The City of Stuart, Iowa (1,782) seeks a strong leader with outstanding listening and communication skills, as well as economic development and strategic planning and organizational development capabilities for its next City Administrator. Stuart is a growing community with a strategic location along Interstate 80 and in the Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Stuart’s downtown is historic and vibrant. This is an outstanding professional opportunity in a growing community and in an organization with dedicated staff and progressive community leadership. The City Administrator will be highly collaborative and visible throughout the community. The City offers a competitive benefits package and a starting salary between $105-120K DOQ. City residency preferred and participation in community events is required. Relocation allowance is negotiable.

Stuart, Iowa, home to 1700 Good Eggs.....and a Few Stinkers, is named for Captain Charles Stuart, was founded in 1868, following the construction of the Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacifc Railroad. Stuart is
located on I-80 and is part of the Des Moines Metropolitan Statistical Area. Stuart is close-knit with a strong sense of volunteerism. Stuart is a charming, historic town with four buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, one of which (All Saints Center) is home to the Learning Museum for Religious Tolerance. Its revitalized downtown is vibrant with activity and a variety of homegrown businesses. Stuart is also famous for a 1934 bank robbery by Bonnie and Clyde. Stuart is characterized by a mix of residential housing, with a majority of residents owning their homes. The town has a strong, supportive business community with diverse enterprises and low crime rates. Stuart also boasts local amenities such as an aquatic center, three parks, and access to a large regional park operated by Guthrie County. The community also hosts “Good Egg Days”, a three-day celebration held over Fathers’ Day weekend. Stuart is served by the West Central Valley Community School District, with 850 students from three communities. The District is headquartered in Stuart and there is both an elementary School and High School in Stuart.

Stuart has a growing economy, anchored by its strategic I-80 location. Major industries include finance, insurance, healthcare, and retail trade, with manufacturing and construction offering the highest wages. The town has experienced significant development through SEED (Stuart Enterprise for Economic Development), fostering a mix of local businesses, industrial growth, and new housing. The largest industries employing residents in 2024 were finance & insurance, healthcare & social assistance, and retail. Stuart offers a competitive, lower-than-average cost of living, with housing costs reported as 53% lower than the national average. The City is also supported by an active Chamber of Commerce.

Stuart is a Council/Mayor form of government with a City Administrator. The City is governed by a Mayor and a five-member City Council elected to four-year terms. The City Council meets regularly on the second Monday of every month at 6:00 p.m. with special meetings as needed. The Mayor and Council are assisted by citizen boards and commissions including Utilities Board, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Parks & Recreation Commission, Historic Preservation Board, Hotel/Motel Committee, SEED, and the Library Board. The City employs a full-time staff of 19, as well as 6 part-time staff members and seasonal support. The total budget is $34,564,737 million, including transfers, with a general fund of $1,402,623 and levy rate of $15.47206. The City police force consists of 5 full-time sworn positions. Fire protection services are provided by a 25 member volunteer department and volunteers also help support the full-time personnel for Emergency Medical Services. The City operates a water and electric utility as well as a wastewater treatment plant.

While infrastructure is always a need, overall the City has been proactive and the infrastructure is in good condition but there is a need to develop a capital improvement plan. There are a variety of economic development projects in process and on the horizon that need attention, such as working with a new truck stop locating on I-80. Administratively, Stuart recently completed an organizational review and the new City Administrator is tasked with implementing recommendations from that review, including developing a long-term staffing plan and professional development plans for current staff, writing job descriptions, streamlining payroll and other administrative processes, enhancing financial protocols, formalizing city-wide IT services, and modernizing processes. The new Administrator will also work on housing projects, including the All Saints and Wambold Additions currently underway. The new City Administrator will place a priority on establishing good working relationships with community organizations and department heads.

Candidates should possess a four year degree (Master’s preferred) in public administration, planning, or a related field and experience in municipal management or public leadership. The new Administrator should also possess strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as exceptional financial management, economic development, planning, personnel management, and organizational development capabilities.

For additional information contact Theia Management Consulting at 515.322.6597.