City Manager Search Underway

The Position

The City of Moraine is seeking a City Manager who wants to be part of the community and ensure the City’s continued growth in both the business and residential sectors while preserving the community’s close-knit charm and character. The next City Manager will play a strong role in economic development, oversee major capital reinvestment, and work with a developer on new single-family housing. The City Manager will have the opportunity to not only serve a vibrant and diverse community, but also manage the day-to-day operations of an effective organization. The City has a history of good government with stability in the City Manager position and strong leadership from its elected officials. The City Manager is retiring after serving the City for more than 43 years.

The City is fiscally sound and business-friendly with room for future development and has one of the largest automotive glass manufacturers in the U.S. headquartered there. Moraine prides itself in providing outstanding services to its residents with low taxes, including no fees for refuse collection and no assessments or levies. The organization has a stable, committed, and responsive workforce with low employee turnover. The City weathered the recession through strong collaboration between the elected and appointed officials and has come out financially strong. City officials are active in regional organizations, providing leadership and working closely with other governments in the region.

Appointed by the City Council, the City Manager serves as the chief executive officer, who implements council policies, provides organizational leadership for department directors and employees, and oversees the day-to-day business of government operations. Those operations include the departments of Police, Fire, Clerk of Courts, Community Development, Building Maintenance, Information Technology, and the divisions of Streets, Parks and Recreation, and Volunteer Programs. The Law Director, Finance Director, and City Clerk report directly to the Council but work closely with the City Manager. The City Manager serves as the City’s Human Resources Director.

The Organization

The City of Moraine operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Moraine City Council consists of seven members – an elected Mayor and six Council members. Two Council members are elected on an at-large basis, while four are elected to represent each of the City’s four wards. The Mayor and City Council serve four-year terms.

Moraine’s adopted Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Budget was $32.6 Million, with approximately 85% of the total budget dedicated to core services including public safety, public works, and support service functions. The approved Capital Improvement Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 totaled $4.6 Million. Currently the organization has 103 full-time employees and 53 part-time employees.

In 2014, Moraine residents passed a temporary half percent income tax rate increase, which has had a positive impact on Moraine. This increase, along with continued growth of Moraine businesses and regional economic recovery improvements, has led to significant growth in the City’s financial numbers and cash flows. Income tax revenue for 2016 topped the previous year by 18% and exceeded $18 million in annual receipts, the highest amount seen since 2007. The temporary half percent income tax rate increase expires in 2019.

Continued increases in the City’s income tax revenues have ultimately resulted in the General Fund cash reserve balance doubling in just over two years. At the end of Fiscal Year 2016, the reserve balance was over $8 million.

Experience and Education

Requirements for this position are a bachelor’s degree and at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in a local government, including supervision and/or executive level management (manager/administrator, assistant manager/administrator, or key department director).

Preferred qualifications include a master’s degree in public administration or a closely related field and strong human resources/employee relations, budget management, labor relations, economic development, and regional and intergovernmental expertise.

Residency within the City is preferred, but not required. However, it is expected that the City Manager live within a reasonable driving distance from Moraine.

The Ideal Candidate

Moraine’s next City Manager will be a personable, hardworking, and ethical local government management professional. He or she will be a strategic thinker and visionary, helping Council prioritize goals while managing day-to-day operations to ensure the future success of the community. The City Manager will be a strong leader who can balance conflicting interests and priorities, yet be decisive and provide clear and concise recommendations when needed. He or she will be a collaborative team leader, comfortable giving direction and empowering staff to ensure the long-term success of the City.

The City Manager will be an effective listener and communicator comfortable speaking with a variety of audiences. The City Manager will be an approachable leader with a track record of community engagement, and skilled at building partnerships with government, educational, private, and nonprofit organizations to achieve community goals.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate prior success in attracting and encouraging business growth and will possess strong skills in deploying creative and innovative funding tools and incentives to stimulate economic development. He or she should be a skilled negotiator, able to negotiate with outside entities on behalf of the City.

The City Manager should be experienced and comfortable handling human resource, employee relations, labor relations, and other personnel related issues. He or she will be financially and politically savvy and open to ideas from staff, residents, and elected officials that will help the City deliver high-quality services within its financial constraints. The ideal candidate will be energetic, personally invested in promoting Moraine, and actively involved in the community.

The Community

Moraine is located south of Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County along the Great Miami River. Considered part of the Dayton metro area, it is approximately 9.52 square miles and has an estimated population of 6,353, which nearly doubles during the daytime.

The region provides residents a wide variety of cultural amenities, special events, and recreational activities, as well as a diverse array of shopping and dining options. For those who enjoy the outdoors, Montgomery County offers 2,400 acres of forests, nature preserves, and wildlife areas for exploration. Moraine also has an excellent Parks and Recreation Department that includes the Payne Recreation Center, Gerhardt Civic Center, recreation programs, bike trails, walking trails, and 14 neighborhood parks. The City has a rich heritage of aviation, including the first seaplane base and Moraine Airpark.

The City of Moraine sits just south of the intersection of I-70 and I-75, one of the most highly traveled intersections in the United States. The Dayton International Airport is one of the nation’s 10 fastest growing airports. Recovering from the exit of General Motors, the City has built a strong business base and the Fuyao Group, one of the largest glass manufacturers, continues to invest in the community.

Two new housing developments are in the pipeline and will begin construction in 2018 on land previously owned by the City. A third housing development will go through the approval process in 2018.

The Dayton Region is nationally competitive when it comes to education and has a 90% high school graduation rate. For education and training beyond high school, the region offers more than a dozen nationally recognized colleges and universities with such schools as Cedarville University, Central State University, Miami University, Sinclair Community College, the University of Dayton, Wittenberg University, and Wright State University. Access to healthcare ranks as a top feature of Moraine and the Dayton Region, with Sloan Kettering and other healthcare facilities nearby.

Compensation

The expected hiring range is $120,000 – 150,000 depending on experience and qualifications, with an excellent benefit package.

How to Apply

Questions

Please direct questions to Catherine Tuck Parrish at apply@thenovakconsultinggroup.com or 513-221-0500.