Brentwood, New York
Washington
Ann Arbor, Michigan
New York, NY, 10176, USA
Posted: 06-Sep-23
Location: Salem, Virginia
Type: Full Time
Salary: 185,000-210,000
Salary Details:
Preferred Education:
The City of Salem is seeking an experienced professional to serve as City Manager, the chief executive and administrative officer, responsible for implementing the Council’s vision and directing programs and operations of the city government. The new manager will succeed the current manager who is retiring after thirty-two years of service to the City, including the last almost four years as manager.
Community Background
Salem, Virginia, located in the Roanoke Valley, between the Allegheny Mountains to the west and Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, and along the Roanoke River, is a vibrant, family-centered city with all the beauty and grandeur that nature can bestow.
For more than two centuries, the City of Salem has been renowned as a superb place to live and raise a family, retaining its small-town community character, while providing its active citizenry with the highest quality schools, facilities, and services in Virginia. Salem residents take pride in their safe, close-knit community, working together to help each other experience an exceptional quality of life.
The Position
The City Council appoints a City Manager to act as Chief Administrative and Executive Officer. The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the Council, carries out its policies, and directs business procedures. He or she is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the City government and manages and supervises all departments, agencies, and offices of the City except for the City Attorney and Clerk of Council who report directly to the Council. The City Manager is responsible for developing and, upon adoption by the Council, implementing annual operating and capital budgets. He or she recommends policies and priorities for the Council’s consideration and leads the City workforce in delivering services and responding to citizen issues or concerns. He or she serves as the Emergency Management Director and liaison between the City Council, the Constitutional Officers, the Judiciary, regional, state, and local agencies and authorities, and community organizations.
Challenges, Issues, & Opportunities
The Council desires the development of a strategic plan to develop goals and objectives for the future of Salem, along with an action plan for its implementation. The Council recently held a work session with a consultant from the Cooper Center at UVA to discuss and prioritize some short-term goals and priorities. The consensus from this meeting established the following immediate priorities:
Infrastructure
Several projects were identified. Staff is to update the City Council on each identified area in a work session and provide a general report. The CIP will also be updated to reflect this work.
Civic Center
Staff will develop request for proposals (RFP) during FY24, research potential costs with consultant(s), and report to City Council. The City needs to identify the facility’s target market and determine if the existing venue is viable and serves the needs of that market.
Military Museum
External partners are responsible for moving this project forward. The City desires to be a partner working with other community stakeholders on this initiative.
Land Use Planning
The current comprehensive plan was approved by Council in 2012. It is important for the City to begin the plan review process to develop an up-to-date plan. Several land use related issues were identified in the work session that need to be addressed during this process.
City Hall
Evaluate if it is possible to relocate all departments in one location and provide a recommendation to Council. Colocation provides the opportunity to free up existing government properties for redevelopment. Further, the existing City Hall has not been renovated recently. The future location of the parks and recreation department may be dependent on a potential new recreation/senior center. Staff previously completed the informal planning process for space needs and is working on options.
Mowles Spring Park
300-acre city-owned property, a portion of which is the site of a former landfill. Need to identify uses permitted under current zoning. Review previous concepts and identify if the proposed use is in alignment with economic development strategies.
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Economic development is of vital importance to the city. Since the passage of the Downtown Plan, the investment in the downtown area has been substantial and is expected to continue to improve the economic vitality of the city center. However, with Salem corporate boundary fixed by state law and having about 20% of its properties held by non-taxable entities, it is important for the City to continue to develop the relationships with existing business owners and explore other opportunities to expand its economic base.
Salem places a high value on quality of life through its commitment to recreational activities in the community and providing exceptional venues for them. If this is to be a continued focus, and as these structures age, an analysis of their useful life and contribution to the city needs to be completed.
The City recently completed a salary study with Council’s directive for the City to “lead the market.” A $4.7M investment in implementing the results is included in the current year’s budget. An important goal is to address the City’s difficulty in attracting and retaining a qualified workforce necessary to provide the critical services. Also, as with most communities, there will be retirements within the departments in the next few years; therefore, succession planning is important to help prevent, to the greatest extent possible, a void from the loss of the knowledge held by those employees. It is also an opportunity to bring in new employees to provide fresh ideas for providing city services.
Qualifications, Education & Experience
The City Council is seeking candidates who are strong leaders in City/County Management with a proven record of providing effective leadership in a complex organization, preferably in a city, county, municipal or other level of government of similar size as Salem. Ideal candidates will be able to drive innovation and move agendas forward in a multi-stakeholder environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent communication skills and significant career success in building collaborative, effective relationships across divisions. Additional experience in strategic planning, budgeting and project management, and complex problem solving, with the ability to work effectively in a wide variety of governmental disciplines is necessary, along with a knowledge of local government planning and land use practices.
Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit a cover letter and resume, with salary expectations and professional references, to The Berkley Group via email at karen.edmonds@bgllc.net. While the position is open until filled, the formal review of applicants will begin October 2, 2023.
Education & Experience
- A bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, business, or related field with a master’s in public/business administration or related discipline from an accredited college or university preferred.
- Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in local government management, including significant experience at a senior level interacting with elected officials and other stakeholder groups.
Candidates must:
- Possess proven managerial and interpersonal skills to lead a dynamic financially fit organization in a community with high customer-service expectations, community involvement and a desire for government transparency.
- Possess proven managerial abilities, including financial forecasting, revenue enhancement, capital improvement programming and budget development and control.
- Demonstrate significant accomplishments in complex project management with the ability to interact with elected officials, senior staff, boards or commissions and community organizations in the development and implementation of project goals and objectives.
- Be skilled in working with elected officials as a group, and in a system of committees, boards, and commissions. Have an appreciation for an active citizenry that expects community-outreach efforts from its government leaders.
- Have strong analytical skills with the ability to examine programs, budgets and proposed policies for efficiency and effectiveness; candidates must approach local government with a desire to improve processes and procedures in a thoughtful way that inspires directors, managers and City employees.
- Have experience in economic development, fostering business-community relationships with the City; be adept at how the City can craft meaningful and sustainable economic development initiatives.
- Have the ability to interpret and ensure compliance with applicable Federal, State and local policies, rules, laws and regulations.
- Is visible to the workforce and has the ability to present information to employees in a manner that affords open communication and elicits feedback.
- Have a proven track record of delegating to staff and fostering trust with an attitude of teamwork and creativity in problem solving, while ultimately being accountable for the quality and effectiveness of overall performance of the organization.
- Have proven superior communication, interpersonal, and human relations skills, and adeptness at interacting with people possessing a wide variety of attitudes and in a wide variety of situations. Have a willingness to meet with citizens and assist them with issues they have involving City services.
- Be committed to the community and the city management profession and have a willingness to commit to the community, including residency.
Leadership and Management Skills
- Possess a balance of technical and leadership/management skills, with people skills a high priority.
- Have the maturity, self-confidence, and strength of professional convictions to provide insights and counsel to the City Council and staff, being able to firmly and diplomatically present professional views and carry out decisions in a timely, professional, and impartial manner. Follows up with Council in a timely and effective manner; exhibits a proactive approach to problem solving.
- Have a city-wide perspective and utilize a “we” mentality rather than an “I” mentality in dealing with all City matters. Possess a track record of addressing issues in a thoughtful and progressive manner, and the ability to build bridges and bring people together.
- Establish credibility with Elected Officials, Constitutional Officers, Department Directors, and employees; the ability to develop effective collaborative relationships is a must!
- Have strong communication skills, both orally and in writing, with the ability to interrelate with the public, City Council, Department Directors, staff, and other stakeholders. Have the skills to present to audiences ranging from staff members to the community at large.
- Exhibit a style characterized by candor, directness, tactfulness, and diplomacy, with the ability to admit when mistakes were made, and when corrective action needs to be taken.
- Have a collaborative and open, friendly personality and management style that garners trust and builds relationships. Know how to deal with conflict in a constructive manner. Have the ability to keep information confidential.
- Be able to represent the City to the residents of Salem in a responsive and helpful manner. Have good listening skills and a willingness to work through challenges in a collegial, respectful manner.
- Maintain a calm demeanor during times of stress. Be flexible and open to change with a willingness to learn and ask questions. Be assertive when necessary, yet empathetic.
- Have a high energy level and enthusiasm for meeting the challenges and responsibilities of the manager’s position; have a good work ethic.
