City Manager

City of Newburgh, New York; City of Newburgh (NY); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Newburgh, New York, seeks an experienced City Manager to lead a Council-Manager government, oversee a 330-person workforce, and guide a roughly $103 million all-funds budget while delivering high-quality services and pursuing growth opportunities along the Hudson River.

Responsibilities include executive leadership, budget administration, policy advice to the Council, and fostering transparency, accountability, and collaboration with residents, staff, and partners to strengthen the

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in public administration or related field plus two years of appointed managerial/local government experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field with five years of related municipal management experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for City operations and administer the annual budget.
• Advise the City Council and ensure effective municipal service delivery.
• Oversee personnel, internal controls, and performance reporting.
• Strengthen financial management and long-term fiscal sustainability.
• Advance housing, infrastructure, and waterfront development.

Skills

Council relations

Financial leadership

Accountability & leadership

Workforce & labor relations

Public safety & quality of life

Ethics & transparency

Strategic & resilient leadership

Education

Master’s degree in public administration/public affairs/public policy

Bachelor’s degree + 5 years related experience

Job description

Newburgh, New York (population 28,649) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking municipal executive to serve as its next City Manager. Located on the Hudson River in Orange County, approximately 60 miles north of New York City, Newburgh is a historic and culturally diverse community with distinctive neighborhoods, a scenic waterfront, parks, restaurants, arts and cultural amenities, and convenient regional access. Continued investment in housing, infrastructure, commercial development, neighborhood revitalization, and the waterfront is creating new opportunities to strengthen the City’s economy and quality of life.

Newburgh operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City Manager is appointed by and reports to the seven-member City Council and serves as chief executive and administrative officer. The organization includes approximately 330 authorized positions and provides a full range of municipal services. The City’s 2026 all-funds budget is approximately $103 million, including a General Fund of approximately $72 million.

The Position

The City Manager provides executive leadership for City operations, implements Council policies and priorities, supervises department leadership, prepares and administers the annual budget, advises the Council, oversees personnel and administrative practices, and ensures effective municipal service delivery.

The next City Manager will be expected to:

• Strengthen financial management and long-term fiscal sustainability through responsible budgeting, forecasting, internal controls, grant management, and transparent reporting.
• Improve organizational accountability and performance by establishing clear expectations, measurable goals, and regular performance reporting.
• Strengthen public safety and quality-of-life services through collaboration among City departments and community partners.
• Advance housing and neighborhood revitalization, including addressing vacant, distressed, and abandoned properties while balancing enforcement with resident stability and neighborhood investment.
• Accelerate economic and waterfront development and move priority projects toward implementation, investment, and job creation.
• Improve infrastructure and municipal assets, including roads, water, sewer, parks, and public facilities.
• Strengthen relationships with residents, employees, labor organizations, and community stakeholders through accessible, transparent, and timely communication.
• Expand intergovernmental partnerships and pursue state, federal, and philanthropic funding.
• Support small businesses and entrepreneurship in commercial corridors and neighborhood business districts.
• Navigate discussions concerning the City’s governance structure and Charter while maintaining operational stability and continuity of essential services.

Governance and Council Relations

The City Manager will work within Newburgh’s Council-Manager form of government and maintain a professional, transparent, and appropriately structured relationship with the Mayor and City Council. The Manager must provide objective professional advice, implement duly adopted Council policies, respect the respective roles established by the City Charter, and maintain appropriate professional boundaries with individual Council members. The Manager will also provide professional and administrative expertise during discussions concerning the City’s governance structure and Charter while maintaining effective day-to-day municipal operations.

The Ideal Candidate

The City seeks a municipal leader who demonstrates:

• Strong Council Relations – Works effectively with a seven-member Council with differing perspectives, provides timely updates, builds consensus, and maintains clear professional boundaries.
• Financial Leadership – Brings demonstrated expertise in multi-year planning, fund balance, capital planning, internal controls, revenue forecasting, grants, debt, procurement, and reporting.
• Accountability & Organizational Leadership – Sets expectations and performance measures, holds leadership accountable, strengthens coordination, and builds on the expertise of department heads.
• Workforce & Labor Relations – Leads a diverse workforce, works constructively with employee organizations, addresses performance issues, and supports recruitment, retention, and professionalism.
• Public Safety & Quality of Life – Understands the relationship among public safety, code enforcement, housing, infrastructure, economic opportunity, and neighborhood conditions.
• Ethics, Transparency & Community Engagement – Demonstrates ethical government, responsible procurement, and compliance; communicates difficult decisions clearly; and builds public trust.
• Strategic & Resilient Leadership – Advances development and capital priorities, remains decisive during emergencies, and keeps the organization focused on long-term results and service continuity.

Qualifications & Preferred Experience

Minimum Qualifications – A master’s degree with a concentration in public administration, public affairs or public policy, or an equivalent graduate degree, and two years’ experience in an appointed managerial or administrative position in local government or related experience; OR a bachelor’s degree in one of these fields and five years related experience. Experience in a municipality of comparable size and complexity is preferred. Any combination of equivalent education and experience will be considered.

Preferred Experience – Significant municipal or public-sector management experience in a complex, multi-department organization; demonstrated budget and financial management experience; experience working with an elected governing body; organizational change; economic development and capital projects; public safety or quality-of-life issues; labor relations/collective bargaining; grants and outside funding; and strong written, verbal and public communication skills.

Compensation & Application

The starting salary range is $200,000 to $250,000, with final compensation dependent upon qualifications and experience. The City offers a comprehensive executive benefits package, including health and related insurance benefits, retirement through the New York State and Local Retirement System, paid leave, and deferred compensation opportunities. The selected candidate must establish City residency within 120 days, with a possible 60-day Council-approved extension.

The City of Newburgh is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion are core values to the City of Newburgh, where there is a strong commitment to establishing and maintaining an environment free of discrimination. These values are promoted through the daily practice of professionalism, respect, acceptance and understanding. As such, City residents along with women, minorities, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ community, and veterans are encouraged to apply.