City Manager

CITY MANAGER

City of Hoschton, Georgia

The City of Hoschton is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking municipal executive to serve as its next City Manager.

Located in Jackson County within the rapidly growing Northeast Georgia region, Hoschton is experiencing a period of significant growth and transformation. This presents tremendous opportunity-and an important responsibility to ensure the decisions made today create a strong, cohesive community for generations to come.

Hoschton is looking for more than an administrator.

We are seeking a leader who can help us build the city we want to become.

The successful candidate will combine strong municipal management experience with strategic thinking, sound financial judgment and the leadership skills necessary to turn a community vision into action.

The City is currently undertaking important long-range planning efforts, including development of a Master Plan designed to establish a cohesive vision for Hoschton's future. The next City Manager will play a central role in helping the Mayor and City Council translate that vision into meaningful results.

THE OPPORTUNITY

Hoschton's next City Manager will join the City at a consequential point in its history.

Residential and commercial development is changing the community rapidly. The City is seeking a manager who understands how successful communities manage that growth intentionally-aligning land use and development with infrastructure capacity, transportation, utilities, public spaces and municipal services.

The next City Manager must be capable of looking beyond individual projects and asking how today's decisions fit into Hoschton's larger vision.

Key priorities will include:

• Managing Growth Strategically - Ensure development supports the City's long-term vision, community character and quality of life.

• Infrastructure & Capital Planning - Establish a disciplined, long-range approach to water, sewer, roads, stormwater, transportation, facilities and other infrastructure necessary to support anticipated growth.

• Master Plan & Community Vision - Help translate the City's Master Plan and other long-range planning efforts into clear priorities, policies, projects and investments.

• Planning & Development - Work effectively with developers, property owners, residents and elected officials while ensuring development decisions serve the City's long-term interests.

• Financial Stewardship - Maintain strong fiscal discipline and align financial resources with the City's strategic priorities.

• Organizational Excellence - Build a professional, accountable and collaborative organization focused on excellent service to citizens.

• Regional Partnerships - Develop productive relationships with Jackson County, neighboring municipalities, regional and state agencies and other partners important to Hoschton's future.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Hoschton is seeking an experienced, strategic and highly engaged municipal leader who is comfortable operating in a dynamic environment.

The ideal candidate sees the City as a whole rather than a collection of individual departments and projects. He or she will understand how planning, finance, development, public works, utilities and community priorities intersect-and will be capable of bringing those functions together around a common direction.

The successful candidate will:

• Think strategically and several years ahead.

• Identify challenges and opportunities early and bring solutions forward.

• Provide the Mayor and Council with well-researched options and clear professional recommendations.

• Translate broad community goals into achievable initiatives and measurable outcomes.

• Establish priorities and maintain organizational focus.

• Manage multiple significant initiatives without losing sight of day-to-day service delivery.

• Use data, financial analysis and professional best practices to inform decisions.

• Build a strong team and create accountability throughout the organization.

• Communicate effectively with elected officials, employees, residents and community partners.

PLANNING, DESIGN & COMMUNITY CHARACTER

Hoschton wants growth to contribute to a community that citizens are proud to call home.

The City Manager should understand that good planning is about more than approving development. It is about creating a cohesive community and a recognizable sense of place.

The successful candidate will appreciate the importance of thoughtful land use, development standards, transportation connectivity, parks and public spaces, downtown development, streetscapes and other elements that influence how a community looks, feels and functions.

As the City's Master Plan takes shape, the Manager will help Mayor and Council evaluate decisions within the context of a larger question:

Does this move Hoschton closer to the community its citizens want it to become?

LEADERSHIP STYLE

Hoschton's City Manager must be a strong executive who also understands the importance of relationships in a close-knit community.

The successful candidate will be:

Proactive - Brings issues, opportunities and solutions forward rather than waiting for direction.

Prepared - Provides Mayor and Council with accurate information, thoughtful analysis and clear recommendations.

Collaborative - Works effectively with elected officials, employees, citizens, developers and outside partners.

Decisive - Makes difficult operational decisions when necessary and accepts responsibility for results.

Transparent - Communicates clearly and keeps elected officials appropriately informed.

Accessible - Is visible, responsive and engaged with the community.

Innovative - Looks for better ways to deliver services and operate municipal government.

Professional - Demonstrates integrity, sound judgment, impartiality and respect.

Accountable - Establishes expectations, measures performance and follows through.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The City Manager serves as the City's chief administrative officer and is responsible for implementing the policies and priorities established by the Mayor and City Council.

Responsibilities include:

• Directing and coordinating the City's day-to-day operations.

• Providing professional recommendations and strategic guidance to the Mayor and City Council.

• Implementing policies, ordinances and priorities adopted by the City.

• Leading, developing and evaluating department heads and City employees.

• Preparing and administering the annual operating and capital budgets.

• Overseeing the City's financial management and long-range financial planning.

• Coordinating implementation of the City's Master Plan and other strategic initiatives.

• Overseeing planning, zoning, development and community-development functions.

• Managing major contracts, consultants and capital projects.

• Identifying and pursuing grants and other outside funding opportunities.

• Establishing organizational goals and performance expectations.

• Building productive relationships with Jackson County and regional and state partners.

• Promoting transparency and responsiveness to residents.

• Representing the City professionally with citizens, businesses, developers and community organizations.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Urban Planning, Finance, Engineering or a closely related field.

• At least five years of progressively responsible leadership experience in municipal government, county government or a closely related public-sector organization.

• Significant supervisory, budgeting and organizational management experience.

• Demonstrated experience working effectively with elected officials and governing bodies.

• Demonstrated knowledge of municipal finance, personnel management, planning and zoning, development and capital-project management.

Strongly Preferred

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning or a related field.

• Previous experience as a City/County Manager, Assistant City/County Manager, Administrator or senior municipal executive.

• Direct experience serving a community experiencing significant population and development growth.

• Experience with water and wastewater systems, transportation, stormwater or other major municipal infrastructure.

• Experience with comprehensive plans, master plans, land-use planning and development policy.

• Experience managing significant capital projects and multi-year capital planning.

• Experience with long-range municipal financial planning.

• ICMA Credentialed Manager designation or demonstrated commitment to professional municipal-management development.

Candidates with a demonstrated record of successfully guiding a community through significant growth and change will receive strong consideration.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Salary Range: $130,000 - $165,000 annually, commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.

The City's benefits package includes:

• Medical/health insurance

• Dental insurance

• Vision insurance

• Pension/retirement benefits through the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA)

• Paid leave and City-observed holidays, in accordance with applicable City policies

• Other benefits available to eligible City employees

The final compensation package, including starting salary and any additional terms or benefits, will be determined based upon the candidate's qualifications and experience and will be subject to negotiation and approval by the City of Hoschton. All compensation and benefits are subject to applicable City policies, plan terms and applicable law.

The City of Hoschton is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE

Success in Hoschton will be measured not simply by how well the City operates, but by the lasting impact of the decisions made during this important period in its development.

The next City Manager will help turn the City's vision into execution-creating greater alignment across City government, establishing clear priorities and helping Mayor and Council make thoughtful, informed decisions about Hoschton's future.

Residents should be able to see and experience the results: a well-managed City, a strong and accountable organization, thoughtful development, a more connected and cohesive community, and a Hoschton that retains its identity as it grows.

For the right municipal executive, this is an opportunity to do more than manage a city.

It is an opportunity to help thoughtfully shape one.