Business Administrator - Plainfield City.

New Jersey State League of Municipalities; Plainfield, Northern (NJ, KY); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal Opportunity Employer

Job summary

City of Plainfield seeks a highly experienced Business Administrator to lead daily city operations and oversee all municipal departments. You will drive budget formation, financial planning, debt management, and procurement while coordinating with the Mayor and City Council for strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate brings strong local government leadership, clear communication, and the ability to translate complex issues into actionable policy and results for residents and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, finance, or a related field required; a Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible senior municipal management experience.
• Thorough knowledge of New Jersey statutes governing municipal operations and related laws.
• Experience in budget development, forecasting, capital planning and bond financing, and grants administration.
• Certifications such as QPA, CMFO, CPM are a plus.
• Ability to lead department heads, manage cross-department projects, and communicate with City Council.
• Residence within reasonable commuting distance of Plainfield preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the City and all municipal departments.
• Lead budget preparation, financial management, debt management, purchasing and contracting.
• Direct capital improvement planning and grants administration.
• Represent the administration before City Council and community groups; coordinate with Mayor and cabinet.

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, finance, or related field

Master's degree (M.P.A. or M.B.A.) preferred

5+ years of senior municipal management experience

Knowledge of NJ statutes and Local Government laws

Budget development, financial forecasting, capital planning

Grants administration

QPA, CMFO, CPM certifications a plus

Lead department heads and report to City Council

Residence near Plainfield preferred

Job description

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Business Administrator - Plainfield City.

The Queen City is a special charter form of government comprised of 6.034 square miles and a population of 57,141 (2025 U.S. Census Bureau estimate), with a 2026 municipal budget of $119 million. The position of Business Administrator is available immediately. The City is seeking a qualified, experienced leader with strong management, communication and collaboration skills. The ideal applicant will be a team builder and member who can prioritize and articulate the needs of the City in a clear and succinct manner. The applicant must be capable of researching, analyzing and communicating all issues facing the municipality, and must be able to work well with a well experienced executive cabinet, the Mayor, and the City Council. The Business Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City and the oversight of all municipal departments. The candidate must be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of municipal issues including, but not limited to, budget preparation and management, municipal finance and debt management, purchasing and public contracting, capital improvement planning, risk management, grants administration, utility management, and economic development. In addition, the ideal candidate shall be able to produce financial analyses and shall be adept at technology management and social media tools/public outreach.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, business administration, finance, or a related field required; a Master's degree (M.P.A. or M.B.A.) is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible senior management experience in municipal government, ideally as a business administrator, municipal manager, or chief administrative/executive officer in a municipality of comparable size and complexity.
• Thorough knowledge of New Jersey statutes and regulations governing municipal operations, including the Local Budget Law, Local Fiscal Affairs Law, Local Public Contracts Law, Open Public Meetings Act, and Open Public Records Act, as well as Division of Local Government Services requirements.
• Demonstrated experience in municipal budget development and administration, financial forecasting, capital planning and bond financing, and the administration of state and federal grants.
• Professional certifications such as Qualified Purchasing Agent (QPA), Certified Municipal Finance Officer (CMFO), or Certified Public Manager (CPM) are a plus.
• Proven ability to lead department heads, manage complex projects across departments, and represent the administration before the City Council, community groups, and the public.
• Residence within a reasonable commuting distance of Plainfield is preferred.

References outlining and describing a candidate's experience and successes in local government management in a comparable municipality will be required.

The City of Plainfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Full-time Salary Range: $150k-$200k