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Municipal Manager Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

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Municipal Manager information

What is a municipal manager?

Municipal managers are professionals responsible for overseeing the daily operations and administration of a city, town, or municipality. They implement policies set by elected officials, manage budgets, supervise departments, and ensure efficient delivery of public services. Municipal managers often serve as a bridge between the community, government staff, and elected leaders, focusing on effective governance and community development. Their role requires strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills to address the needs of the municipality and its residents.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a municipal manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Municipal Manager, you need strong leadership, public administration expertise, and a relevant degree such as public administration or business management. Experience with budgeting software, municipal management systems, and knowledge of regulatory compliance are typically required. Excellent communication, decision-making, and conflict-resolution skills set standout candidates apart. These skills ensure effective governance, efficient service delivery, and responsible management of public resources.

What are some common challenges faced by a municipal manager and how can they be addressed?

Municipal Managers often navigate challenges such as balancing limited budgets with community needs, managing diverse stakeholder expectations, and ensuring compliance with complex regulations. Successfully addressing these challenges typically involves strong communication and negotiation skills, strategic planning, and fostering transparent relationships with elected officials and the public. Collaborative problem-solving and continuous professional development are also key to adapting to changing priorities and regulations in municipal government.

What is the difference between Municipal Manager vs City Clerk?

AspectMunicipal ManagerCity Clerk
Primary RoleOversees municipal operations, manages departments, implements policiesManages records, handles official documentation, facilitates council meetings
Required CredentialsTypically requires a degree in public administration or related field, experience in municipal managementOften requires knowledge of legal procedures, certification in records management or public administration
Work EnvironmentGovernment offices, municipal departments, public service settingsCity hall, government offices, legal and administrative settings
Employer & Industry UsageLocal government, municipalities, city administrationsCity governments, municipal offices, local government agencies

The Municipal Manager focuses on overseeing the overall operations and service delivery of a municipality, while the City Clerk primarily manages official records and facilitates governance processes. Both roles are essential in local government but serve distinct functions within the municipal administration.

What are the most commonly searched types of Municipal jobs in Michigan?

The most popular types of Municipal jobs in Michigan are:

What are popular job titles related to Municipal Manager jobs in Michigan?

For Municipal Manager jobs in Michigan, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Municipal Manager jobs in Michigan look for?

The top searched job categories for Municipal Manager jobs in Michigan are:

Municipal Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Municipal Manager job openings in Michigan as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 80% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution.

Senior Project Manager - Municipal Services

Wightman

Kalamazoo, MI • Hybrid

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement, PTO

Re-posted 7 days ago

Job description

Senior Civil Engineer - Municipal Services
Position Purpose:
We are seeking a Civil Engineer with extensive experience and proven track record partnering with municipal clients. Candidates must have excellent business development skills, a passion for people, and be dedicated to exemplary work for our communities. This opportunity builds on Wightman’s strategic commitment to growth and the development of client focused teams.
This role will include project management responsibilities.
Essential Functions:
  • Maintain and foster good relationships with current and potential municipal clients
  • Strong technical skills for storm, sanitary, water and local roads projects
  • Oversee team performance and workload; facilitates work sharing with other locations and practices to deliver best in class projects to our clients
  • Manage projects including client communications, public input and feedback, financial performance, and internal support
  • Ability to identify engineering and surveying services needed by the client and the ability to draft proposals and estimate fees
  • Familiar with, identifies and pursues funding mechanisms to support our municipal clients
Required Traits amp; Characteristics:
  • Advanced experience consulting or working with local, regional, and state government.
  • Strong interpersonal skills required.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
  • Passionate about organizing and leading others; drives results by planning, prioritizing, and meeting tight deadlines required.
  • Ability to work independently with a self-motivated attitude; capable of overseeing multiple projects simultaneously.
Organizational Relationships
  • Reports directly to Municipal Manager
  • Supervises direct report project engineers and designers
Required Education/Experience
  • Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering or a related field
  • PE licensure in Michigan
  • 12+ years of experience managing municipal projects; storm, sanitary, water, local roads
  • 12+ years of experience in A/E/C industry with record of municipal client retention/attraction
Preferred Education/Experience
  • 5+ years of experience in developing business
  • 5+ years of experience managing direct reports
  • PE licensure in Indiana
Travel
  • Position based in Kalamazoo
  • 10-15% local travel
Our team members enjoy a comprehensive compensation package that includes:
  • Opportunities for hybrid and flexible schedules.
  • Medical, dental, and vision coverage with eligibility upon hire date
    • Multiple Medical plans including those with HSA employer contributions.
  • 100% Employer paid Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
  • Reimbursement and support for tuition, continuing education, and personal/professional development.
  • Generous PTO and paid holidays.
  • 401(k), Incentive Bonuses, and Ownership Opportunities (we’re 100% employee-owned!).
  • Employee and Family activities including ski and fishing trips, sporting events, and so much more!
About Wightman
No matter your career trajectory – whether you’re just starting out, currently in a mid-level position, or are looking to accelerate your career opportunities – you want to work for a firm that does great work, gives back to their community, supports your career path, and does it all alongside people with whom you can connect. After all, you spend a third of your day at work; why do it in a place where you do not feel valued, are longing for more responsibility, or feel disconnected from your clients? If you are seeking a position at a legacy consulting firm that is wholly owned by its employees, looking to do impactful work that matters, and find a work culture that supports your family life, bring your skills to Wightman.
Our full-service architectural, civil engineering, and land surveying firm, which was established in 1946, exists to serve people and the communities in which we live. We have a dynamic team of over 200 professionals that work to analyze, advise, design, and deliver successful projects in partnership with government, education, commercial, and energy clients throughout the Great Lakes region. We offer our clients comprehensive, multi-disciplinary services including Architecture, Civil Engineering, Surveying, Construction Services, GIS, Interior Design, and Reality Capture. What does that mean? It means we design and build awe-inspiring and award-winning streetscapes and 21st-century learning environments, inspect interstates and bridges that ensure safe travel, accurately determine boundary lines and draw topographic maps, support energy service providers grow and enhance their green and traditional infrastructure, construct data-driven mapping solutions, envision outdoor gathering spaces that foster community, and so much more.
We are actively searching for talented employees who are aligned with our culture of work/life balance, want to grow with a firm committed to success, and desire to become trusted advisers to clients who respect their knowledge and expertise. Whether you enjoy working in the field gathering data, are passionate about the design build process, or delight in details, consider learning more about our firm at https://gowightman.com/careers/life-at-wightman.
We are fun, creative, and passionate about our work and family life. To learn more, visit our Life at Wightman page: https://gowightman.com/careers/life-at-wightman

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