CITY MANAGER PROFILE
OAK HILL, WEST VIRGINIA

This profile outlines the qualifications and experience identified by the City Management and City Council which will be used to select the next City Manager for the City of Oak Hill, West Virginia. This guide will provide the criteria by which applicants will be screened and selected for final interviews.

All inquiries regarding this selection process should be directed to:

Damita Johnson, City Manager
City of Oak Hill
P.O. Box 1245
Oak Hill, WV 25901-1245
Phone: 304-469-9541
Email: djohnson@oakhillwv.gov

The City Manager serves as the chief executive officer and head of the administration branch of the City of Oak Hill and implements the policies of the City Council of Oak Hill. The successful candidate will have general direction of all programs, projects, services, budgets, and employees of the City. The successful candidate will be responsible for the planning, research, and execution of the strategic plans of the city and the development of new programs and services, and at improving the quality of life of the citizens of Oak Hill. The successful candidate will manage the business of the Council, assist in the establishment of its agendas, and administer the contractual relationships initiated by the Council. The City Manager’s duties and responsibilities are defined by the provisions of Chapter 8 of the West Virginia Code and Chapter 12 of the Charter for the City of Oak Hill, among others.

Oak Hill is a full-service community and provides a variety of services customary to cities of its size. The City Manager is responsible for the supervision of most full-time City Departments including Fire, Public Works, and Administration. The City Manager is also responsible for the supervision of the City’s regulated public utility, the Sanitary Board. Including sewer revenues, the City’s most recent audited financial statement reflects total operating revenues of over $8 million. Revenue sources include Business and Occupation taxes, charges for municipal services, sales tax, and Ad valorem property taxes, among others. The city currently employs an average of 55 full-time employees. The city is designated a Class III municipality under West Virginia Law.

The city is governed under the Manager-Council form of government defined by West Virginia Code §8-3-2. The council is composed of seven members, elected, six of whom shall respectively represent the two wards of the City, three in each ward, and one of whom shall be elected at large. A mayor is elected by the public. Council members work well as a team and are anxious to address broader issues in their effort to bring about the highest quality of life.

The City of Oak Hill has a population of 8,197 (per the 2020 U.S. Census) and is centrally located in Fayette County, West Virginia, on US-19 in Southern West Virginia. In recent years, the City of Oak Hill has made a considerable effort to revitalize its downtown. However, the development of retail remains elusive. The City of Oak Hill is currently working on updating its decennial Comprehensive Plan and remains on the precipice of change.

Candidate Qualification Criteria: The minimum qualifications for this position include at least five (5) years of progressively responsible managerial experience at a senior level in a governmental entity, preferably as a City Manager, County Administrator, or similar position at another governmental agency. A four-year BA or BS degree in public administration, public policy, business or related field or an MBA or MPA in public/business administration from an accredited college or university is preferred but not required.

The successful candidate must have a strong budgetary background with the ability to develop, manage, and control a multi-million-dollar public budget; the ability to team build and work with staff to meet identified goals; possess effective human resource skills; a proven ability to manage people; the ability to organize community needs; and the ability to work with outside agencies. The successful candidate must establish permanent residency within the corporate limits upon employment.

Compensation: The salary range for this position is $80,000 to $100,000 and is negotiable based on experience and education. A benefits package is also included.

For those interested in this position, please mail a cover letter and resume’ to the address above by May 23, 2025. Eligible candidates will be contacted to begin the interview process.