The City of Camanche, Iowa (4,570) seeks an outstanding communicator with exceptional emotional intelligence, customer service, economic development, strategic planning, project management, and collaborative leadership capabilities for its next City Administrator. Camanche is located in eastern Iowa along the Mississippi River and in close proximity to the Quad Cities. Camanche’s close-knit charm and extraordinary quality of life offer an outstanding professional opportunity in an organization with talented staff and progressive community leadership. The City Administrator will be highly engaged and visible throughout the community.

It is the City’s intent to conclude the search process as expediently as possible. Therefore, candidates are urged to tentatively mark the following dates on their schedules:
Application deadline: November 15, 2026, 4:30 PM CT
Semifinalists notified: November 17, 2026
Virtual interviews: November 18, 2026
Finalist interviews: December 11 & 12, 2026
Employment Agreement approval: December 15, 2026
Start of employment: 30-45 days after approval

Camanche is a charming riverfront community in Clinton County, Iowa known for an active community life with many local shops, restaurants, and parks. Popular activities include fishing, boating, and kayaking on the Mississippi River, as well as winter sports such as skiing and snowmobiling. Camanche has a thriving school district, with approximately 1,000 students. The district serves the City of Camanche, the unincorporated town of Follets, a significant portion of the western limits of the City of Clinton, as well as the surrounding rural area.

Camanche was founded by Dr. George Peck and is named after the Comanche Tribe. Dr. Peck advertised the new city in Chicago, sparking significant growth in 1851 and leading to incorporation in 1857. River trade shaped the early settlement. Camanche served as a trading hub, with grain and pork transported from surrounding areas, making it a key commercial center for Clinton County. Early industries also included commercial fishing and clamming, becoming known for producing buttons from clam shells and supplying factories in both nearby Clinton and Muscatine, Iowa. Today Camanche enjoys an excellent quality of life, with affordable housing, solid educational opportunities, and a stable economy, supported by a mix of agriculture, manufacturing, retail, and service jobs. The median home value is $190,000.

Camanche’s economy is based on a diversified mix of industries, with agriculture, manufacturing, and professional services serving as large economic sectors.
Retail trade, transportation and logistics, health care/social assistance, and personal and business services also contribute significantly to the steady economy. The community enjoys an unemployment rate of 4.8%, slightly below the national average. Living in Camanche is less expensive than the national average, with housing costs that are up to 50% lower. The community’s economic strength and strong local schools contribute to a low crime rate, making it an outstanding community to raise a family.

Camanche is a Council/Mayor form of government with a City Administrator. The City is governed by a Mayor elected to two-year terms and a five-member City Council elected to four-year terms. The Camanche City Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of every month at 6:00 p.m. The Mayor and Council are assisted by citizen boards and commissions including Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment, Historical Board, Civil Service, and the Library Board. The City employs 25 full-time and 8 part-time staff. The total budget is approximately $10 million, excluding transfers, with a levy rate of $12.74881. The City police force consists of a full-time Police Chief and 8 sworn officers. Fire protection services are provided by a full-time Fire Chief, a full-time Assistant Chief, 3 FT Paramedic/Firefighters, and 25 volunteers. The City operates a water utility and a stormwater utility. Wastewater treatment is provided by the Clinton Regional Water Reclamation Facility.

Camanche is heavily invested in its parks system and recreational activities and offers a mix of scenic natural areas, community parks, and riverfront recreation, making it a family‑friendly destination for outdoor activities. Camanche’s parks and recreation offerings are an excellent combination of natural beauty, water‑based activities, and wide-ranging community facilities that support family-friendly outdoor recreation. Camanche is home to the Mississippi River Eco Tourism Center, a nature center with exhibits, an aquarium, picnic areas overlooking the river, and educational program. Platt Park is a 14.2 acre natural retreat in the heart of the city with trails in a lush environment, picnicking, and a very popular splash pad. Camanche City Park offers playgrounds and picnic shelters. There are also multiple “pocket parks” along the river, perfect for an
evening stroll, bird watching, and passive recreation. Nearby Rock Creek County Park offers camping, picnicking, a playground area and cabins with showers.

The Camanche Community School District serves approximately 1,000 students. It is the perfect size: small enough to foster personal relationships and large enough to offer a wide range of academic and athletic opportunities. Its strong academics are enhanced by robust student support. Small class size and strong teacher-student
relationships support student outcomes. For higher educational opportunities, Clinton Community College is just 10 minutes away. St. Ambrose, a four-year
university is located in nearby Davenport and Augustana College is in nearby Rock Island, IL. The University of Iowa is approximately 90 minutes from Camanche and Drake and Iowa State Universities are a short, three-hour drive away.

Getting to and around Camanche is extremely convenient. Camanche is located off State Highway 67 and has easy access to U.S. Route 30, a major east-west corridor in Iowa. River Bend Transit provides senior/disabled transportation services in Clinton County. Several trails provide pedestrian and bicycling connectivity. The area connects to major regional routes via nearby trail networks like the Great River Trail and Bear River Recreation Trail. Air travel is available from Moline, IL (less than one hour away) and Cedar Rapids, IA (approximately a 90-minute drive from Camanche.)

Camanche offers exploration and nature-focused creative events along the Mississippi River region. Blue Heron Eco-Cruises are public cruises of the beautiful
Mississippi River offered by The Clinton County Conservation Board at Rock Creek Marina and Campground just south of Camanche on Highway 67.
The Blue Heron serves tourists, outdoor groups, youth and schools by providing naturalist-led, educational eco cruises on the Mississippi River.
The Camanche Public Library is also home to a wide variety of events for all ages, including book clubs, after-school activities, knitting groups, retro-gaming
club, and yoga, among others. The Camanche Historical Museum, housing local history collections and the Clinton County/Gateway Genealogical Library, which includes past cemetery, tax, and county records. The Camanche Depot Museum preserves railroad history. Nearby Clinton offers cultural spots like the Felix Adler Children's Discovery Center, and Bickelhaupt Arboretum, as well as a wide variety of restaurants, nightclubs, and theaters.

Camanche is home to four churches, with the major denominations of Catholic, Lutheran, Baptist, and Methodist represented in the area.

The City Administrator is the chief administrative officer of the City and is responsible for the general supervision and direction of the administration of the city government in
accordance with codes, ordinances, resolutions and directives from the city council. Specific Duties Include:
* Directs and supervises all city departments.
* Plans, organizes, assigns, trains, motivates, and evaluates staff; reviews progress and implements changes as needed.
* Develops and implements strategic short-term and long-term plans.
* Gathers, interprets, and prepares data for studies, reports, and recommendations.
* Coordinates department activities with other departments and external agencies.
* Offers professional advice and policy recommendations to the City Council and department heads.
* Provides regular communication to the City Council about policy goals and City matters. Communicates official plans, policies, and procedures to staff and the public.
* Prepares, submits, and administers the city’s annual budget; manages financial planning processes.
* Monitors revenues and expenditures to maintain fiscal responsibility; performs cost control activities.
* Determines work procedures, prepares schedules, and streamlines workflow to improve operational efficiency.
* Issues instructions and ensures tasks are completed according to policies and procedures.
* Resolves grievances, complaints and operational errors and maintains workplace harmony.
* Prepares detailed reports and studies to assist the City Council's decision-making process.
* Hires, evaluates, and terminates city employees in accordance with personnel policies, excluding certain roles as specified by city ordinance.
* Ensures all laws and ordinances are faithfully executed.
* Advises the City Council on financial conditions, city needs, and future planning.
* Represents the city at City Council meetings, boards, commissions, and community functions.
* Ensures adherence to safety regulations and protocols.
* Serve as a liaison between elected officials, staff, and the public, maintaining transparency and effective communication.
* Collaborate closely with the Chamber of Commerce and the Clinton County Development Association on economic development efforts.

This position requires a high degree of information sharing and extensive communication among the Administration staff, department heads and other city team members, library, City Council, and the public. Communication and project management are critical skill sets for this position. Candidates should also have strong planning and financial capabilities, including a good working understanding of Tax Increment Financing. The City Administrator is expected to be highly visible throughout the community and embrace and foster community engagement with respectful citizen interactions.

Candidates should possess a four year degree (Master’s preferred) in public administration or a related field and experience in municipal management or leadership. The new Administrator should also possess strong communication and interpersonal skills as well as exceptional project management, planning, personnel management, and economic development capabilities. Additional qualifications: Experience in strategic planning, budgeting, staff management, and intergovernmental relations. Strong understanding of Iowa municipal government structure, finance, and community development practices preferred. Proven ability to work collaboratively with elected officials, staff, community members, and external partners. Must be bondable. Keep the council informed and prepared to address media and public in a timely manner. Work closely with the School District and the
County Board. “Open door” policy, listen and follow through. Assist the city council to stay on task and move forward with direction. Possess strong negotiation skills. Promote coordination and emphasize communications among department’s staff. Maintain a regular schedule of staff meetings. Establish expectations for staff performance and track results. Be a community booster and actively participate in service clubs. Create and maintain an open and respectful work environment. Set up the framework for a cohesive, team-driven city hall staff.

The next City Administrator will be an energetic and confident leader who can communicate effectively and provide strong direction for strategic actions to achieve the community's vision. The City Administrator will become involved in the community and promote an atmosphere of quality constituent service and collaboration. The successful candidate should also possess a dynamic and outgoing personality with a positive and progressive attitude, as well as a strong customer service orientation.

The new City Administrator will be tasked with strategic planning for effective operational oversight. A key upcoming challenge is developing a plan for aging infrastructure while balancing utility rates. The refinement of the Capital Improvement Plan is a critical need for the community. Implementation of the recently adopted Parks Plan is also a priority. It will be critical for the new City Administrator to build strong relationships with the Mayor and Council Members and within the community. There is an expectation for the
Administrator to be highly visible throughout the community and accessible for questions. The City Administrator will also need to build strong relationships with and among staff members and ensure staff have the training and tools necessary. The new Administrator will also be working closely with Fareway as they build the new grocery store in the
community. The Fiscal Year 2028 budget will be developed early in the new City Administrator’s tenure. Recent changes in State Law will have a significant impact on budgeting and city revenues.