Description

The City of Escanaba, Michigan—a vibrant community of 12,680 residents in the scenic Upper Peninsula—is seeking a dynamic and experienced City Manager to serve as its Chief Administrative Officer. This role offers the unique opportunity to lead a 12-square-mile city with a $31 million operating budget, while shaping the future of a community that values innovation, collaboration, and quality of life. Our city operates under a Council-Manager form of government, ensuring efficient administration and responsive leadership. Escanaba proudly manages a variety of municipal utilities, including water, wastewater, and electric services, offering an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment that directly impacts the community’s quality of life.

About the Role:

The City Manager will provide visionary leadership and oversee all city departments, agencies, and offices to ensure efficient, effective, and responsive municipal services. Responsibilities include:

•         Leading, mentoring, and motivating staff while organizing workloads and evaluating performance.
•         Developing and implementing short- and long-term strategic plans to meet community goals.
•         Gathering, analyzing, and presenting data to inform decisions and policy recommendations.
•         Coordinating activities across departments and with external agencies to ensure seamless operations.
•         Advising the City Council, making presentations to boards, commissions, civic groups, and the public.
•         Driving economic development initiatives and cultivating partnerships with regional and community stakeholders.

Who We’re Looking For:

The ideal candidate will bring a combination of knowledge, leadership, and vision to the role, including:

•         Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Management, Political Science, Finance, or a related eld, plus 5–10 years of relevant experience (or equivalent combination of education and experience).
•         Broad understanding of municipal operations with strong communication, collaboration, and conflict-resolution skills.
•         Ability to integrate feedback, innovate, and lead initiatives that enhance city services.
•         Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
•         A proactive approach to staying current with trends in local government management.

Why Escanaba:

Nestled in the heart of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Escanaba offers a high quality of life, natural beauty, and a welcoming community. Residents enjoy access to recreation, cultural events, and a strong sense of community. This is a chance to make a meaningful impact in a city where leadership is valued and innovation is encouraged.

Compensation:

The City offers a competitive salary and benefits package, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

How to Apply:

The application period is now open, with a deadline of February 1, 2026. Applicants should submit a resume, application, and letter of interest:

        Email: hr@escanaba.org

        Mail: City of Escanaba, Attn: Human Resource Director, P.O. Box 948, Escanaba, MI

Requirements

General Purpose
Performs high level administrative, technical and professional work in directing and supervising the administration of city government in the City of Escanaba.

Supervision Received
Works under the broad policy guidance of a five-member City Council.

Supervision Exercised
Exercises supervision over all municipal employees either directly or through subordinate supervisors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Manages and supervises all departments, agencies and offices of the City to achieve goals within available resources; plans and organizes workloads and staff assignments; trains, motivates and evaluates assigned staff; reviews progress and directs changes as needed.

Provides leadership and direction in the development and implementation of short and long range plans; gathers, interprets and prepares data for studies, reports and recommendations; coordinates department activities with other departments and agencies as needed.

Provides professional advice to the City Council and department heads; makes presentations to councils, boards, commissions, civic groups and the general public.

Communicates official plans, policies and procedures to staff and the general public.

Drives economic development efforts, fosters partnerships with community and regional stakeholders, and actively seeks funding to support city programs, infrastructure, and strategic priorities.

Assures that assigned areas of responsibility are performed within budget:

•         Performs cost control activities;
•         Monitors revenues and expenditures in assigned area to assure sound fiscal control;
•         Prepares annual budget requests;
•         Assures effective and efficient use of budgeted funds, personnel, materials, facilities, and time.

Determines work procedures, prepares work schedules, and expedites workflow; studies and standardizes procedures to improve efficiency and effectiveness of operations.

Issues written and oral instructions; assigns duties and examines work for exactness, neatness, and conformance to policies and procedures.

Maintains harmony among workers and resolves grievances.

Performs or assists subordinates in performing duties; adjusts errors and complaints.

Prepares a variety of studies, reports and related information for decision-making purposes.

Appoints, evaluates and removes all department heads, officers and employees of the City, except members of the Council and those directly appointed by the Council as per City Charter.

Sees that all laws and ordinances are faithfully performed.

Prepares and submits a preliminary annual City budget. Administers the adopted budget of the City.

Advises the City Council of financial conditions and current and future City needs.

Advises the City Council of current and pending legislative action and how it will affect the City. Attends all meetings of the Council at which attendance may be required by the Council.

Peripheral Duties
Recommends for adoption by the Council such measures as Manager may deem necessary or expedient.

Prepares and submits to the Council such reports as may be required by that body or as Manager may deem it advisable to submit.

May serve as the head of one or more departments of City government.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:

A Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business management, political science, finance or related fields and 5 to 10 years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of experience and education is desired.

Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

A. Considerable knowledge of modern policies and practices of public administration; working knowledge of municipal finance, human resources, public works, public safety, and community development.

B. Skill in preparing and administering municipal budgets; skill in planning, directing and administering municipal programs; skill in operating the listed tools and equipment;

C. Ability to prepare and analyze comprehensive reports; ability to carry out assigned projects to their completion; ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, city officials and the public; ability to efficiently and effectively administer a municipal government.

D. A broad base of skills in municipal operations; be a highly skilled communicator and collaborator, and able to listen and integrate criticism, while working to resolve conflict; proven success in keeping up with current trends and bringing innovative ideas forward, as well as a demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.