The City of Santa Maria is getting closer to hiring a permanent city manager after recruiting outside the organization for the first time in about 50 years.
The assistant city manager would usually be promoted to the top post after evaluation and selection by the city council, but former City Manager Jason Stilwell and former Assistant City Manager Andrew Hackelman both decided to separate from the city in fall of 2023, said Mark van de Kamp, public information officer.
City recreation and parks manager Alex Posada stepped in as interim city manager in September 2023. In January this year, the city started working with an executive recruiting firm to put together a job description and begin the search for a permanent replacement.
The job posting, which was circulated nationwide, closed in late February and candidates were interviewed Thursday, said van de Kamp.
“Then another round (of interviews) will be held on April 6 in closed session with the city council," said van de Kamp. "Our timeline is that we might be able to bring aboard the new city manager in May or in June.”
The recruiting firm, WBCP, Inc., was hired for an amount not to exceed $28,900, plus direct expenses not to exceed $7,900, said van de Kamp.
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The city manager's annual salary will be a range, dependent on experience and qualifications, from $241,825 up to $344,351. The city manager will oversee 10 departments with a staff of approximately 700 and a biennium operating budget of approximately $277 million, according to van de Kamp.
“We are looking for someone who is a forward thinking leader, who values teamwork, and community engagement. Who will immerse themselves in developing improved processes and operations,” said van de Kamp. “Handling challenging conversations head on and leveraging their communication skills to develop a shared vision.”
Stilwell was appointed to the position of city manager in October 2017, after beginning work for the City in 2015 as deputy city manager.
Knowing the interim position would be temporary really appealed to Posada, van de Kamp said.
“We were very fortunate that he is pitching in to put some of his many talents to use during this period of transition, and I believe his contract runs to June of this year. I believe he intends to return to the recreation and parks department upon this interim tour,” van de Kamp said.
