City Administrator at City of Monroe (WA) – Monroe, Washington

If you are a collaborative, results-driven professional with strong leadership, financial acumen, and a commitment to innovation and service excellence, we invite you to apply and make a lasting impact on our community.

Learn more about Monroe and the ideal candidate qualities here: City Administrator Flyer- City of Monroe

The City Administrator provides executive leadership over day-to-day municipal operations. Appointed by and reporting to the Mayor, the City Administrator implements City Council policies, oversees department directors, and ensures City services are delivered in alignment with the City’s vision, strategic priorities, and values.
Working within a strong-mayor form of government, the City Administrator supports the Mayor, providing professional guidance on operations, finance, policy implementation, and organizational performance. The position is responsible for fostering a collaborative, high-performing organization; ensuring sound fiscal stewardship; advancing strategic initiatives; and maintaining a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement that supports a growing and evolving community.

• Provide overall administrative leadership for City operations, ensuring departments function effectively and collaboratively in alignment with City goals.
• Oversee department directors across Finance, Community Development, Public Works, Police, Parks and Recreation, Human Services, and HR/IT/Communications; develop the Senior Leadership Team through coaching, performance management, and succession planning; and ensure continuity of operations during leadership transitions, emergencies, and major organizational change.
• Implement Mayor and City Council policy decisions in a timely, consistent, and transparent manner; advise on operational, financial, and policy implications; and ensure high-quality agenda materials, staff reports, and presentations.
• Lead implementation of the City’s Strategic Plan by aligning departmental work plans with the Comprehensive Plan, Capital Facilities Plan, and biennial budget; track progress and report outcomes and performance measures
• Ensure successful execution of the City’s adopted economic development goals and strategies; monitor progress, evaluate outcomes, and report regularly to the Mayor and City Council; and coordinate with external agencies, regional partners, and stakeholders to support strategic economic initiatives.
• Oversee development and administration of the biennial budget in collaboration with the Mayor, Finance Director, and department leadership; ensure responsible stewardship of all City funds, including utility funds, internal service funds, grants, and debt; support long-term financial planning, capital financing strategies, rate studies, and debt issuance; and maintain compliance with financial policies and professional standards.
• Facilitate a citywide perspective that prioritizes organizational and community-wide outcomes. The role facilitates collaboration across departments on complex initiatives such as capital projects, emergency response, economic development, and major land-use initiatives. The City Administrator represents the City in regional, intergovernmental, and community partnerships as delegated by the Mayor.
• Promote the use of technology and continuous improvement practices to enhance service delivery and operational efficiency.

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible management experience in municipal government or a comparable organization, including at least five years in a senior leadership role.
• A valid Washington State motor vehicle operator’s license or the ability to obtain by date of hire.
• Any equivalent combination of education, experience and training that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree in Public Administration or related discipline.
• Executive-level experience in city management, strategic planning, economic development oversight, and intergovernmental coordination.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Leadership
• Financial Acumen
• Communication and Collaboration
• Ethical Decision-Making

PERFORMANCE EXPECTIONS
The City Administrator builds and maintains strong working relationships with the Mayor, City Council, and Senior Leadership Team. The role delivers timely and effective implementation of Council-adopted policies and strategic initiatives. The City Administrator ensures organizational stability, sound financial management, and measurable progress toward strategic priorities. The position fosters a collaborative, accountable, and engaged workforce and consistently represents the City’s values in all interactions.

• Operational Efficiency: Demonstrates measurable improvements in service delivery and departmental performance.
• Budget Management: Maintains fiscal responsibility by ensuring expenditures align with approved budgets and financial policies.
• Strategic Goal Achievement: Successfully implements City Council priorities and long-term strategic plans within established timelines.
• Employee Engagement: Fosters a positive organizational culture, evidenced by staff development, retention, and satisfaction metrics.
• Community Relations: Builds and sustains strong relationships with residents, businesses, and regional partners, reflected in positive feedback and collaborative initiatives.
• Economic Development Oversight: Ensures alignment and accountability for achieving the City’s economic development goals.
• Innovation & Technology: Introduces and integrates modern tools and practices that enhance transparency, accessibility, and efficiency.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Primarily office-based with frequent interaction across departments and with external stakeholders. Attendance at evening meetings and occasional travel required.

DISCLAIMER
This job description is intended to convey information essential to understanding the scope of the position and is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities. Duties may be modified as organizational needs evolve.