GovHRUSA
Jackson, MO (15,702) – The City of Jackson is seeking applications from experienced, talented, and visionary professionals for its City Administrator position. Jackson has had only three city administrators in the past 50 years. The current City Administrator is retiring after serving in the position for over 23 years.
The City of Jackson is located in Southeast Missouri just minutes west of the Mississippi River. Jackson is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County.
Jackson’s History
The first post office was established in 1814 when the area was called Byrdstown. The name was changed to Jackson on August 31, 1819, named for Andrew Jackson, an accomplished military general and President of the United States. It was the first town to be named after Andrew Jackson. The town was platted in 1815. In 1818, the town already had a population of 300. The first county courthouse was built in 1818 on Jackson's public square. In 1841, a bank was established. A flour mill was constructed in 1855 and another in 1873.
In 1877, Jackson was linked to Cape Girardeau by the first long-distance railway service line in Missouri. By 1884, the population of the City of Jackson had grown to 2,105, and the town supported 50 businesses. In 1884, by popular vote, it was decided to incorporate Jackson as a city of the fourth class, The current courthouse was built in 1908 and is “on the square” in the center of Uptown Jackson where Jones Drug Store still operates and serves the community as it has done since 1871.
The Community
Jackson is best known for its outstanding school systems. The Jackson R-2 School District is widely regarded as one of the best public-school systems in the State of Missouri. The District offers a comprehensive array of academic programs and extra-curricular activities from pre-kindergarten through Grade 12 and has an enrollment of over 5,700. The district operates five (5) neighborhood elementary schools, as well as an early childhood education center, a middle school, a junior high school, and a senior high school. The community turns out in large numbers to support the many athletic, theater, and music offerings of the school system. Indian pride abounds in Jackson.
Jackson also offers an abundant array of recreational opportunities to its residents. The City of Jackson maintains several beautiful public parks with a variety of recreational facilities and several pavilions for family and group gatherings. The City also owns and operates the Jackson Civic Center which features a gymnasium for a variety of activities including basketball, volleyball, pickle ball, aerobics, Tai Chi, yoga, etc. The Center also has several meetings rooms for business activities, weddings, and birthday parties. The facility was also built as a “safe room” that people can access in the event of a tornado warning or other natural disasters. Jackson also is served by two fine golf courses, one public and one private.
Jackson also is known for its beautiful, safe, and well-kept neighborhoods. The City has a wide range of residential options including apartments, duplexes, older historic homes, as well as new construction ranging from affordable starter homes to executive-type housing. Community safety is a high priority in Jackson. The City’s outstanding police and fire departments keep Jackson residents safe.
The Local Economy
The local economy in Jackson can be characterized as balanced, stable, and growing. No one industry dominates the employment base. The City has an impressive number of small to medium sized employers in manufacturing, logistics, and service-related industries. The largest private employer is Rubbermaid Commercial Products with over 200 employees. Jackson Public School District (920 employees) and Cape Girardeau County Government (260 employees) are also among the community’s largest employers.
The City also is proud of its robust and rapidly growing retail sector. In recent years, Jackson has welcomed a number of national chain retailers and restaurants to the community. Even though nearby Cape Girardeau remains the hub for commerce and shopping in the region, Jackson is an increasingly attractive location for shopping, dining, and entertainment venues. The City of Jackson is aggressively pursuing new businesses working in partnership with the Jackson Area Chamber of Commerce and SEMO Redi, the regional economic development corporation.
A significant number of Jackson’s residents work in nearby Cape Girardeau. The Cape area has several major employers with regional impacts including Southeast Missouri State University, Drury Hotels, Proctor & Gamble, Mondi, Saint Francis Health Care System, and Mercy/Southeast HEALTH. Incidentally, both St. Francis and Mercy have satellite health care facilities in Jackson.
The Municipal Government in Jackson
The City of Jackson operates under a Council – Administrator form of government. The City is governed by a Mayor and an eight (8) member Board of Aldermen. The Mayor is elected at-large, while the Aldermen are each elected by wards (two per ward). The Mayor and the eight Aldermen are elected to two-year terms in April of each year. The Mayor and Board of Aldermen convene regular meetings on the first and third Monday of each month.
The current annual budget for the City of Jackson is $40 million. The City has 153 full-time and part-time employees. The municipal government provides a full range of municipal services including water, sanitary sewer, and electric utilities. Other operating departments include Administration, Police, Fire & Rescue, Public Work, Sanitation, Parks & Recreation, Building and Planning, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and City Clerk.
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen appoint a City Administrator to oversee the operating departments and to manage the day-to-day affairs of the municipal government. The current City Administrator will soon be retiring after serving in the position for 23 years.
The City Administrator Position
The City Administrator serves as the Chief Administrative Officer and is responsible for the oversight and coordination of all operating departments including the supervision and direction of all department directors. He/she serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. The City Administrator, along with his or her team, provide professional and objective recommendations to the governing body on all policy matters. The City Administrator also works with the staff to prepare the City’s annual operating and capital improvements budget for review and approval by the Board. It is the responsibility of the City Administrator to administer the budget as adopted by the Board.
The City Administrator must have a good overall understanding of all aspects of municipal government operations. He or she must be a good communicator, have strong supervisory skills, and significant budgeting and financial management experience. The Jackson City Administrator must also be trustworthy, ethical, and a person of absolute integrity.
The Ideal Candidate
The Mayor and Board of Aldermen have identified the following skills, experience, and personal attributes as being highly desirable for the new City Administrator to possess:
- A proven leader who is honest, diplomatic, accountable, empathetic, engaged, enthusiastic, open-minded, and flexible.
- Will create a strong team-oriented culture among the municipal staff, and serve as a coach, mentor, teacher, and motivator to the department heads. Establishes clear performance expectations for professional staff but allows them to do their work without unnecessary interference.
- Is always organized and well prepared.
- Is a collaborative leader that seeks out opportunities to partner with other public and private entities in the region to solve problems and to pursue opportunities for the benefit of the community and the area.
- Is a visible community leader who is accessible and approachable by members of the community.
- Is an effective communicator and is able to adjust his or her communication style to fit the audience and is able to communicate complex information in a manner that is concise, clear, and understandable.
- Is an experienced local government administrator with a significant background in budgeting & financial management, strategic planning, economic development, staff hiring & oversight, and public infrastructure.
Compensation and How to Apply
The annual starting salary range for this position is $135,000 to $160,000 DOQ/E. The City Administrator also is assigned a municipal vehicle. In addition to the annual salary, the City of Jackson will provide an outstanding package of fringe benefits. Residency within the corporate limits of Jackson is required within six (6) months of the start date. The City will also reimburse the successful candidate for reasonable relocation expenses.
To apply for the position, please submit a cover letter, resume, and five (5) work-related references to the attention of Mark R. Peterson, Senior Consultant, GovHR USA, no later than June 10, 2024. All applications must be submitted electronically. Please direct all questions to Mr. Peterson at (309) 825-5091.
The City of Jackson is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Application Deadline: June 10, 2024
Posted: 2024-06-17
