CITY OF TEMPLE, TEXAS
The City of Temple, TX Seeks an Experienced and Innovative Municipal Executive to Lead the City During a Period of Growth and Change While Serving as the Next
City Manager
The Community
What began in 1881, as a model city built from railroad blueprints, Temple, Bell County, Texas, is still a city built of vision. The City of Temple is strategically located in the I-35 corridor between Dallas and Austin. The City of Temple was incorporated in 1882 and named for Bernard Moore Temple, Santa Fe Railroad’s Chief construction engineer. More than 100 years later, Temple continues to grow. The City is strategically located on transportation systems linked northward to the heartland of the Nation and southward into the developing North American Free Trade area. Diversity has been and continues to be Temple’s trademark as it moves forward with steady growth, into a broader national and international role for the 21st century. By offering both the benefits of city living, with a symphony and several museums, and the ease of country life, Temple continues to draw more and more families and businesses. Estimated current population of Temple is 58,000 with daytime work “population” numbers likely exceeding 110,000 because of Temple’s role as a regional employer. The current estimated population of Bell County is in excess of 260,000.
The City Government
The City of Temple, Texas, is a full service city operating as a home-rule city under the laws of the State of Texas and a charter approved by voters in 1907 and most recently amended in 2000. The City Charter provides for the governing and law-making body to be a City Council composed of a Mayor and four Councilmembers. Councilmembers are elected from single-member districts of equal population for three-year staggered terms. The Mayor is elected at large for a three year term. The Mayor is Chief Executive Officer of the City and may vote on all motions before the Council, but does not have veto power. The City Manager is appointed by the City Council. The City Council also appoints the City Attorney, Director of Finance, City Secretary and Municipal Court Judge. The City has an annual operating and capital budget for FY 2004-05 of $75.1 million and 650 full-time employees.
The Position
The City Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer of the City and is responsible to the City Council for the administration of all City affairs as outlined in the City Charter. The City Manager appoints all City employees and administrative officers except those appointed by the City Council as outlined above. The current management team consists of the Assistant City Manager (vacant), Police Chief, Fire Chief, Director of Finance, Director of City Services, Director of Planning and Development, Library Director, City Attorney, Director of Information Technology, Director of Utilities, City Secretary, Human Resources Director, Parks and Leisure Services Director and Airport Manager. The Police and Fire departments are Civil Service (no collective bargaining) under Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code. The City has an “AA” bond rating from Standards and Poor and “A1” from Moody’s.
The Ideal Candidate
Education and Experience
Candidates for the position will have a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Political Science or similar field, with seven to ten years of increasingly responsible management experience in a comparable-sized community with a similar political, growth and business environment or as an Assistant Manager in a larger community. A Master’s degree in Business Administration, Public Administration or Political Science is highly desirable, as is, a proven track record of success. Additional executive management training is also desirable.
Knowledge and Skills
· Knowledge of the full range of municipal services
· Knowledgeable of transportation funding
· Demonstrated success as a municipal manager in a similar-sized community
· Understanding of economic development principles
Management Style, Abilities and Personal Traits
· Unquestionable ethics and high moral character
· High energy level
· Leadership grounded in “leading by example”
Compensation
The City of Temple has established an outstanding and competitive compensation package with the starting salary that is negotiable depending on experience and qualifications. The City of Temple participates in the Texas Municipal Retirement System (TMRS) but does not participate in Social Security. Under the TMRS tax deferred plan, the employee contributes 7% of gross salary, which the City matches on a 2 to 1 basis. In addition, the City offers a benefit package comparable to other cities our size, including 457 and 401A deferred compensation plans through ICMA.
How to Apply
Qualified individuals should send resumes (email preferred), current salary information and five business related references no later than December 31, 2004, to:
Jim C. Blagg, Sr. VP
The Mercer Group, Inc.
405 Sommerville Court
Arlington, TX 76013
VOICE: 972.740.3519 / FAX: 817.275.0897
EMAIL: mercertx@sbcglobal.net
Resumes will be screened in relation to the criteria outlined in this brochure. Candidates with relevant qualifications will be given preliminary interviews by consultants. Candidates deemed qualified will be reported to the City. A final interview process will be scheduled for selected candidates. The successful candidate will be required to establish residency within the city limits of Temple.
THE CITY OF TEMPLE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER AND VALUES DIVERSITY AT ALL LEVELS OF ITS WORKPLACE. FEMALE, MINORITY AND DISABLED CANDIDATES ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY.
THE TEXAS PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT MAY REQUIRE DISCLOSURE OF APPLICANT INFORMATION AT ANY STAGE OF THE PROCESS.