City Manager

City Manager

City of Unalaska, AK

SALARY RANGE $210,000 - $230,000 DOE

THE OPPPORTUNITY: The City of Unalaska, a dynamic, multicultural coastal community of approximately 4,500 full-time residents located in the heart of the Aleutian Islands, is seeking a proven executive leader to serve as its next City Manager to lead one of Alaska's most complex, self-reliant and unique municipal governments. Operating under a Council-Manager form of government, the City provides and delivers a full suite of services to a community of global economic importance. This is a rare opportunity to manage a high-performing organization with substantial operational scope, direct engagement with elected leadership at the state and federal level, and meaningful influence on the future of a uniquely positioned community.

Unalaska is a first-class city that operates outside of the administrative oversight of a borough. This means that Unalaska, under the direction of the City Manager, provides a comprehensive range of municipal services typically found in much larger jurisdictions. With approximately 175 full-time equivalent positions (200+ total employees) and a combined annual operating budget of more than $85 million Unalaska is well staffed and well-funded to provide a broad range of government services. Driving Unalaska's economy is the International Port of Dutch Harbor, the nation's premier commercial fishing port by volume for over 25 years. Dutch Harbor is the northernmost year-round-ice-free-port and Unalaska is the center of the Bering Sea fishing fleet.

POSITION PROFILE: The City Manager serves as the City's Chief Administrative Officer, under policy direction of the Mayor and City Council, and within the framework of City Code and applicable law. The City Manager is responsible for overall municipal operations; execution of City Council policies and strategic priorities; leadership of the executive management team; fiscal stewardship of City resources; and provision of professional, nonpartisan advice to elected officials. The position exercises broad authority over organizational structure, personnel management, budgeting, contracts, and intergovernmental relations.

Municipal services that report up to the City Manager include Police; Fire/EMS; Public Utilities (electric generation/distribution, water, wastewater, solid waste); Ports & Harbors (dock operations, marine infrastructure, operation of the airport terminal); Public Works (roads, facilities, fleet, engineering, and capital project delivery); Parks, Culture & Recreation and Public Library; Planning; Finance; and City Clerk (including tax administration). The City's workforce is a mix of union-represented and unrepresented employees, requiring thoughtful, balanced leadership and a strong foundation in labor relations and organizational management.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE CITY MANAGER:

1. Executive Leadership and Administration - oversight of all departments and staff

2. Policy Implementation and Strategic Planning

3. Executive Management and Workforce Leadership

4. Financial and Budgetary Management

5. Mayor and City Council Support

6. Intergovernmental and Community Relations

7. Professional Development - keeps current on best practices in municipal government

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES: The successful candidate should possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Thorough knowledge of municipal operations, public administration principles, and local government finance.
• Strong executive leadership, organizational development, and strategic planning skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex organizations and competing priorities.
• Excellent analytical, judgment, and decision-making abilities.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with elected officials, employees, labor representatives, and the public.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, and ethical conduct.
• Proficiency with standard office software and municipal management systems.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education

• Required: Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field.
• Preferred: Master's Degree in Public Administration or a related discipline.

Required Experience

• Ten years of progressively responsible senior administrative or executive management experience in the public sector.
• Five years of management experience specifically supervising professional staff.

Preferred Experience

• Background as a City Manager, Assistant/Deputy City Manager, or Department Director within a municipal government. Demonstrated experience with collective bargaining and labor relations.

BENEFITS:

• Up to a $10,000 hiring bonus
• Up to a $10,000 relocation assistance
• Annual Travel Allowance of $2,500 after the first year of employment
• 100% employer-paid medical premiums (employee & dependents)
• 100% employer-paid basic life/AD&D insurance (employee & dependents)
• 100% employer-paid LifeMed (medevac) insurance (employee)
• Personal Leave Accrual starting at 16 hours a month; progressing to 32 hours a month
• 9 Paid Holidays and 4 Floating Holidays per year
• Longevity bonus starting on the 3rd year of employment
• Eligible for Alaska Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)
• Eligible for 457 Plan with MissionSquare
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) - Employees can utilize the Health FSA for up to $3,400 per plan year and the Dependent Care FSA for up to $7,500 per plan year (optional benefit)
• Free membership for Parks, Culture and Recreation (employee only)
• City vehicle for work and personal use
• City housing available for rent