Village Manager

The Village of Lakewood is seeking an experienced and visionary leader to serve as its next Village Manager. Lakewood is a vibrant community of approximately 4,238 residents, known for quality living in a natural setting. The Village features over 650 acres of open space—nearly ¾ of an acre per household—and is home to six scenic lakes, including Crystal Lake, which it shares with the neighboring City of Crystal Lake. Residents enjoy access to four golf courses, numerous public and private parks and beaches, and ecologically significant natural areas such as the Kishwaukee Fen Nature Preserve. This is a unique opportunity to lead a community that values environmental stewardship, thoughtful development, and strong civic engagement.

Purpose of Position

The purpose of this position is to manage and direct the administration of all Village affairs, including: Finance, Administration, Building, RedTail Golf Club and Public Works.  This position is an exempt, full-time management position that requires a forty (40) hour work week, with regular overtime. The incumbent is required to be available for evening and weekend meetings.  This position demands the ability to coordinate and organize multiple resources in a professional and efficient manner.  The position has frequent interaction with other departments, and the general public.  Work is performed with little supervision.  This position requires the ability to handle sensitive situations with a variety of community stakeholders in a diplomatic and professional manner.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The following duties are normal for this position.  These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive.   Other duties may be required and assigned.

Monitors and directs all aspects of Village operations, including planning and assigning tasks  to department heads, providing overall leadership and guidance through problem solving, negotiation, and critical reasoning.

Serves as the Chief Personnel Officer of the Village, including the proper administration of the Village’s personnel policies and procedures.

Responds to requests from Elected Officials concerning a wide variety of Village matters, including financial, public relations, staffing, and constituent concerns.

Represents the Village through marketing efforts, press releases, interviews with developers or prospective new businesses and at community meetings as needed.

Develops policies and procedures to ensure that the general public receives high quality of public services in a cost-efficient manner.

Recommends revisions to Village ordinances or the adoption of new ordinances as appropriate.

Conducts regular meetings with department heads to plan, coordinate, and organize Village business.  Ensures that all laws and ordinances of the Village are duly enforced and faithfully performed and observed.

Shall present Village policy and maintain a good working relationship with other governmental entities; private organizations, foundations, and forums.

Plans long-term development of Village, based on demographic and economic reports, and projected growth of the community.

Responds to inquiries and concerns from the general public, developers, and merchants.

Prepares and reviews a variety of correspondence and reports, including annual budget; grant applications; letters to developers; annexation documents; ordinance revisions and projections for capital improvements for the Board and/or various committees and commissions.

Supervises Village staff through monitoring performance evaluations and motivating Department Directors efforts at leadership and management.  Maintains communication with Department Directors on staffing levels, expenditures and physical inventory needs.

Meets with Trustees and the President to review and discuss projects, programs, and related matters impacting the Village.  Attends all meetings of the Village unless otherwise excused.

Minimum Education, Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions:

Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or a related field, with a Master’s degree preferred, with seven years public administration experience preferable in municipal government, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.

Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions

Ability to be well organized and to work in a fast-paced environment.  Ability to communicate orally and in writing with Elected Officials, Department Directors, media representatives, and all Officials that deal with the Village.

Ability to express ideas clearly, both orally and in writing.  Ability to analyze and categorize data and information, to determine consequences and identify and select alternatives.  Ability to decide the time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution.

Ability to read, understand, interpret and explain codes, regulations, ordinances, policies and guidelines.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff and Village officials.

Ability to assemble, analyze, interpret, categorize, tabulate, transcribe and/or utilize a variety of data and information.

Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity in situations involving the evaluation of information against measurable criteria.

Environmental Adaptability

Ability to work under safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to environmental factors such as repetitive computer keyboard use, irate individuals and intimidation poses a very limited  risk of injury.

The Village of Lakewood is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Village will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Salary Range: ~$116,450 to ~$157,550