City Administrator

City of Chippewa Falls, WI (Population 15,246)

The City of Chippewa Falls is seeking its first City Administrator in almost 20 years. This is a unique opportunity to lead a vibrant and historic community known for its strong local economy, engaged residents, and exceptional quality of life in west-central Wisconsin. Chippewa Falls, the County Seat of Chippewa County, is a full-service community that offers an historic downtown, along with burgeoning commercial and industrial development with outstanding schools, healthcare services and recreational opportunities, including a city owned & operated Zoo. The ideal candidate has skills in budget development & management, is a leader in organizational change, a strong track record of economic development success and solid human resources skills. Additionally, their next City Administrator must be someone with a high degree of integrity, a strong listener with a collaborative, dynamic style of leadership that is a team builder with a strong work ethic and a history of stable tenures in previous positions.

Originally settled in 1839, Chippewa Falls incorporated into a city in 1867. While Chippewa Falls embraces their historic roots, it currently hosts a mix of recently constructed homes and apartments as well as several recent commercial & industrial developments, including the 35,000 sf Aspirus Hospital & Clinic, scheduled for completion in September, 2026. Chippewa Falls abuts the City of Eau Claire, WI and is 1.5 hours from the Twin Cities, MN and is a growing municipality in northwestern Wisconsin.

Salary $135,000-$160,000 plus excellent benefits, DOQ. The Mayor and seven member City Council are elected on a non-partisan basis, serving 2-year, staggered terms. Chippewa Falls has adopted budgets of $18M (General Fund); $3.2M (Water Utility), $3.5M (Sewer Utility) & $962K (Stormwater Utility) in 2026. The City has a robust fund balance of $34M, $31M outstanding GO debt, an average annual capital project budget of $4M, TID’s 7-16, 120 FT and approx. 20+/- PT employees. The Administrator will be focusing on economic development/redevelopment, housing, budgeting, implementing a recently completed compensation study, developing a capital improvement plan and managing TIF Projects.

Require Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field (Master’s Degree preferred); with at least 5 years progressive municipal management experience or a combination of education & experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills & abilities required. Consideration of candidates with private-sector, federal, state or military experience will be given if they can demonstrate accomplishments that directly relate to the required skills. Residency is encouraged but not required.

Visit the community website here or the detailed community/position Profile on the Public Administration Website https://public-administration.com/employment-opportunities/ for more information.

Send cover letter, resume, salary history and references to Public Administration Associates, LLC, Attn: Shawn Murphy, Associate; 24505 250th Avenue Holcombe, WI 54745 or e-mail smurphy@public-administration.com; phone 608-370-1663, by April 27, 2026. Confidentiality must be requested by the applicant and cannot be guaranteed for finalists.