Denison City Manager

clearcareerprofessionals; Denison (TX); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Denison seeks a City Manager to lead the Executive Leadership Team and implement the Mayor and City Council’s vision for a high-performing, service-oriented city. The appointed leader will oversee a staff of about 356 full-time employees and drive financial stewardship, development, and transparent communication with residents and businesses.

Residence in Denison is required within a reasonable period after appointment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in local government, including at least five (5) years as a City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or executive-level department director.
• Residency within the City of Denison is required within a reasonable period following appointment.
• Demonstrated experience in municipal budget preparation, finance, and operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Executive Leadership Team and direct an organization of roughly 356 full-time employees.
• Direct the City’s budget, finance, and operations with disciplined stewardship.
• Communicate clearly with residents, businesses, and the Council to turn vision into results.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field

Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field

Job description

The position is open until filled. First Review:

5 p.m. | July 17, 2026

THE POSITION: Appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Mayor and City Council, the City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer of this full-service, home-rule city, the leader responsible for turning Council's vision into results at one of the most pivotal moments in Denison's history. With Preston Harbor reshaping the western shoreline and a celebrated downtown drawing new energy, the next City Manager inherits real momentum in a community on the rise.

Day to day, the City Manager leads Denison's Executive Leadership Team and directs an organization of roughly 356 full-time employees, supported by an Assistant City Manager and a deep bench of department directors. The role calls for a steady hand on the fundamentals that matter most here: disciplined financial stewardship through tight budget years, responsive customer service, efficient development and permitting, and clear communication, both inside the organization and out to the residents and businesses the City serves.

Above all, this is a culture-forward role. Denison's team operates with a genuine service-first mindset, guided by the values it lives by—Service, Teamwork, Accountability, Commitment, and Integrity. The City's professionals are experienced and capable. They are seeking a leader who sets clear expectations, empowers them to do their best work, holds the organization accountable with fairness, and leads by example every day. For the right leader, Denison offers a rare combination: a talented staff, a unified Council, and a community whose best chapters are still being written.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience in local government, including at least five (5) years as a City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or executive-level department director.
• Demonstrated experience in municipal budget preparation, finance, and operations.
• Residency within the City of Denison is required within a reasonable period following appointment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience leading a high-growth community and managing complex development tools (TIRZ, PID, MUD, and Chapter 380 agreements).
• A track record of building strong relationships with council, staff, economic development partners, and the community.