Town Manager - Chapel Hill, NC

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Company: Town of Chapel Hill

Location: Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Description:

Salary: See Position Description
Location : Chapel Hill, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 2025-17
Employer: Town of Chapel Hill
Opening Date: 03/07/2025
Closing Date: 4/9/2025 11:59 PM Eastern

About Us
Iconic Chapel Hill, North Carolina, seeks next Town Manager
  • Are you an innovative leader committed to collaborating with communities around a cohesive concept and action plan of sustainable growth?
  • Are you experienced in working effectively with an active and engaged Council committed to fostering an equitable, progressive, sustainable Town through implementing our Complete Community vision?
  • Do you have a track record of expanding opportunities to ensure access to community assets and services?
  • Are you a strategic and experienced leader who can navigate ambitious and sometimes competing project demands in a changing funding atmosphere?
  • Are you passionate about customer service and inspiring teams to achieve established approved priorities?


If this describes you, the Town of Chapel Hill invites you to apply to be its next Town Manager. Leading an award-winning and dynamic university community with outstanding leadership skills through a period of immense opportunity, the Town manager is responsible for executing the strategic direction of the Town of Chapel Hill and overseeing and managing day-to-day service delivery. The next Town Manager must be able to demonstrate experience effectively implementing innovative solutions and programs and solving 21st-century issues. The successful candidate will be able to navigate the complexity of a progressive university town in a challenging state and federal political environment.

About the Organization:

The Town's mission is Learning, Serving, and Working Together to Build a Community Where People Thrive. Our organization's RESPECT values (Responsibility, Equity, Safety, Professionalism, Ethics, Communication, and Teamwork) are the basis for our choices. They are reflected in our behavior and decisions every day. They are our compass as we accomplish our mission and objectives. As a result, residents have consistently rated Chapel Hill as "high-performing" in biennial community surveys.

In the past three years, the Town has transitioned to a five-year budget outlook aimed at ensuring organization-wide sustainability and economic resiliency. The Town consistently wins awards for its annual budget and financial report. More information about the Town, its mission, and its core values of RESPECT can be found here (or copy http://www.townofchapelhill.org/town-hall/departments-services/human-resource-development/mission-and-values into your browser).

The Town operates under a Council-Manager form of government, with the Town Manager reporting to the Mayor and eight at-large Council members. The Town Manager works with the Council to carry out their strategic priorities. The Town's strategic focus areas include Environmental Stewardship, Economic and Financial Stewardship, Affordable Housing, Connected Community, Healthy and Inclusive Community, Safe Community, and Employee Recruitment and Retention. Chapel Hill's strategic focus for the future is guided by the community vision established in the Chapel Hill 2020 Comprehensive Plan, refined with our 2023 Complete Community framework. It is incorporated into the organization's departmental business plans.

The Town prides itself on equitable community engagement. It offers multiple ways for the community to become involved, share input, and stay informed through the Community Connections Strategy and Engagement Study Implementation, nine Advisory Boards and Commissions, and state-of-the-art communication tools such as an open data Web platform and social media to community surveys.

About the Community:

The Town of Chapel Hill was established in 1793 to support the University of North Carolina (UNC), the Nation's first public University. This thriving, multicultural university community has a population of about 62,000 and frequently appears in national "best place to live" listings. As home to the Nation's first public institution of higher learning and a lively and successful Tar Heel sports program, Chapel Hill is a picturesque community of 21 square miles filled with trees, historic and mid-century architecture, and a thriving downtown.
Located less than three hours from beautiful beaches and mountains and 30 minutes from RDU airport, Chapel Hill is part of the Research Triangle community. It is a recognized pioneer in education, research, and innovation-a place where ideas are born. Home to brilliant minds, award-winning restaurants, innovative businesses, highly rated public schools, museums, galleries, festivals, athletic events, and a vibrant music and performing arts scene, community members and visitors have abundant opportunities in this creative Town. The Town's fare-free transit system, one of the first in the Nation, provides community members with accessible transportation.
The Town is a forward-thinking and progressive community, leveraging opportunities while also tackling the challenges of the 21st century - housing, resiliency, sustainable development, an environment where all can thrive. To this end, there is a commitment to centering development on an Everywhere-to-Everywhere greenway network. Our community enjoys pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, greenways, trails, and over 700 acres of parks and open space. Lovely in springtime with woodland wildflowers, greenways, trails, and dazzling gardens with azaleas blooming in multicolor, Chapel Hill has a thing for nature.

Our major employers are the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, UNC Health Care, and Chapel Hill/Carrboro City Schools. These thriving institutions help sustain a stable employment base consistently above state and national benchmarks.
Demographically, Chapel Hill's racial composition (Census.gov) is 67% white, 13% Asian, and 11% black. About 7% of the population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. The median income is $85,825, and the average home price is $576,500. Over 75% of adult residents hold a bachelor's degree, and 45% have a master's degree or higher.

Duties/Responsibilities
About the Position and Scope of Supervision

The Town Manager, along with two Deputy Town Managers, lead more than 793 FTE employees and 200-250 seasonal and part-time staff across 16 departments. The Town Manager oversees Economic Development, Fire, Police, Town Clerk, Communications/ Community Relations, and Emergency Management/ Risk Management. Of note in the town departmental structure are several unique functions related to Chapel Hill's organizational and community values, including Ombuds, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Affordable Housing, and Public Housing. Chapel Hill also has its own library and transit system.

The Town of Chapel Hill's FY2024-25 budget is approximately $157 million, a 4% increase over the prior year. The General Fund budget is $85,000,000. There are several enterprise funds, including funds for transit, Stormwater, parking, and housing.

Chapel Hill's current tax rate is .592 cents per $100 valuation. A portion of the tax rate is dedicated to transit and debt service. There is also a Downtown Service District tax. The tax rate was increased by 2 cents for FY2024-25 and 5 cents for the prior year. In Orange County, the FY2025 tax rate is $.8629 (an increase of $.0279 over the preceding year), and in Durham County $.7987 (an increase of $.0467 over the prior year). In Orange County, there is also a school tax of $.198.

Key Position Priorities:
  • Employ a leadership style that fosters respectful and inclusive Council/Manager/Staff relationships while facilitating consensus-building among diverse viewpoints, ensuring transparent communications and supporting a Council committed to robust dialogue.
  • Intentionally learning the needs of the community and organization, eagerly building sustainable and collaborative internal and external relationships and partnerships with public and private sector stakeholders.
  • Advancing Council/Town priorities around environmental sustainability, growth of a diverse mix of housing options, a robust public transit system, and implementation of an ambitious climate action plan, with energy and diplomacy, and prioritizing prompt, decisive action in delivering a vision that aligns with the community's needs.
  • Demonstrating a commitment to staff development and training while creating a workplace culture of continuous development, where morale is excellent, and staff is valued and held accountable to high standards of excellence.
  • Managing and evaluating the varying needs and status of the Town's infrastructure, coal ash/brownfields redevelopment, critical affordable housing projects, implementation of our greenway projects, LUMO, and Class/ Compensation projects, among others, while working with key partners and staff to oversee the progress and funding for all projects.

Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
  • A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required.
  • The successful candidate will have at least 10 years of increasingly responsible professional experience in municipal management, with at least five years as an assistant manager or manager, or as a department head from a larger community overseeing more than one area.
  • Evidence of significant economic development and housing growth success is required.
  • Must have a proven track record in leading with a philosophy that ensures transparent public communication, effective intergovernmental relations, personal community engagement, cohesive and collaborative change, visionary leadership, and adeptness at leading and implementing strategic planning to meet community goals.


Preferred Qualifications:
  • A master's degree or higher is strongly preferred.
  • Work experience in a university community is desirable.
  • ICMA credentialed manager designation is preferred.

The Successful Candidate is:
  • an ethical leader who sets an example by being committed to public accessibility, open, and transparent government by proactively seeking opportunities to communicate in multiple forums, encouraging community input, incorporating that input into decision-making, informing the public about those decisions, and proactively responding to the media when appropriate;
  • a confident and trusting leader who, along with staff, aligns their work with the Council's priorities by presenting options and recommendations, implementing Council decisions, and being accountable for the outcomes.
  • skilled at diplomatically engaging with a diversity of stakeholders, such as community members of varying economic status, community groups, Town Council members, employees, University and business leaders, and regional, state, and federal authorities to advocate for an inclusive community, while leveraging Town opportunities and mitigating challenges for all;
  • knowledgeable about and is an experienced innovator for affordable housing solutions, green environmental strategy and protection approaches, applying technology strategy and solutions, community and social justice-focused public safety, comprehensive land use planning, and strategic partnerships;
  • a data-driven decision maker who seeks information from multiple sources, tracks outcomes, and uses data as well as stakeholder input to reach conclusions;
  • able to effectively recruit, retain, manage, develop, and engage talented staff to deliver excellent customer service to both internal and external customers;
  • an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing and possesses well-developed interpersonal skills and abilities;
  • supportive of the growth trajectory of the Town while also understanding the impact redevelopment has on at-risk communities;
  • a creative thinker in assessing ways to increase revenue, such as enhancing the business-residential tax base as well as effective in managing expenses to identify cost savings while delivering outstanding service;
  • experienced in developing, analyzing, and managing general and capital budgets on a five-year rolling strategy to ensure predictable planning and fiscal stewardship;
  • resilient in the face of challenges and seeks creative solutions to problems; and,
  • an effective networker who partners with peers in neighboring communities and municipalities throughout the state.

Additional Information
Salary and Benefits: The hiring range for this position is $225,000 to $300,000. Compensation is negotiable based on experience and qualifications. View the Town's excellent benefits package Residency within the Town's corporate limits is highly preferred, residency within the county is required within a negotiated timeline.

To apply, please visit and click on the title of Town Manager - Town of Chapel Hill, NC. Please note the following:
  • All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) - NOT the town's employment application portal or any other external website.
  • Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
  • Applicants should apply by April 9, 2025.
  • The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in skill evaluation on May 15-16, 2025. Final interviews with the Council will occur in person after that point. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
  • Direct inquiries to

The Town of Chapel Hill is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages this position's recruitment and selection processTo learn more about our selection process, visit , select "Client Openings," and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants."
is managing the recruitment and selection process for this position.
Benefits are specific to the employing organization. Please refer to the benefits information that is in the ad as well as in the recruitment brochure. If you need further information, please contact the employer associated with the position
01

CONFIDENTIALITY DISCLOSURE AND APPLICATION COMPLETION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Developmental Associates works on behalf of this client to recruit and collect information on candidates for this position. All applicant materials will be shared with the employer and their employees who are involved in the hiring process for this position. This application process uses a combination of automated and hand scoring of all application materials against screening criteria that have been established by the employer. 1) By submitting this application, I am consenting to have my application materials shared with this employer. 2) I understand that if I have not completely and fully answered all application questions and/ or supplemental questions with details, my application may not be able accurately evaluated. 3) Further, I understand that merely referring to my resume (e.g. "see resume" in lieu of providing detailed responses) is not sufficient for purposes of ensuring accurate application evaluation.
  • Yes
  • No

02

What is the highest degree you hold?
  • High School or GED
  • Some College
  • Associate's Degree
  • Bachelor's Degree
  • Some graduate work
  • Master's or higher degree

03

In what area is your highest degree?
04

The Town Council prefers applicants hold ICMA certification. Other certifications may be taken into consideration. Please identify what certifications, if any, you have.
05

This position requires 10 years increasingly responsible professional experience in local government. Experience must be at a department head level or above (assistant manager or manager strongly preferred). How many cumulative years of experience do you have at the department head, assistant city/county manager, or city/county manager level in local government?
  • I have not worked in local government.
  • Less than 1 year
  • 1-3 years
  • 3.1-5 years
  • 5.1-7 years
  • 7.1-9 years
  • 10 or more years

06

What is the name of the municipality or municipalities where you were in a senior management role?
07

What is the highest position level you have held in local government?
  • I've not served in management in local government.
  • Assistant / Deputy Department Head
  • Division Manager
  • Department Head over one area
  • Department Head of more than one area
  • Assistant Town/ City/ County Manager
  • Town/City/ County Manager

08

If you said department head as your highest position, what areas did you oversee?
09

This position requires at least 5 years of experience at the level of Department Head over multiple areas, Assistant/Deputy Town/City Manager, or Town/City Manager. How many years of experience do you have at the level of Department Head or higher?
  • Less than one year
  • 1-3 years
  • 3.1-5 years
  • 5 or more years

10

In what government organizations did you serve in your highest position?
11

What is the largest population in a community where you were a Department Head or higher in a government organization?
  • I've not worked in a government organization before.
  • Under 10K
  • 11-20K
  • 21-30K
  • 31-40K
  • 41-50K
  • 51-60K
  • Greater than 60K

12

What is the total number of full and part-time employees in the largest organization you have been serving at management level or higher?
  • I have not served as a manager.
  • Less than 300
  • 301-400
  • 401-500
  • 501-600
  • 601-700
  • 701-900
  • Greater than 900

13

What is the largest number of employees supervised within your span of control (direct and downline)?
  • I've never supervised any employees.
  • fewer than 100
  • 101-300
  • 301-500
  • 501-700
  • 701-900
  • Greater than 900

14

What is the largest budget you been responsible for managing?
  • No direct budget management experience
  • Less than $20M
  • $20-30M
  • $31-40M
  • $41-50M
  • $51-100M
  • $101-157M
  • Greater than $157M

15

In which of the following areas are you proficient (NOTE: proficient means that you have personally implemented or have great depth of knowledge in the identified area): Check all that apply (For PC, point at the desired item and click, hold down the shift key and point and click on other desired items - For Mac, hold down command key and then point and click on each desired item).
  • Affordable Housing
  • Bond Referendums
  • Capital Improvement Programs
  • Strategic Planning
  • Performance Management
  • Financial Reporting
  • Budgeting Strategies
  • Non-tax revenue development
  • Benchmarking
  • Priority-based Budgeting
  • Master Plan Development and Implementation
  • Economic Development
  • Environmental Sustainability
  • Effective Council / Manager Relationship Management
  • Redevelopment
  • Comprehensive Plan Development
  • Land Use Ordinance Development or Revision
  • Other

16

If you indicated other above, please specify:
17

Which of the following departments have you supervised? (Choose all that apply)
  • Budget and Finance
  • Engineering
  • Fire
  • Housing
  • Human Resources
  • Information Technology
  • Libraries
  • Parks and Recreation
  • Planning and Development
  • Police
  • Public Works
  • Sewer
  • Stormwater
  • Water
  • Transit
  • Other

18

If you listed "other" above, please describe:
19

As a university community, the Town of Chapel Hill significantly partners with the University of North Carolina System. What experience, if any, do you have working in a university community?
20

I understand that the hiring range for this position is $225,000-$300,000, and it will be negotiated based on qualifications and experience.
  • Yes
  • No

21

I understand that residency within town limits is strongly preferred and residency within the county within a negotiated timeframe is required for this position.
  • Yes
  • No

22

The Town is using a multi-step screening and evaluation process including an assessment center process for selecting the next Town Manager. The dates for this virtual process are May 16-May 17, 2025. This will involve participation in 2-3 activities to assess key skills. Final interviews with the Council will occur within 1-2 weeks after this process. These are not public meetings but there will be substantial interaction with other professionals in the field who will serve as assessors. Further, we have all participants sign letters of confidentiality. NC Law does not require the announcement of applicants until a finalist is selected. The "yes" below indicates your understanding of these process elements.
  • Yes
  • No

Required Question

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