINTMENT of Risk Management Director - Exempt - Susan Brajkovic
?Recommendation of the County Administrator ? Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPOINT Susan Brajkovic as Director of Risk Management - Exempt of Contra Costa County at step 4 of 5 ($20,062.09/month) of the salary range, including all benefits as provided in the current Management Resolution that apply to the position of Director of Risk Management - Exempt, effective February 3, 2026.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated annual County Cost for the position of Director of Risk Management - Exempt is $337,000, of which $44,634 is attributable to the employer share of pension costs. All costs are funded by Risk Management Internal Service Funds.
BACKGROUND:
On September 24, 2025, former Director of Risk Management, Karen Caoile, announced her retirement from Contra Costa County effective January 22, 2026. Ms. Caoile held the position since January 14, 2020.
On November 30, 2025, the executive recruitment was opened for the Director of Risk Management - Exempt and lead by CPS HR Consulting, a public sector executive recruiting firm. The recruitment was opened with a first review of applications scheduled for November 28, 2025.
CPS HR received 89 applications by the November 28, 2025, review deadline. Of those, four (4) candidates were advanced to the County for interviews, 11 were considered but not selected for advancement, and 74 were not considered for the position. On January 12, 2026, interviews were conducted for the four (4) finalists. The interview panel was composed of Supervisor John Gioia, Supervisor Ken Carlson, County Administrator Monica Nino, and Risk Manager of Sacramento County Donna Abbott. At the conclusion of the interviews, the panel unanimously recommended Susan Brajkovic for appointment as Director of Risk Management - Exempt. On January 22, 2026, Susan Brajkovic signed a condit...
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