The City of Fairmont, MN (pop. 10,487) seeks a strategic leader with strong communication and collaboration skills to be its next city administrator. Known as the “City of Lakes,” Fairmont is located in southern Minnesota amidst a chain of five lakes. The city is just over two hours’ drive from the Twin Cities metro area and easily accessible to larger communities like Mankato, Rochester, Sioux Falls, and Mason City.

Fairmont is a family-friendly community with affordable housing, quality education options, and highly ranked healthcare facilities. The city administrator leads a staff of 90+, including finance, public works, community development, human resources and public safety/emergency management divisions. The city has an all-funds budget of $91M and a general fund budget of $10.8M. It operates an electric utility, water and wastewater utilities, a municipal airport, and a municipal liquor store. Development activities are overseen by the Economic Development Authority (EDA), and public utilities are governed by a Public Utilities Commission. Fairmont also has a paid on-call volunteer fire department.

The next city administrator should be highly collaborative, able to establish trusting relationships, chart a strategic direction, and inspire a team.

Candidate Requirement:

Additional requirements include:
• A bachelor’s degree in planning, public administration, urban studies, community development or a related field; Master’s degree is desirable.
• A minimum of five years of progressive leadership experience in municipal administration.
• Skilled in budgeting, prioritization, and project management.
• Knowledgeable in human resources management and labor relations.
• Skilled in collaboration and team building with a variety of groups and individuals.
• Experienced and knowledgeable in all aspects of municipal operations.

Compensation and Benefits
The starting salary range is $146,619 to $185,681 DOQ. The City of Fairmont provides a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, and life/AD&D insurances; HSA and FSA spending plans; paid leave (holiday, sick, and vacation time); an Employee Assistance Plan service; and a MN Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) benefit.

How to Apply
Interested candidates should apply online at www.GovHRjobs.com by August 25, 2025, with resume, cover letter and contact information for five work-related references to the attention of Mike Brethorst, MGT Senior Consultant, Tel: 218-329-0700.

The City of Fairmont, MN is an Equal Opportunity Employer.