City of Auburn appoints first chief administrative officer

Published 2:15 pm Tuesday, July 21, 2026

Scott MacColl has been appointed as the City of Auburn’s first chief administrative officer.

This new role was created to support Mayor Nancy Backus, city leadership and City Council with citywide administration and operations, according to a July 17 press release.

MacColl has most recently served as city manager for Sammamish. He comes into this new position with more than 30 years of experience working in government at the national, state and local levels, according to the press release.

As chief administrative officer, MacColl’s salary will be $266,197 a year, according to the city.

“I’m excited to welcome Scott to Auburn and have him lead our reorganized administrative team,” Backus said. “His experience in local government will be invaluable as we continue working to serve our residents effectively.”

MacColl has strong ties to Washington and holds a bachelor’s degree and master of public administration from the University of Washington.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to join the City of Auburn,” MacColl said. “I look forward to working with Mayor Backus, the City Council and the incredible city staff to serve the community and support the residents priorities.”