The historic and charming City of Sault Ste. Marie has a great opportunity for a new city manager. The city is located in the eastern Upper Peninsula of Michigan, known as “where Michigan was born,” and is the center of the Great Lakes. It is the county seat of Chippewa County and is the only city within the county. With a population of 13,337, it is the second-most populated city in the Upper Peninsula. Founded in 1668, it is Michigan’s oldest city.

Michiganders are rightfully boastful of all their grand peninsulas have to offer, and nowhere do all the state’s attributes merge more acutely than in the City of Sault Ste. Marie. For the dynamic leader who has dreamed of living and working in an outdoor four-season paradise, the perfect opportunity is now available.

The city is seeking a strategic and innovative city manager to lead its progressive, full-service city of 20.02 square miles (14.76 square miles of land). The general fund totals $16,194,500, and the city's overall budget is $31,872,051.

The city’s seven-member city commission, nine excellent department heads, and 125 full-time employees, along with 25 seasonal employees, are committed to providing and supporting a great career opportunity for the right candidate who wishes to join this community. The city has had three city managers in the past 33 years.

The city is home to the world-famous Soo Locks, owned and operated by the United States Corps of Engineers. A $3 billion federal construction project to build a new Soo Lock is currently underway.

The new city manager will develop and maintain relationships with elected officials, department heads, and all levels of city employees, and will respect and value city residents. Proven communication, interpersonal, and human relations skills, along with the ability to interact with a wide variety of people with varied attitudes and positions, are important and desirable qualities. The city has an engaged citizenry that expects a transparent city government and open communication between the city manager, mayor, commission members, and citizens. The City of Sault Ste. Marie will offer a competitive compensation and benefit package, with a salary range of $115,000-$145,000 depending on experience and qualifications, and a hybrid defined benefit and defined contribution retirement plan.

DEADLINE April 10th, 2026

Requirements

The City of Sault Ste. Marie will consider applicants who value the small-town way of life, have a history of community involvement, and possess an innate drive to engage partners and residents in shaping the next steps to continue a successful and prosperous community. To be considered a qualified applicant, respondents should have:
-- A bachelor’s and/or master’s degree in a relevant field of study, such as business, finance, accounting, or public administration, is preferred
-- Three to five years of experience as a city or village manager or assistant manager, or equivalent experience in a similar organization
-- An understanding of Michigan’s local government and economic tools available to the city, such as Brownfield Authority, tax exemptions, etc.