City Administrator

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Your Home Port. The Premier Community on the Great Lakes.
Port Washington is known for offering “a touch of New England charm combined with Midwestern friendliness” and has been named by Midwest Living to their Top 100 Best Midwest Small Town Getaways. Port Washington, today, is a tourist destination with a vibrant downtown and community events.

The City’s population is 12,353 resides within seven square miles including 4 miles of waterfront. The City provides full-city services including Public Safety (Police, Fire, EMS), Engineering, Public Works, Water and Sewer utilities, Building Inspections, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Marina, Senior Center, Library, Finance, Clerk and Administration. We are a welcoming destination for living, working, and visiting that – combined with our core values of accountability, innovation, trust, industriousness, and friendship – create an environment with opportunities to make a positive impact for our community.

THE ROLE:
The City Administrator directly oversees all department heads to include the Assistant City Administrator/HR Director, City Clerk, Finance Director/City Treasurer, Director of Public Works, Recreation Director, and Director of Planning and Development. The City Administrator further directly manages the Inspection and Zoning Manager and all 89 FTEs through the department and division heads. 

Future Opportunities
The City of Port Washington is currently undergoing a transformative phase, much like many other municipalities experiencing growth and the need for significant community investments. In recent years, the City has been diligently working on actionable planning documents to serve as guiding tools for future actions. The Mayor and Common Council are eager to work with a leader who thrives in dynamic environments and is ready to tackle opportunities head-on. Some of these opportunities include:

Strategic Planning: The City Administrator is expected to continue leading the implementation of the adopted Strategic Plan, which focuses on stakeholder alignment, accountability through policies and procedures, prioritization of funding sources, and catalyzing development for revenue generation.

Joint Public Safety Facility: The conceptual phase of a joint public safety facility, housing the Port Washington Police Department and Port Washington Fire Department, has commenced. The City Administrator will play a pivotal role in leading and advancing this priority project.

Fire Department Expansion: In April 2024, the City will be seeking public support for adding six (6) full-time fire department positions to address growing needs related to emergency medical services (EMS), specifically significant annual trending EMS call volume increases, development trends, and an aging population. The City Administrator will be instrumental in planning and executing the steps for the upcoming referendum.

Capital Projects: Collaborating with the Department of Public Works and the Finance Division, the City Administrator will oversee two major capital projects within the next two years. Next year, a $18 million improvement project on the water treatment plant to meet Wisconsin DNR mandates and upgrade aging equipment will start. Simultaneously, the Wastewater Utility will undertake an $8 million improvement project to enhance treatment processes and replace end-of-life equipment.

Facility Planning: Several community facilities, including the Library, Senior Center, and Community Pool, are nearing the end of their life expectancy. The process of planning for their future has begun, and the City Administrator will play a vital role in building consensus around the best alternatives for these community amenities.

Economic Development: Collaborating closely with the Director of Planning and Development, the City Administrator will identify envisioned development plans for areas such as Schanen Farm and both the south and north sides of the City. The aim is to encourage affordable and diverse housing options while identifying opportunities for commercial and industrial development.

Downtown and Lakefront Plan: With the recent adoption of the Downtown and Lakefront Plan, Staff is currently developing a multi-year implementation strategy. Implementing this plan, especially in terms of parking, City-related projects, and fostering development in areas identified as susceptible to change, will be a top priority.

Partnerships: The City values strong partnerships and collaborative relationships with Ozaukee County, other local government units in Ozaukee County, and community stakeholders. These relationships should continue to be nurtured and developed under the guidance of the City Administrator.

The future of Port Washington is exciting, and the City is looking forward to welcoming an enthusiastic leader who can help make the most of these exciting opportunities.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
A Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field is required and a Master's Degree in Public or Business Administration is preferred, ICMA Credentialed Manager (CM) designation is a plus. All candidates must have a minimum of eight (8) years of experience in an upper-level leadership position with municipal experience heavily preferred. 

Candidate must have both personal and professional integrity and demonstrate open and positive communication skills. Must be able to demonstrate a positive, productive attitude to citizens of the City, an ability to think outside the box, and be innovative in service delivery. The successful candidate will have a high degree of emotional intelligence and be adept at self-management and relationship building.