Executive Recruiter - City Manager Search

AlphaGov; United States; On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaGov seeks an experienced Executive Recruiter to lead a city manager search, translating community priorities into effective government operations. You will own the recruiting process from initial search planning through offer acceptance, collaborating directly with the client and maintaining candidate engagement throughout the selection.

You will build a targeted sourcing strategy for city managers and comparable public-sector leaders, conduct interviews, and present recommendations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading city manager or comparable local government executive searches.
• Established network of municipal and county leadership professionals.
• Experience working with elected officials and multi-decision-maker searches.
• Ability to evaluate executive experience across public administration, budgeting, service delivery, and organizational leadership.
• Strong communication and handling confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Define the position priorities and candidate qualifications with municipal leadership.
• Develop sourcing strategy for city/county managers and comparable leaders.
• Conduct outreach and interviews to assess leadership experience and fit.
• Prepare candidate summaries and present client recommendations.
• Coordinate interviews, finalist meetings, and stakeholder participation.
• Coordinate background reviews and offer discussions.
• Maintain schedule and provide regular progress updates.

Skills

Executive search

Public sector recruitment

Candidate evaluation

Stakeholder management

Communication

Job description

AlphaGov is seeking an experienced Executive Recruiter to lead a city manager search. You will help municipal leadership identify and select an executive capable of translating community priorities into effective day-to-day government operations.

You will own the recruiting process from initial search planning through offer acceptance, working directly with the client and keeping candidates engaged throughout the selection process.

What You'll Do

• Work with municipal leadership to define the position's priorities and candidate qualifications
• Develop a targeted sourcing strategy for experienced city managers, county managers, assistant managers, and comparable public-sector leaders
• Conduct outreach and interviews to assess management experience, leadership judgment, and fit with the community's needs
• Prepare candidate summaries and present recommendations to the client
• Coordinate interviews, finalist meetings, and stakeholder participation
• Coordinate references, required background reviews, and offer discussions
• Keep the search on schedule with clear documentation and regular progress updates

Requirements

• Experience leading city manager, county manager, or comparable local government executive searches
• An established network of municipal and county leadership professionals
• Experience working with elected officials and navigating searches involving multiple decision-makers
• Ability to evaluate executive experience across public administration, budgeting, service delivery, and organizational leadership
• Strong communication skills and sound judgment when handling candidate confidentiality within the client's disclosure requirements