City Manager - Evanston, IL job in Evanston

Evanston, IL (pop. 75,000) The City of Evanston is seeking highly collaborative, progressive leaders with a demonstrated record of success in leading a racially diverse, highly engaged community dedicated to addressing racial justice and social equity issues, implementing a climate action plan and ensuring an equitable, fiscally sound future for the City.

Evanston is located on the shore of Lake Michigan, immediately north of the City of Chicago. Home to Northwestern University, the City has a strong base of residential neighborhoods with unique commercial areas and a thriving downtown. Like all communities, Evanston’s businesses and non-profit organizations have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and the City’s residents are working hard to support them.

• The next City Manager is expected to be highly communicative, approachable leader who has a reputation for honesty and integrity. The ability to listen, facilitate discussion among competing interests and the willingness to make courageous decisions are extremely important in the next City Manager. The appointment and removal of the City Manager requires seven votes of the Mayor and nine-member City Council. The City is divided into nine wards, each represented by a City Council member. The most recent City Manager served the City for 11 years. The City is a full-service city with an annual budget of $317 million and 1,000 full and permanent part time employees, of which 80% are represented by collective bargaining agreements.

• The next City Manager must be committed to implementing City services and programs through the lens of racial equity and social justice, operating with a dedication to transparency and community engagement. In June 2019, the City of Evanston adopted a resolution stating the City’s resolve to end structural racism and achieve racial equity. In addition, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing a funding source devoted to local reparations. The funding source is tax revenue from local cannabis sales and up to $10 million is dedicated to local reparations, likely one of the first funded reparations programs in the country. Recent demonstrations in the City related to racial justice and social equity have further demonstrated a city-wide commitment to this program.

• The City of Evanston is facing significant financial challenges and the next City Manager must bring skilled budgeting and finance experience to the City Manager role in this critical time. Nearly 40% of the City’s land is not taxable (Northwestern University, two large hospitals and numerous religious institutions) and the economic diversity of the City’s residents requires a commitment to social services. Added to this complexity is the impact of the pandemic, reducing several of the City’s critical revenues and increasing expenditures. It is important the City Manager understand the impact of tax and fee increases on lower and fixed income residents, ensuring that the budget decisions do not fall disproportionately on underserved populations.

The next City Manager must possess a bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning or related field along with at least 7 years’ experience in a senior executive position in a municipal or closely comparable operation, similar to the City of Evanston. A master’s degree in a relevant field is preferred. The starting salary range is $200,000 - $250,000 +/- DOQ. Residency in the City of Evanston is required within a reasonable time period. Apply by August 28, 2020 to www.GovHRjobs.com to the attention of Heidi Voorhees, President and Dele Lowman Smith, Vice President GovHR USA, 630 Dundee Road, #130, Northbrook, IL 60062. Tel: 847-902-4110. The City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion is very important to the City of Evanston. The City strongly encourages women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities, and veterans to apply.

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