Listing Summary

The city of Tifton is seeking applications for a new City Manager.  Tifton is the county seat of Tift County with an estimated  population of 17,000.  Tifton has a very long and important role in the history of Georgia. It is the home of several major educational institutions, a regional medical center, and serves as a center of commerce for the region. Both the City of Tifton and Tift County are experiencing growth in both population and commerce as individuals and companies realize the great quality of life that exists in the community. Tifton is known as “The Friendly City” and works hard to continuously earn that title!  The City of Tifton is a full-service municipality that operates under a Council-Manager form of  government. The Mayor and Council is a five-member elected body that sets policies, enacts ordinances, approves appropriations and develops the overall vision for the city, which is then carried out under the City Manager’s direction.   The position of City Manager is appointed by the Mayor and Council and is responsible for directing the daily operations of all city departments and works closely with the Mayor and Council to ensure the vision of the City’s elected officials is implemented.  The manager is responsible for city employees, throughout the lifecycle of their employment.  He/She also has  significant responsibilities related to development of the annual budget for review and approval by the Mayor and Council.   City services are provided by the Manager through 15 departments, 152 full-time employees with an operating budget of $16.1 million as well as enterprise funds (Water, Sewer, Gas, Solid Waste and Theater) and Capital Budget of approximately $12M.

Find details about the position expectations by reviewing the recruitment brochure at www.mercergroupassociates.com

The ideal candidate for the City Manager position will be an experienced, ethical and dedicated leader who can quickly gain the confidence of staff and the community. The city manager must possess the ability to build community trust through the development of partnerships with various community stakeholders and other government entities with a special focus on improving city-county working relationships.  He/She will be expected to promote a vision of excellence, establish credibility and consistency in delivery of services, as well as be a creative problem solver.   The  new manager should be an innovative thinker who is actively involved in all sectors of  the community, demonstrates a collaborative management style, values diversity, equity and inclusion and is receptive to input from the Council and citizens on key issues affecting Tifton.   The ideal candidate will be an excellent communicator who values transparency of government operations, provides ongoing  information to all citizens concerning delivery of services, and ensures that ordinances are uniformly enforced in the community. He/She will be an active listener who responds to citizens’ requests for service and information in a professional and timely manner.  The new manager must develop a working relationship with employees that builds trust, recognizes the expertise of current staff, demands accountability for job performance, avoids micromanagement, and continuously promotes quality customer service.  The manager will be proactive in recruiting and developing a workforce that values diversity and is reflective of the Tifton community.  Succession planning should be an important element of the new manager’s workplan to ensure continuity of operations.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university majoring in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning, Economic Development or related field; Master’s degree preferred;
• Five (5) years of progressively responsible management experience is required; experience directing a large department, overseeing multiple departments, or managing city-wide projects especially public works, water, sewer and/or electrical utility experience highly desired; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for  this job. 
• Local government management experience as a city/county manager or assistant in a similar-sized community and complexity as Tifton will be a significant advantage for a candidate seeking this position.
• Evidence of continued professional development such as ICMA Credentialed Manager designation is a positive indicator of dedication to the profession and will be noted during the vetting process.

Compensation & Benefits:  The expected starting salary range for this position is $130,000 - $150,000 (depending on qualifications of the selected candidate), with a comprehensive benefits package, including health, dental, long & short-term disability and life insurance.   The city pays 84% of medical premiums for employees and offers the GMEBS Defined Benefit Retirement Plan with a 10-year vesting plan (employee contribution is 3%).  The city also offers generous sick and annual leave. Relocation expenses negotiable. 

How to Apply:  Interested candidates must submit by email a cover letter, resume, at least five job related references with email and phone numbers, as well as salary history no later than December 30, 2022:  Lisa Ward, Senior Associate, Mercer Group Associates, at lisaward912@gmail.com. Any questions please call 706-983-9326.

Alan Reddish, Senior Associate, 107 Indigo Lane, Athens, GA 30606, Cell:  706-614-4961