The City of Sioux City, Iowa (population 85,727) seeks a talented, collaborative, resourceful, and experienced professional to become its next City Manager. Sioux City is located in northwest Iowa at the navigational head of the Missouri River and adjacent to the Big Sioux and Floyd Rivers. It is also immediately adjacent to two neighboring states, Nebraska (west) and South Dakota (northwest). It is the fourth largest city in Iowa. It is located 1 ½ hours from Omaha, and 3 hours from Des Moines. Sioux City encompasses 59.6 sq. miles.

The Town of Sioux City was incorporated in 1857 with a population of 400. With advantageous transportation routes created by the area rivers, along with the railroad, Sioux City grew quickly and became a regional center for commerce, agriculture, and culture. By 1890, the community had grown to nearly 40,000 people.

Today, Sioux City remains a vibrant, bustling community that functions as a regional hub for business, transportation, education, culture, health care, and recreation for the northwest Iowa region. It provides its residents with a perfect balance of small-town charm and friendliness, while providing an impressive range of urban amenities often only found in much larger metropolitan areas. Sioux City has embraced the future while celebrating and preserving its rich heritage.

The Municipal Government
The City of Sioux City has operated under the Council–Manager form of government since 2006 when it was adopted by a public referendum. The City’s governing body consists of the Mayor and five (5) City Council Members who are each elected at-large to four-year overlapping terms. The City Council appoints a City Manager to oversee the day-to-day affairs of the municipal government.

The City of Sioux City has a $258 million annual operating budget, and it employs approximately 900 full-time, part-time, and seasonal employees. The City provides its residents and businesses with a comprehensive range of public services, including traditional municipal services such as Police, Fire/EMS, Public Works, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Water, and Sewer. In addition to these basic services, the City of Sioux City also owns and/or operates the following facilities and programs: Sioux Gateway Airport, Sioux City Arts Center, Seaboard Triumph Foods Expo Center, Tyson Events Center, Sioux City Transit System, Sioux City Public Museum, and the Sioux City Public Library.

The City Manager Position
The City Manager position in Sioux City was adopted by referendum in November 2006, and its duties and responsibilities are consistent with those of a traditional city manager. The most recent City Manager retired in April after serving in the position for eleven years.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a thorough understanding of all of the facets of municipal government operations. A minimum of a Bachelor's Degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, or some other relevant field of study is required. A Master's Degree in public administration is preferred but not required. Applicants should also have at least 10 years of progressively responsible managerial/administrative experience, preferably with a local government as a city manager or assistant city manager.

The Ideal Candidate:
The Mayor and City Council have determined that the ideal candidate for the City Manager position will possess the following professional skills, leadership traits, and personal attributes:

• Consistently exhibits exceptional leadership qualities including honesty, integrity, diplomacy, accountability, empathy, engagement, and enthusiasm.
• Uses leadership skills to create a strong team-oriented culture among the members of the City’s leadership team and sets a positive example that will serve to inspire and empower all employees.
• Allows the municipal managers and professional staff to do their work without unnecessary interference and/or excessive oversight.
• Is always calm and collected but can be decisive and direct when the situation dictates.
• Is able and willing to engage in difficult conversations, when necessary, with both elected officials and staff to resolve unproductive conflict or to address performance and behavioral issues.
• Is a leader who is fully committed to the City of Sioux City, is passionate about the community, and is dedicated to making Sioux City the best place that it can be.
• Accepts criticism with maturity, objectivity, and professionalism. Does not inappropriately react to negative comments, even when a comment might not be fair or justified.
• Is a leader who is open-minded and willing to accept and pursue ideas from others, even if those ideas are not aligned with his or her preferred approaches.
• Promotes a healthy work/life balance in the workplace and prioritizes family values and needs.
• Will actively pursue positive changes in the organization but will always respect the importance of nurturing the organization’s culture and will pursue changes thoughtfully and deliberately.
• Is visible, accessible, and approachable to employees, elected officials, and residents of the community.
• Will enthusiastically embrace the vision of the community, established by the City Council and others, and will regularly and effectively communicate that vision to staff, businesses, members of the public, and all community stakeholders.
• While holding members of the City staff accountable for their performance and behavior, he/she will support and protect them from unfair and inappropriate public criticism.

Compensation and How to Apply
The annual starting salary range for the position is $200,000 to $240,000 DOQ/E. The City of Sioux City will provide the City Manager with a highly competitive and comprehensive array of fringe benefits. Relocation assistance may be negotiated with the successful candidate. Apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com with a resume, cover letter, and contact information for five work-related references by June 4, 2025. Confidential inquiries about the position and/or the selection process should be directed to Mark Peterson, MGT Approved Independent Executive Recruiter, at 309-825-5091.

The City of Sioux City is an Equal Opportunity Employer