City Manager

Application Process

Applicants must submit a complete candidate file, including:

Cover Letter

Resume

City of Marathon Employment Application

Materials must be submitted in accordance with City instructions. Incomplete applications may not be considered. Position open until filled.

City of Marathon, Florida

City Manager

The City of Marathon, located in the heart of the Florida Keys, is seeking an accomplished, forward‑thinking municipal executive to serve as City Manager. This is a rare opportunity to lead a full‑service coastal municipality within an Area of Critical State Concern, balancing environmental stewardship, resiliency, infrastructure investment, and community vitality.

The City Manager serves at the pleasure of the City Council and acts as the City’s Chief Administrative Officer, providing professional leadership, strategic direction, and operational excellence.

Department: City Manager  

Salary: Minimum Starting Salary of $200,000. Actual salary commensurate with experience.                                     

Reports to:  City Council                                                   

Supervises: City Staff

Position:      Full-Time, FLSA Exempt

Summary

The City Manager serves as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Marathon and is responsible for the effective, efficient, and lawful administration of all City operations in accordance with the policies, ordinances, and direction established by the City Council. The City Manager implements the Council’s vision and strategic priorities while preserving the unique environmental, cultural, and economic character of Marathon and the Florida Keys. Serves at the pleasure of the City Council.

The City Manager provides professional leadership to a full‑service municipality located within an Area of Critical State Concern, requiring exceptional expertise in growth management, environmental regulation, resiliency, infrastructure planning, fiscal stewardship, and intergovernmental coordination.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Governance

• Serves as principal advisor to the City Council, providing professional recommendations, policy analysis, and implementation strategies.
• Executes and administers all laws, ordinances, resolutions, and policies adopted by the City Council.
• Prepares and coordinates City Council agendas; ensures Council members are fully informed on municipal operations, policy decisions, and community impacts.
• Represents the City before local, state, and federal agencies, regional organizations, and the public.
• Maintains transparent, ethical, and professional governance consistent with Florida Sunshine Law and Public Records requirements.

Organizational & Departmental Management

• Directs and oversees all City departments,  with exception of the City Attorney.
• Establishes organizational goals, performance measures, and operational standards to ensure service excellence.
• Leads, mentors, and evaluates department directors; fosters collaboration and accountability across departments.
• Oversees recruitment, retention, training, and succession planning for a diverse municipal workforce.
• Carries out other responsibilities as assigned by City Council.

Financial Management & Budget Administration

• Prepares and administers the City’s annual operating and capital budgets with a focus on fiscal sustainability and accountability.
• Manages enterprise funds, grants, and special revenue sources while ensuring compliance with state and federal requirements.
• Identifies revenue diversification opportunities, including fee structures and enterprise services, to reduce reliance on ad valorem taxation.
• Oversees procurement, contract negotiation, and financial controls to protect public assets.

Planning, Growth Management & Environmental Stewardship

• Ensures compliance with the City’s Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Regulations, and the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern requirements.
• Provides leadership on long‑range planning initiatives, code updates, and land development policy.
• Oversees permitting, development review, floodplain management, and enforcement functions.
• Guides environmentally responsible decision‑making balancing resiliency, housing, tourism, and economic vitality.
• Leads climate adaptation and resiliency initiatives, including flood mitigation, evacuation modeling, CRS participation, and FEMA coordination.

Infrastructure & Capital Program Oversight

• Oversees planning, design, funding, and construction of municipal infrastructure projects, including transportation, utilities, stormwater, and public facilities.
• Coordinates capital improvement planning to ensure infrastructure investments align with growth capacity, resiliency goals, and fiscal constraints.
• Ensures compliance with state and federal permitting, environmental regulations, and grant conditions.

Emergency Management & Resiliency

• Serves as a key leader in emergency preparedness, response, and recovery, including hurricane planning and post‑disaster redevelopment.
• Coordinates closely with Monroe County, the State of Florida, and federal partners during emergencies.
• Oversees post‑disaster housing strategies, damage assessment, and FEMA assistance programs.

Intergovernmental Relations & Advocacy

• Maintains strong working relationships with Monroe County, neighboring municipalities, regional agencies, state and federal partners.
• Advocates effectively for City interests in Tallahassee, Washington, D.C., and regional forums.
• Collaborates on transportation, housing, environmental protection, and funding initiatives that impact the Florida Keys.

Community Engagement & Public Communication

• Promotes transparent, responsive, and inclusive communication with residents, businesses, and stakeholders.
• Supports citizen boards, committees, and advisory bodies.
• Ensures public information resources (websites, reports, GIS tools, civic education programs) are accurate, accessible, and user‑friendly.

Supervision Exercised / Received

• Reports directly to the City Council.
• Exercises direct supervision over all department directors and appointed staff as authorized.

• Position requires residency within a reasonable distance of the City due to emergency response responsibilities.
• Must maintain compliance with all ethics, continuing education, and statutory requirements applicable to Florida city managers.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Thorough knowledge of Florida municipal government, statutory authority, and administrative best practices.
• Extensive experience with Florida growth management, comprehensive planning, land development regulation, and environmental policy.
• Proven ability to manage complex organizations, large budgets, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Expertise in coastal resiliency, floodplain management, and emergency preparedness.
• Strong analytical, negotiation, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to balance political sensitivity with professional independence and sound administrative judgment.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Public Administration, Management, Planning, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible executive‑level experience in local, county and state government administration within the state of Florida.
• Proven experience engaging with elected bodies and government lobbyists at both the state and federal levels.
• Familiarity with the City of Marathon and its operations, whether through prior work, or residency.
• Rate of Growth Ordnance (ROGO) for Monroe County and Building Permit Allocation System (BPAS) for city of Marathon expertise.
• State or City/County executive experience  
• Extensive experience in Florida coastal communities, or Areas of Critical State Concern in Florida.
• Experience developing effective working relationships with county-level and state‑level agencies in Florida.
• Valid Florida driver’s license or ability to obtain.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Management, Planning, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
• Experience serving as a City Manager, Deputy/Assistant City or County Administrator in Florida.
• Demonstrated leadership in infrastructure‑heavy, environmentally sensitive communities.
• Experience overseeing planning, building, code compliance, public works, and utilities functions.
• Advanced training in emergency management, resiliency, or performance management.