Village Administrator

Village of Glen Carbon; Glen Carbon (IL); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

The Village of Glen Carbon, Illinois, is seeking an experienced Village Administrator to lead day-to-day operations, work with the Mayor and Village Board, and advance community goals. The ideal candidate will be a strategic, collaborative, and strong communicator with a solid background in municipal budgeting and finance.

Salary ranges from $145,056 to $165,364 DOQ/E with comprehensive benefits. The position requires a bachelor’s degree and substantial public sector leadership experience, with

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, finance, political science, economic/community development, or related field.
• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible public sector managerial experience; village manager/administrator preferred. Master’s degree desirable but not required.

Responsibilities

• Direct day-to-day operations of Village government through department heads and management team.
• Implement policies, ordinances, and directives adopted by the Mayor and Village Board.
• Advise the Mayor and Village Board on operations, policy considerations, and opportunities.
• Oversee organizational performance, personnel administration, and resource allocation.
• Collaborate with department heads for efficient, responsive public services.
• Lead budgeting, financial management, capital planning, and long-range planning.
• Support economic development and responsible community growth with the Mayor, Board, and staff.
• Maintain productive relationships with residents, businesses, agencies, regional partners, and media.
• Promote effective communications between Village government and the community.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and service delivery.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Collaborative management

Communication

Public service governance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

The Village of Glen Carbon, Illinois, (pop. 13,977) is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and organized professional to serve as its next Village Administrator. Located in Madison County in southwestern Illinois, Glen Carbon is a vibrant and growing community with a strong residential and retail presence, convenient access to major interstates, and a full array of municipal services.

THE COMMUNITY

The Village of Glen Carbon is part of the area commonly referred to as “Metro East,” which is part of the St. Louis metropolitan region. The Village has a population of approximately 14,000 and employs 83 full-time employees, with an annual operating budget of approximately $32 million. Glen Carbon operates under a Mayor–Trustee form of government, with the Mayor and a six-member Board of Trustees providing policy direction and oversight. The Mayor appoints the Village Administrator, with the consent of the Village Board, and the Administrator is responsible for the professional management of day-to-day municipal operations. The current Village Administrator is retiring after serving 15 years in the position.

The Village provides its residents with an outstanding quality of life. It features a range of attractive and safe residential neighborhoods, beautiful parks and recreational trails, and a robust mix of retail and restaurant offerings. Glen Carbon was incorporated as a Village in 1892.

THE POSITION

The Village Administrator serves as the chief administrative and operational leader of the Village and works closely with the Mayor and Village Board to implement established policies, maintain effective municipal services, and advance the community’s goals.

The successful candidate will be a highly visible and accessible leader who must build strong working relationships with elected officials, employees, residents, businesses, community organizations, and regional partners. The Administrator will be expected to foster a culture of professionalism, accountability, innovation, transparency, and service excellence.

Key responsibilities include:

• Directing and coordinating the day-to-day operations of Village government through department heads and other members of the management team.
• Implementing and administering policies, ordinances, and directives adopted by the Mayor and Village Board.
• Advising the Mayor and Village Board on municipal operations, policy considerations, emerging issues, and opportunities.
• Overseeing organizational performance, personnel administration, and effective allocation of Village resources.
• Working collaboratively with department heads to ensure efficient, responsive, and cost-effective delivery of public services.
• Providing leadership in budgeting, financial management, capital planning, and long-range operational planning.
• Supporting economic development and responsible community growth in coordination with the Mayor, Village Board, and staff.
• Maintaining productive relationships with residents, businesses, governmental agencies, regional partners, and the news media.
• Promoting effective communications between Village government and the community.
• Ensuring municipal activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.
• Identifying opportunities to improve organizational efficiency, service delivery, technology, and customer service.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants for the position should possess a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, finance, political science, economic/community development, or some other relevant field of study. Applicants should also have a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible public sector managerial experience, preferably as a village manager/administrator or an assistant manager/administrator. A master’s degree is desirable but not required. It is important that applicants demonstrate an understanding of all aspects of municipal operations, budgeting, personnel administration, and public policy. Applicants must also possess strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and public communication skills.

The ideal candidate will be:

A Strategic Leader.

Able to translate policy direction into effective action, anticipate emerging community needs, establish priorities, and manage both day-to-day operations and long-term initiatives.

A Collaborative Manager.

Comfortable working with elected officials and department heads while empowering professional staff, establishing clear expectations, and holding the organization accountable for results.

A Strong Communicator.

An approachable and credible communicator who can explain complex municipal issues clearly and respectfully to elected officials, employees, residents, businesses, and community stakeholders.

A Community Builder.

Committed to maintaining Glen Carbon’s quality of life while supporting thoughtful economic development, infrastructure investment, responsible growth, and strong community partnerships.

A Financially Responsible Steward.

Experienced in municipal budgeting, financial management, capital planning, and the responsible use of public resources.

A Relationship-Oriented Professional.

Able to build trust, maintain productive relationships, and work effectively with the Mayor and Village Board, employees, residents, businesses, regional partners, and other governmental partners.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

The starting annual salary range for the position is $145,056 to $165,364 DOQ/E. The Village of Glen Carbon provides its employees with a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. If you are interested in this exceptional opportunity to help shape the future of a dynamic and growing community in the St. Louis region, please apply online by submitting a cover letter and résumé no later than October 19, 2026. Confidential inquiries should be directed to Mark Peterson, MGT Consultant, at [phone].

The Village of Glen Carbon is an Equal Opportunity Employer.