Job Posting - City Manager

City Manager

Organization: City of West Des Moines, Iowa
Salary: Competitive salary and benefits; beginning salary is negotiable.
Close Date: Please submit a cover letter and resume with current salary immediately to:

Job Description:

Note: This recruitment has been reopened to accept additional candidates. Existing candidates are still being considered and need not reapply.

West Des Moines is an exceptional community located in central Iowa adjacent to the City of Des Moines. It has virtually every quality of life amenity a community can provide with the cost of living being below the national average. The City is recognized for being a progressive community with a wide variety of quality housing, great neighborhoods, and schools that are among America's best — all of which are complemented by excellent municipal services and infrastructure. In recent years the City's population (currently estimated at 57,000) and economy have been fast-growing, attracting many businesses that provide quality jobs for the metro area. West Des Moines, with national and international headquarter employers, two major shopping centers and many other robust commercial areas, is a primary destination from across Iowa and the upper Midwest.

West Des Moines has a council/manager form of government. The Mayor and City Council are the legislative and policy-making body. The Mayor and two council members are elected at-large, while three council members are elected by ward. The Mayor appoints members of policy-making boards and commissions of the City. Major responsibilities of the Mayor and City Council are to appoint the City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, to enact ordinances, set property tax rates, approve service levels, adopt the budget and participate in community economic development efforts.

The City Manager ensures that City Council policy direction is carried out and that City services are provided in a fair and equal manner. The Manager prepares the budget, recruits, hires, and supervises City staff and provides the City Council with complete, balanced and objective staff support.

Services provided by the City include Emergency Medical and Communication Services, Fire, Police, Community and Economic Development, Development Services, Public Works, Human Services, Parks/Recreation and various administrative and support functions. The City funds the Library, but the Library Director reports to the Library Board of Trustees.

The City is currently staffed with 363.85 FTE’s. The FY-10 all fund budget is $155,589,899 of which $47,109,464 makes up the General Fund. Standard and Poor’s recently awarded West Des Moines an AAA rating for its outstanding general obligation bonds.

Qualifications: Bachelors Degree (Masters preferred) and demonstrated successful experience as a local government manager or full assistant. Experience in a growing city is preferred. Must be a proven leader with exemplary communications skills, able to develop staff into a cohesive team, to build City Council trust and confidence, to win community and intergovernmental support for Council policies and to effectively negotiate on behalf of the City Council.

To apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume with current salary immediately to:

Robert E. Slavin
SLAVIN MANAGEMENT CONSULTANTS
3040 Holcomb Bridge Road, Suite A-1
Norcross, Georgia 30071
Email:slavin@bellsouth.net
Phone: (770) 449-4656
Fax: (770) 416-0848

West Des Moines is an Equal Opportunity Employer

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