City Administrator

The Position

The City Administrator will be the first person to serve in this newly created position, providing a unique opportunity to help establish the role and shape how professional administration supports the Mayor, City Council, employees, and community. Working under the direction of the Mayor, the City Administrator will help oversee day-to-day operations, coordinate the work of City departments, and advance priorities defined by the Mayor and City Council. The position provides leadership across the organization, with responsibilities spanning cross-department coordination, project management, planning and community development, economic development, public engagement, fiscal management, and personnel administration.

As a visible and hands-on leadership role, the City Administrator will work closely with department heads, manage and coordinate significant projects, provide professional analysis and recommendations to elected officials, support implementation of the City's long-range plans, and help strengthen communication and accountability throughout the organization.

For an experienced municipal professional, Red Lodge offers a rare opportunity to help build a position from the ground up while addressing meaningful community priorities. The successful candidate will join an engaged mountain community with significant infrastructure investment, recently completed long-range plans, active development and economic interests, and residents who care deeply about the future of their city. This position will have the opportunity to establish lasting organizational systems and relationships while seeing the direct results of their work in the community they serve.

To view the full job description, please see the attachment provided here.

Opportunities and Challenges

Establish the City's First Administrator Role As Red Lodge's first City Administrator, the successful candidate will have an opportunity to help define the position and determine how it best supports the Mayor, City Council, department heads, employees, and community. Early priorities will include building relationships, understanding existing practices and organizational needs, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and developing effective systems for communication, coordination, accountability, and follow-through.

Organizational Coordination/Project Delivery The Administrator will help bring departments and initiatives together around shared priorities while strengthening the City's capacity to manage multiple projects simultaneously. This includes coordinating cross-department work, building scopes, schedules, budgets, and responsibilities, managing consultants and professional services, monitoring progress, and ensuring that important projects and Council priorities move from discussion through completion.

Long-Range Plans and Growth Red Lodge has recently completed significant planning work that provides direction for the community's future. The Administrator will help translate these plans into priorities, projects, budgets, policies, and measurable progress while working with elected and appointed officials, staff, property owners, developers, businesses, and residents on issues involving growth, housing, infrastructure capacity, downtown vitality, historic preservation, and economic development.

Steward City Resources and Infrastructure The Administrator will work closely with the Mayor, finance staff, department heads, consultants, and funding partners to support sound financial management and the delivery of significant infrastructure and capital investments. Responsibilities will include helping prepare and administer the budget, evaluating the fiscal implications of projects and policies, coordinating grants and outside funding, and ensuring elected officials have clear information about current needs, financial risks, and long-term sustainability.

Build Trust Through Communication and Engagement: Red Lodge is an engaged community where residents, businesses, elected officials, employees, and community organizations take an active interest in City government. The Administrator will be expected to be visible, approachable, and responsive; communicate complex issues clearly; create meaningful opportunities for public input; and build productive relationships throughout the community and with Carbon County, state and federal agencies, regional organizations, and other partners.

Education & Experience

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning, or a closely related field, five (5) years of progressively responsible municipal government experience, and prior municipal government experience is required. Demonstrated supervisory experience, including employee performance management and staff development, is also required. An equivalent combination of education and additional municipal government experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Candidates should possess demonstrated experience across several areas relevant to the position, which may include but are not limited to community development or planning, municipal finance and budgeting, public works, grant development and administration, project management, human resources, collective bargaining, economic development, and parks and recreation.

The ideal candidate will possess a master’s degree in a related field and have experience working in a small, tourism- or recreation-influenced community, within a mayor-council governmental structure. Experience with community development, municipal planning, grant programs, and intergovernmental coordination is also preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

• $105,000 - $125,000 DOQ
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Sick Leave
• Vacation
• Paid Holidays