The City Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of a majority of the City Commission. Responsibilities include overseeing the appointment of all personnel and the general supervision of departmental operations, including budget preparation and capital improvements planning and implementation. Candidates should possess a combination of education and experience that has provided the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform at a high level. A Masters in Public Administration plus a minimum of 5-10 years of progressively responsible management experience in local government is preferred. Prior experience as a city manager or as an assistant in a fullservice municipality is desired. The quality of life offered in El Dorado is outstanding and the City Manager is required to reside within the City's corporate limits. The starting salary will be competitive with similar cities in Kansas and will be based on the successful candidate's qualifications and experience.
The City Commission has identified the following leadership attributes, personal characteristics and management experience desired in an ideal candidate:
• Outstanding "people skills" to effectively communicate with employees, community leaders and the Governing Body;
• Excellent communication skills - written, oral and public communication skills;
• Open communication style with a value placed on transparency;
• Skilled negotiator with an ability to represent the City Commission and City organization in complex negotiations;
• Collaborative, focused on maintaining existing partnerships and in pursuing innovative partnerships in the community;
• Confident and experienced in translating the Governing Body's goals into an effective and results oriented strategic approach to managing long-term priorities;
• Possesses strong business acumen and knowledge about municipal finance and operational needs of a full-service organization;
• Record of exceptional customer service (internal and external to city organization);
• Experienced and knowledgeable about the operations of a full-service community;
• A visible leader that is engaged and can promote and advocate in the community;
• Entrepreneurial approach to government operations;
• Honest and forthright in recommendations with a track record of integrity;
• Temperament to empower, coach and develop the City's staff to improve areas of excellence and elevate areas that require improvement;
• Outstanding personal leadership and management skills;
• Visionary yet practical - use of good judgement on issues impacting community;
• Ability to anticipate problems, identify alternative courses of action, prepare proactive recommendations and defend/support those recommendations before the City Commission;
• Ability to effectively delegate authority and responsibility while maintaining appropriate levels of accountability and operational control.