The Position
The City of Kalamazoo is seeking its next City Manager, a pivotal leader who will build upon a foundation of strong community spirit and a shared progressive vision. This is a unique opportunity to lead a vibrant, financially sound "education city" with a thriving arts and culture scene, guiding it towards even greater shared equity, prosperity, and innovation. The ideal candidate will value collaboration, embrace strategic planning through the "Imagine Kalamazoo 2035" vision, and has a proven track record demonstrating impactful leadership to address key challenges, propelling Kalamazoo to the next level of excellence.

As the Chief Administrative Officer, the City Manager is responsible for planning, administering, directing, and evaluating all municipal operations. This includes oversight of essential public services such as water, sewer, streets, public safety, community development, parks and recreation, and administrative functions. The City Manager is tasked with ensuring efficient and effective service delivery, providing expert policy guidance to a high-performing senior leadership team, and serving as the primary administrative support to the City Commission, implementing their policy decisions with precision and foresight.

The City Manager will be instrumental in translating the City Commission's vision into tangible outcomes across critical areas. A paramount focus will be on economic vitality, driving strategies for stronger business attraction and retention, expanding the tax base, demonstrating a commitment toward diversity, equity and inclusion for all employees and residents, and downtown development and redevelopment. They will champion community well-being, develop innovative, collective solutions for pressing social issues. Operational excellence will be paramount, requiring a deep dive into departmental budgets to enhance efficiency, a global compensation study to attract and retain top talent, and a commitment to continuous improvement in all city services. Furthermore, the Manager will lead the strategic investment in and management of the City's critical infrastructure, while proactively pursuing vital federal grants.

Reporting directly to a highly engaged and collaborative City Commission, the City Manager works as a trusted partner, maintaining consistent and transparent communication to advance collective goals. The Manager will lead a unified and dedicated Senior Leadership Team, empowering them to drive operational excellence and achieve strategic objectives. Beyond City Hall, the Manager is the City's foremost ambassador, building and nurturing critical relationships with a vast network of external stakeholders. This includes a robust philanthropic community (e.g., Foundation for Excellence, Kalamazoo Community Foundation), key educational institutions (Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College and Kalamazoo Public Schools), major employers (Stryker, Pfizer, Bronson Healthcare), the business community (Southwest Michigan First and The Chamber), and diverse community and advocacy groups (NAACP, faith communities, neighborhood associations, and grassroots organizations serving underserved populations).

This leader must be visible, accessible, and intentional in their community engagement, ensuring the City Manager's office is deeply connected to the pulse of Kalamazoo.

Qualifications
Minimum qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a closely related field. Ten years of progressively responsible experience in local government management, public policy, economic development, planning or related experience. Five years of management experience, including coaching and mentoring, is also required.

Preferred qualifications master’s degree, and demonstrated success in areas such as economic development, downtown redevelopment, affordable housing, public safety, and infrastructure management. ICMA Credentialed Manager certification is also preferred.

Compensation and Benefits
The expected hiring range is $220,000-$250,000, depending on qualifications, with an excellent benefits package.

Benefits offered include the following:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (with City contributions to Health Savings Accounts for the HDHP plan)
• Employer-Paid Life and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Robust Retirement Plans: Defined Benefit Pension, 457 Deferred Compensation with City Match, and a City-contributed Retirement Health Care Savings Program (HCSP)
• Generous Paid Time Off: Holidays, Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days, and Paid Parental Leave
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical & Dependent Care)
• Option to waive medical coverage for an annual payment
• Access to Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Legal)

How to Apply
Applications will be accepted electronically by Raftelis at jobs.crelate.com/portal/Raftelis. Applicants complete a brief online form and are prompted to provide a cover letter and resume. The position will be open until filled with a first review of applications beginning September 12, 2025.

In Michigan, applicants for certain public positions, including the City Manager’s position, must specifically request confidentiality to keep their candidacy confidential. If you request this, Raftelis will make every effort to maintain the confidentiality of your application, in accordance with Michigan's Open Records and Open Meetings laws and statuses. We will also notify you in advance should your application be subject to public disclosure.