The growing community of Kings Mountain, NC, seeks a collaborative, diplomatic, and visionary leader to serve as its next City Manager. This executive will bring experience and expertise in implementing long-term plans for the City that support growth, infrastructure, and alignment with the community's needs.

The next City Manager will immerse themself in the community - passionately building connections and establishing respectful and trusting relationships with community members, staff, councilmembers, and other stakeholders. Joining Kings Mountain at a time of significant growth, the City Manager will strategically lead and navigate the City through the completion of $100M in capital projects ($82M+ water/sewer, $12M Electric, $11M Natural Gas. and $4.5M in Other General Government projects, including Streetscape, Parks, City Hall, and Moss Lake). The City of Kings Mountain is at an inflection point of growth and development. The current pipeline of residential, commercial, and industrial projects is indicative of the continued growth anticipated with more than 15 projects that will lead to 1000+ new residential lots, 800+ townhomes, and 400+ market rate apartments. There are more than 16 commercial and industrial projects resulting in over 5 million square feet of new development.

The City of Kings Mountain was incorporated in 1874. The City Manager, who reports to the Mayor and a seven-person, non-partisan City Council, leads 230 full-time and 36 part-time employees across 21 departments. The 2024-2025 adopted budget of $60.9M is supported by a tax rate of $.48 per $100 of assessed tax value and utility enterprise funds. The City of Kings Mountain is one of only two NC cities offering six city-owned and operated utilities to businesses and residents, including gas, electric, sewer, water, stormwater, and a dark fiber telecommunications network. The City also benefits from a self-funded health insurance plan, which creates critical cost-benefit opportunities. The City Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, and implementing the Council's goals and objectives. The Kings Mountain City Manager will have the opportunity to lead the second largest municipality in Cleveland County and improve collaboration and communication with the Council and across departments. The City Manager is also a liaison with the City's 10 boards and commissions.

Key priorities for the next City Manager are:
• Facilitate the creation of a strategic plan, including mission, vision, and values for the city to articulate priorities and inform the budget process and organization’s operations.
• Enhance the relationship and partnership with the City Council, and between City Council and staff, maintaining trust and ensuring transparent communication.
• Lead staff to capitalize on strengths and enhance employee engagement and retention by fostering a culture of candid dialog, inclusiveness, equity, consistency, and accountability for delivering excellent customer service both internally and externally.
• Engage, educate, and support the community to trust local government through accurate, timely, and transparent communication.
• Manage growth and revenue likely to result from the reopening of the Albemarle Lithium Mine and the completion of the Two Kings Casino.

Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, civil engineering, planning, or closely related field is required; a master’s degree in public or business administration and/or ICMA credentialed manager certification is preferred. Candidate must have 7-10 years of successful and progressive levels of supervisory and management experience, prefer experience in local government with a similar sized city.
The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent decision-making skills and excel in uniting leaders, staff, and the community around a collective vision. In their next Manager, the City seeks someone with high ethical standards, one with significant skill and experience in economic development, and a willingness to learn about and effectively engage with the industrial partners in the community.