The City of Salisbury has hired Nick Rice, Worcester County’s procurement officer, as its new City Administrator.
“I am grateful to the Mayor and Council for entrusting me with this opportunity. I look forward to applying my knowledge and experience in efforts that will positively impact the progression of our city,” Rice said in a statement provided by Salisbury officials Tuesday.
Rice has spent the past 12 years in local government, starting in Ocean City with the Parks Department in 2010 and moving into the purchasing department, according to a public work profile.
He then spent six years as the purchasing agent with Wicomico County before moving onto a similar position for Worcester County. Rice was the first person to work as Worcester’s procurement officer, a position that was created in 2022. It mean Rice represented the county in sourcing, procurement, contract administration, inventory management, vendor management, and other related duties.
With that centralization of procurement– that’s government-speak for using public money to buy equipment, supplies, or pay for projects – it let staffers focus on their specific job duties rather than managing the bidding process by themselves, Rice said.