Town Manager in Houlton, Maine at Maine Municipal Association

Town Manager | Town of Houlton, Maine

The Town of Houlton is seeking a visionary and collaborative leader of unquestioned integrity—an effective manager who can build and empower a strong team, advance economic development, and move the community forward—to serve as its next Town Manager. Sound fiscal stewardship is essential, and the Town views it as the natural outcome of a manager who balances these leadership, operational, and development priorities well. Known as the "Shire Town" of Aroostook County, Houlton is a vital full-service community and regional commercial hub with a population of approximately 6,000 residents. Operating under a Town Council/Manager form of government, Houlton prides itself on offering exceptional services, including full-time police, fire, and ambulance departments, a top-tier community hospital, municipal utilities, and some of the lowest electric rates in New England.

Position Overview

• Form of Government: Town Council / Town Manager
• Municipal Employees: Approximately 60 full-time and seasonal staff
• Annual Budget: Approximately $16,200,000
• Compensation: Salary is competitive and negotiable based on experience and training. An excellent municipal benefits package is included.

Key Responsibilities

• Personnel & Labor Leadership: Direct, mentor, and support 60 municipal employees while managing labor relations and collective bargaining agreements.
• Economic Development: Drive local economic growth, support existing businesses, and attract new regional commercial investments.
• Community & Council Relations: Serve as the primary liaison to the Town Council, implementing policies with transparency and maintaining open lines of communication with residents.
• Grant Oversight: Supervise the Town's grant activities, supporting the community development director and grant writer as they identify, prepare, and administer state and federal grants for community infrastructure projects.
• Financial Stewardship: Deliver balanced budgets and sound long-term financial health as the product of strong management—overseeing municipal financial operations, budget preparation ($16.2M), internal controls, and capital planning.

Qualifications & Skills

• Integrity: An unwavering commitment to honesty, transparency, and ethical public service, earning and keeping the trust of the Council, staff, and residents.
• Leadership: Proven track record of strong leadership and the ability to manage diverse municipal departments.
• Communication: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience: Prior municipal management experience is highly preferred, though candidates with equivalent executive-level leadership or comparable business experience are encouraged to apply.
• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field is desired; a Master’s degree (MPA/MBA) is a plus.
• Planning Knowledge: Familiarity with comprehensive planning, community zoning, and public works infrastructure is preferred.
• Ideal Candidate: The ideal candidate will be willing to immerse themselves into the Northern Maine culture. The candidate should be committed to a long-term relationship with the Town.
• Salary and Benefits: The Town offers a very competitive negotiable salary of approximately $115,000 to $130,000 plus a generous benefit package.

Interested candidates are required to submit a cover letter.