City Administrator

Community Profile:
The City of Kenosha, Wisconsin is conveniently located between Chicago (55 miles to the south) and Milwaukee (36 miles to the north) on the southwest shores of beautiful Lake Michigan. Because of its proximity between two major metropolitan areas, Kenosha has become an ideal destination for many people seeking relatively lower housing costs in a safe, friendly and prosperous environment. With easy access to the Interstate 94 corridor, international airports at Chicago and Milwaukee, and the Metra rail line from Kenosha to Chicago, residents are able to choose from an extensive list of amenities, educational resources and career opportunities available within the commuting area.

The population of Kenosha is roughly 100,000, making Kenosha the fourth largest city in the state. The Wisconsin Department of Administration estimates that the number of residents within our community will continue to grow steadily because of the influence of the nearby metropolitan areas.

Kenosha community websites - www.kaba.org, www.kenoshacvb.com, www.kenoshaareachamber.com, www.lifebalancedkenosha.com

            

City Government & Employment:
The City of Kenosha is governed by a full-time Mayor with a 4-year term and a part-time Council comprised of 17 Alderpersons elected by district every two years. A full-time City Administrator assists the Mayor in the management of City operations. Other than those with differing statutory reporting requirements, City Department Heads report directly to the administrator.  The working atmosphere is collaborative and inclusive.

The City employs over 780 full-time with an additional 250 seasonal employees who work primarily during the summer construction and recreation season.

City of Kenosha website - www.kenosha.org

Position Profile:
Under administrative direction of the Mayor, the incumbent will provide organizational leadership that inspires, motivates, and empowers City employees to achieve the Mayor's and Common Council's goals through the direction, coordination, and control of the general business and staff functions of the City. The incumbent implements the directives of the Mayor and Common Council and recommends policies and procedures.  

Organizational Leadership:

• Work with internal and external strategic partners to develop and maintain effective organization design and alignment, building effective teams, designing and developing the City's leadership strategy, and deploying City strategies into the organization that establishes, lead and implement a framework for proficiency change within the organization.
• Under the direction of the Mayor, oversee the analysis, design, development, and implementation of City strategic plan initiatives.
• Actively promotes City government as open, transparent and approachable and strives to achieve effective and efficient service delivery with a strategic approach to fiscal well-being.
• Oversee a culture of employee engagement and learning to optimize knowledge-building, creativity, collaboration, problem-solving, and appropriate levels of decision-making throughout the City.
• Lead an organizational culture that is capable of measuring effectiveness to drive results.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on departmental organization and procedures at all levels of the organization, including but not limited to promoting interdepartmental cooperation, in order to achieve, and maintain greater effectiveness in City government.

General Administrative:

• Monitors operations to prevent problems from occurring or mitigates their occurrence; oversees the implementation of more efficient methods of City department outcomes.
• Provides a forum for the resolution of interdepartmental and interagency problems and disputes.
• Facilitates cooperation between governments; confers with other governmental agencies and functions as a lead negotiator with the State and municipal governments as appropriate.
• Develops short and long-range policies to implement change within the organization and responds to change in the community.
• Provides leadership, advice, and counsel to department heads and staff; attends meetings and resolves issues with alderpersons, department heads, and Mayor.
• Evaluates the annual job performance of all direct report department heads.
• Speaks before civic groups.
• Conducts field review of City operations.
• Recommends policy to Mayor and provides policy guidance to department heads.
• Confers with individuals and representatives of public and private organizations desiring information on City services, activities, plans and programs.
• Holds memberships and attend meetings of official government groups or associations as directed and approved by the Mayor.
• Embraces modern technology systems as a tool to minimize operational costs while enhancing internal and external services.

Staff Responsibilities to the Mayor and Common Council:

• Effectuates actions of the Common Council and implements administrative matters as directed by the Mayor.
• Assesses the broad and long term impact of trends in local government, including issues related to City growth and development and relevant actions of other units of government and formulate solutions and recommendations for consideration and action by the Common Council and Mayor.
• Regularly informs the Mayor and Common Council on departmental operations, services and as necessary, to make recommendations to accomplish the efficient and economical delivery of City programs and services.
• May have other related duties and responsibilities as defined by the Mayor and Common Council.

Budget and Financial

• Manages the annual executive budget through participatory oversight for submission to the Mayor and Common Council for their consideration and action.
• Supervises the development and implementation of the "Capital Improvement Program."
• Supervises the development of a long-range financial plan.
• Confers with and advises City officials, department heads and others on City financial matters.
• Researches the availability, and informs appropriate stakeholders of county, state, federal and private grant opportunities appropriate for the City and administers the procurement of such grants as directed by the Mayor and Common Council.
• Provides overall financial direction in the acquisition and use of financial resources through the operating and capital improvement budgeting process; reviews and recommends modifications to the annual operating budget and capital improvement plan.

NOTE: The duties listed above are intended as illustrations of the various types of work performed by persons in positions covered by this classification specification.  This list is not all-inclusive.  The omission of a particular job duty does not mean that the duty is not one of the essential functions of the position.  Management reserves the right to assign employees in this classification to duties not listed above if the duties are fairly within the scope of responsibilities applicable to the level of work performed by employees in positions covered by this classification specification.  This classification specification does not create an employment contract between the City and the employee and is subject to change by the City as the need may arise.

Training and Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, finance, engineering, planning, or a related field, supplemented by at least ten (10) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in the public sector or a similarly complex organization, including a minimum of three (3) years of executive-level management overseeing senior-level managers; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities.
• Demonstrated experience in change management.
• Demonstrated experience in the relocation of organizational operations is highly desired.

Knowledge, Skill, and Ability Requirements:

• Knowledge of the principles and practices of modern City management.
• Knowledge of budgetary development, administration, and control, municipal budget experience preferred
• Knowledge of personnel rules and regulations.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively with citizen and business groups, alderpersons, and employees.
• Ability to formulate plans, budgets, and related policies and procedures.
• Ability to organize and coordinate a wide variety of public services, to initiate and install administrative procedures and to evaluate their effectiveness.
• Ability to identify, research, and recommend creative public-private partnerships, grant opportunities, economic development opportunities, and operational strategies.
• Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in developing and interpreting administrative policies and procedures.
• Decisive, forward thinker with excellent verbal, written and presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain a cohesive, talented, and engaged staff.
• Innovative with a strong commitment toward customer service.

Physical Requirements:

• The task is essentially sedentary, with occasional walking, bending, light lifting, or other restricted physical activities.

Environmental Requirements:

• The task is regularly performed without exposure to adverse environmental conditions.

Sensory Requirements:

• Task requires highly efficient oral communications ability.

Additional Requirements:

• Possession of a valid driver's license and a good driving record. May be required to provide a personal vehicle for use on the job.

Applicant's education, training, and experience will be analyzed. Written, oral and/or proficiency exams may be required to establish eligibility. Appointment to the position will be in accordance with City policy and the Civil Service Rules and Regulations. The City reserves the right to further evaluate only those applicants who best meet the needs of the City.