Morgantown, WV (70,000)
City Manager. Salary: DOQ. ICMA (CM) recognized in 1921. Community: The City of Morgantown is the County seat of Monongalia County located along the Monongahela River and close to the Pennsylvania border in the north central part of West Virginia. Morgantown is the home to West Virginia University, the largest institution of higher education in the State with an annual enrollment of just over 28,000 students; and is the medical, cultural, and commercial hub of the region. Daytime population estimates 70,000 in Morgantown. Morgantown and Monongalia County offer "Mountains of Opportunity" for business development and expansion. This is one of the major growth areas in the State. Monongalia County was the only north central county to realize population growth for the last 20 years, and it has been one of the fastest growing counties in the State during the 1990's. Morgantown and Monongalia County have consistently seen some of the lowest unemployment rates in the state. Some of the major employers in the area include the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Mylan Pharmaceuticals and West Virginia University. The Morgantown Municipal Airport is embarking on a multimillion dollar expansion plan along with other related projects over the next several years. The City of Morgantown is well known for great sporting events at Mountaineer Field or the Coliseum, great performing arts at the Creative Arts Center (CAC), businesses in the historic downtown, and our excellent parks system. Morgantown will be known in the future for the newly developed Pedestrian Walking and Recreational Trails System. Two main trails traverse Morgantown: The Caperton Trail (named after the former Governor of West Virginia, Gaston Caperton) and the Decker's Creek Trail. Together, these two trails provide nearly 10 miles of paved transportation and recreation opportunities within the City. The City sections are linked to an additional 40 miles of crushed limestone scenic trails along the Monongahela River and mountain streams. Downtown Morgantown is a mixture of small retail businesses, professional services, restaurants, and residential units. Most buildings have been in place since the turn of the 19th century. As the City grew, the historic downtown remained the focal point of the City and County. A constant boost to the downtown is the fact that the Historic Downtown Morgantown borders the main campus of West Virginia University with an average 28,000 students and 5,000 employees. Along with the University, there are over 2,500 downtown employees in local businesses and City & County public offices, creating an average count of 3,000 pedestrians per day. The City of Morgantown has received multiple awards over the years including: • "3rd Best Small Town In America" - Mens Journal • "5th Best Small Place For Business And Careers" – Forbes • "#1 Dreamtown In The Country" - Bizjournals.com • "12th Hottest Small City" - Inc. Magazine • "29th Smartest Place to Live" – Kiplinger's Personal Finance • "Best Small City In The East" - The Rating Guide To Life In America's Small Cities • “One Of The Best Sports Cities” - The Sporting News Government: The City of Morgantown supports a City Manager / Council form of government, adopted in the City Charter in 1977. Council member terms are two years in duration, with members being voted into council for each of 7 wards. All seven council seats are up for election every two years. Council members must be sponsored by 75 registered voters to be placed on the election ballot. Over the past 2 decades Morgantown has maintained a high level of stability in both the management of the city and among its policy makers. The Mayor and Deputy Mayor are selected by City Council each July. The City Council provides policy guidelines to the City Manager for management of the City. The Position: The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to oversee the daily operations of the city and insure enforcement of all laws governing city operations. Duties, Functions and Responsibilities: • Serve as chief administrative officer; to assure that all laws and city ordinances are enforced; and to provide highly responsible and complex administrative support to the Mayor and Council Members. • Plan, direct and review the overall activities and operations of the City of Morgantown; to coordinate city activities with outside agencies, organizations and boards and commissions. • Direct and manage the development and implementation of City goals, objectives, policies, and priorities for each service area; develops, recommends and administers ordinances, rules, regulations, policies and procedures. • Direct the selection, training, motivation and evaluation of personnel; works with city staff to correct deficiencies; reviews and implements discipline and termination procedures as necessary. • Administer the representation of the City to elected and appointed officials of County, State, and Federal government and outside agencies; explain and justify City programs, policies, and activities; negotiate and resolve sensitive, significant, and controversial issues. • Provide highly responsible policy analysis and administrative staff assistance to the Mayor and City Council; and direct specific and comprehensive analyses of a wide range of municipal policies; prepare policy and procedural proposals for review and adoption by the City Council. • Attend City Council meetings and workshops; oversee the preparation of meeting agendas and supporting materials; present staff recommendations; and respond to questions and direction from City Council. • Direct/Oversee/Monitor the development and administration of the City’s budget; directs the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials, and supplies; controls expenditures; implements adjustments; and keeps the City Council fully informed on matters related to the financial condition of the city. • Responds to and resolves sensitive inquiries and complaints from both internal and external sources. • Represents the city during public activities and functions; strives to maintain good public relations between the citizens and the city. Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will have experience working in a university or fast-growing suburban city and have coordinated activities consistent with established goals, objectives and policies. He/she should posses experience in economic development and land use planning. This individual will have a strong leadership quality and a genuine interest in actively participating in the community. Prior financial expertise will be imperative for the successful candidate. Advanced oral and written communications skills are necessary for the ideal candidate as well as a strong ability to forge relationships with the Mayor and Council Members, city staff, and the community. Candidates must have strong leadership abilities, as they will be expected to serve as a leader within the community and region. Also important is the ability to adhere to the highest ethical and moral standards. The City Manager is expected to maintain and promote to city staff a professional work ethic at all levels within the organization. Skills Continued He/she must set a positive example of competence, professionalism, energy and work ethic to the organization and community. He/she must have the capacity and interest to be an effective mentor and leader for staff. Requirements: Interested candidates should possess a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Government, Public Administration, Business, or a related field. A Master’s Degree is preferred. Candidates should possess at least 8 years of experience within a government agency, preferably a municipal environment including at least 5 years of progressive supervisory and administrative experience. Salary: The starting salary and benefits for this opportunity are negotiable and highly competitive, depending upon the background and qualifications of the successful candidate. Relocation assistance will also be available for the successful out of area candidate. How to Apply: Interested applicants should forward a cover letter and resume to: resumes@affionpublic.com Reference: Morgantown Affion Public 20 North 2nd Street, Suite 200 Harrisburg, PA 17101 888.321.4922 Fax: 717-214-2205 www.affionpublic.com
A good network is important to have when embarking on a new career path, and ICMA recognizes this. ICMA’s Knowledge Network, which was rolled out in May 2010, allows users to submit questions on a variety of topics. Users can post questions publicly or anonymously to either the entire Knowledge Network or to a specific group of viewers based on group or interest.
Many of the Knowledge Network’s early users have found this to be a great resource for exploring career options and getting advice from ICMA members and other local government practitioners. Some examples of recent career questions include:
Q1: I have my MPA and have a completed an internship with the town of Davidson, N.C., but have been unable to obtain a position within a local government agency. What recommendations would you suggests?
A1: Congratulations on completing your MPA and internship. You didn't say whether or not you were flexible on traveling to a new city/state. That's certainly one consideration. Networking with local government folks in your area and through ICMA is your best bet. I got my first assistant's job via an informational interview with past ICMA President Don Borut many years ago. Don knew a manager who was looking for someone and referred me to him. The upcoming ICMA conference should be a great place to meet and network with folks in your state and around the country. If you can afford to go, it would be a great place to start. Much success to you.
A2: I recently asked a very similar question, which received much response. The responses I received could be summarized as: obtain additional internships to develop the minimum threshold of experience, take an entry level job, or be willing to move to a very small community. Many "next-gen" managers, myself included, have effectivly been costed out by managers with 20+ years expereince.
Read the full answer as well as others in the Knowledge Network
Q2: I am completing my master's this year, placing my experience under a semester-long intership. This being said, every city/township/village manager position I have seen posted requires a minimum of 2-3 years experience as a manager. Where do I obtain those 2-3 years if everyone is requiring it as a prerequisite?
A1: I certainly understand the frustration several have expressed here on this topic. I expressed it for several years myself. What I had to learn was that most people are not going to come out of an MPA program and go directly into a job as a manager/assistant manager, unless they also have prior applicable real-world experience. What I know NOW is that there are good reasons for that. When I had been in the public management sector for 8 years, I finally realized the advice I'd gotten for years was right...the best way for me to get the budgetary and supervisory experience necessary to become ready for city management was to take a position as the director of a municipal service department. In the time I held that job, I developed the skills and knowledge I once THOUGHT I already had. Then, when the administrator position I now hold came along, I could truthfully tell the hiring Council that I had both the academic and experiential background they were seeking in an administrator.
I will also advise that, if you are unwilling/unable to put in a few years in a mid-management position to gain that experience, and being a manager TODAY is the only route you'll accept, you have to be willing to seek jobs in smaller, probably more rural areas where the salaries may not be as high. You'll get GREAT experience quickly, and that's the trade-off for the difference in compensation. As a current participant in the Emerging Leaders Program, I encourage your participation in that as well.
Read more answers to this question on the Knowledge Network
If you have similar questions that you would like to ask of ICMA members and local government practitioners, we encourage you to sign in and explore the Knowledge Network. This valuable resource will help you on your path to local government management, as well as facilitate a shared learning experience among you and your peers. To get started, visit http://icma.org/kn and create an account (it’s free!), if you do not already have one. Once you’re signed up, it is recommended that you check out the Help Wiki so that you get the most out of this new tool. Once you’re familiar with the site, go ahead and post away!
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