The Town of Beaufort, NC, cited by multiple sources for having an “old world, southern charm,” is a community of less than 5,000 people that more than triples in the warmer months, and is seeking its next Town Manager. The ideal candidate not only has experience and knowledge of municipal finance procedures, local ordinances, and North Carolina Statutes but also respects and demonstrates compassion and love for communities and their residents.
Recognized as "America's Favorite Town" by Travel + Leisure, the Town of Beaufort desires in their next Town Manager a solution-minded, collaborative, and adaptable executive with experience in small/older towns that are deeply rooted in history and culture. Beaufort’s next Town Manager has impeccable financial management and managerial skills and demonstrable personnel management experience. This position requires verifiable conflict resolution skills and the aptitude to facilitate crucial conversations tactfully and professionally.
About the Community:
Established in 1709, Beaufort, N.C., is a quaint coastal town on Beaufort Inlet, a channel leading south to the Atlantic Ocean. Beaufort is the third oldest town in North Carolina and is the county seat of Carteret County. Beaufort’s early economy, which relied on natural resources such as fishing, shipbuilding, and farming, has shifted to primarily tourism, supplemented by a regional boat-building industry. Marine science research is also prevalent in Beaufort’s economy.
Beaufort attracts a high volume of visitors during the warmer months. Its rich history is alive and evident throughout the community, and Beaufort's residents are proud to be a part of the town's cultural heritage. There is much history to uncover and discover in Beaufort. Visitors can hop aboard the town's historic double-decker bus or take a tour on foot to see the town, its historic sites, and its glorious waterfront, where you can eat, shop, and spot wild horses.
The town's has several annual celebrations, which have garnered nationwide attention to include Mardi Gras, Beaufort Pirate Invasion, Beaufort Food & Wine and the Beaufort Music Festival. These events reflect the Town’s unique, fun culture. These are three-day celebrations with music, feasts, parades, costumes, masks, and revelry. These famous festivals likely earned Beaufort the "America's Quirkiest Towns" recognition by Travel + Leisure magazine.
Accolades abound for this thriving and growing community. Over 40 accolades from various sources, such as Southern Living, USA Today, and Travel + Leisure, recognize Beaufort as the best small town for adventure, shopping, travel, and more. As Budget Travel indicated and its residents and visitors agree, Beaufort is indeed “the Coolest Small Town in America.”
About the Organization and Position:
The Town of Beaufort operates under the council-manager form of government. The town's mayor and five-person board of commissioners serve as the legislative body, and the town manager is the chief executive officer responsible for administering the town government. The administration department oversees all town departments and activities through the Town Manager. The town manager is also responsible for implementing the policies and enforcing the ordinances enacted by the town’s board.
Beaufort’s active Board of Commissioners is passionate about the community's health and sustainability. The mayor recently facilitated the development of a Waterfront Operations and Finance Committee, an ad hoc committee with Commissioner and community participation to support the implementation and funding of the town’s Waterfront project.
The Town Manager, who reports to the mayor and the Board of Commissioners, serves as the official Budget Officer for the organization and manages the town’s FY 24-25 budget of $21.3M. Beaufort's annual budget is supported by a tax rate of $.46 per $100 of assessed tax value. The Town Manager oversees 84 full-time and 13 part-time employees, including 11 direct reports.
Beaufort’s Town Manager is responsible for short- and long-range planning, creating and articulating a vision of excellence for the organization, establishing human resource management systems that staff the organization with productive employees, budgetary direction and guidance to the Board and staff, leading long-range and capital improvement program planning, overseeing financial management, overseeing operations of the Town, and working closely with the Board on major initiatives and priorities.
Qualifications: A bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, organizational psychology, or a closely related field from an accredited college or university is required; a master’s degree in public or business administration and/or ICMA credentialed management is strongly preferred. Seven or more years of successful and progressive supervisory and management experience is required. Possession of a valid North Carolina driver’s license is required. Preferred qualifications include experience in North Carolina local government and experience in coastal or resort communities.
Salary and Benefits: The salary range for the Town Manager is $130,676 - $202,548, depending on experience and qualifications. If needed, relocation assistance may be provided. Beaufort provides a comprehensive benefits package, including NC State Retirement System participation.
All applications must be submitted online via the Developmental Associates application portal (link above) – NOT the town’s employment application portal or any other external website.
Resumes and cover letters must be uploaded with the application.
Applicants should apply by October 13, 2024.
The hiring team will invite successful semi-finalists to participate in virtual interviews and skill evaluations on November 14-15, 2024. Candidates are encouraged to reserve these dates for virtual meetings should they be invited to participate.
The Town of Beaufort, NC, is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Developmental Associates, LLC manages the recruitment and selection process for this position. To learn more about our selection process, visit https://developmentalassociates.com/client-openings/ and scroll down to "Important Information for Applicants."
