Town Manager

Town of Needham
Depends on Qualifications
medical insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, vision insurance, flexible benefit account, vacation time, paid holidays, sick time, tuition assistance, retirement plan, pension
United States, Massachusetts, Needham
1471 Highland Avenue (Show on map)
Jan 23, 2025
Description Photo of the Town Common and Town Hall on a sunny spring day. The Town of Needham seeks a high-energy Town Manager who will provide exemplary leadership to the organization, think strategically, and work collaboratively with all stake holders in the community. It is critical that the town manager have a pulse on the community; recognize various constituencies, and listen to residents regarding their concerns. Needham wants a town manager who effectively communicates with board members, residents, and taxpayers and who can articulate the issues and disseminate information so the community can make informed decisions. The Town is seeking a manager who will uphold the culture of professionalism and will respect, trust, and empower employees. Employees are seeking a town manager who will provide strong leadership, be a good listener, support the departments, encourage professional development, and provide opportunities for advancement. Needham is a community of great opportunity. The Town is financially stable. The incumbent Town Manager has been in the role for 24 years and there is a history of longevity within the municipal workforce. Annual salary: $220,000+/- DOQ. A competitive and attractive benefits package (including health, dental and vision coverage, contributory retirement system, 457(b) Deferred Compensation Plan, tuition reimbursement, and a comprehensive employee assistance program) is part of the compensation package. Needham is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town of Needham Needham, MA (pop. 32,091), incorporated in 1711, is a primarily residential suburban community with a highly regarded school system, a well-managed town, and a strong sense of community. A desirable suburb of Boston, Needham is an ideal location for anyone working in the city or along the I-95/Route 128 corridor as there are three exits providing access to the town. Needham borders Dover, Westwood, Dedham, Wellesley, Newton, and the West Roxbury section of Boston. Needham is 10 miles southwest of Boston, 29 miles east of Worcester, and about 208 miles from New York City. Needham is situated in the greater Boston area, which has excellent rail, air, and highway facilities. Principal highways are State Routes 128 (the inner belt around Boston) and 135, and Interstate Route 95, which shares the same roadway as State Route 128. Commuter rail service is available via four stations to Back Bay Station and South Station in Boston. Needham is a member of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA), which provides fixed bus route service between Needham Junction and Watertown Square. Needham has a classic New England downtown and is home to global high-technology firms, life science companies, world- class healthcare facilities, and the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering. Multi-modal transportation is very important to the residents and climate resiliency efforts are in the forefront. Housing is a challenging issue as home prices have risen substantially and zoning requirements and changes will impact future residential density. The town has a strong and dedicated management team, and its departments are provided with the tools, resources and support to promote efficient operations. The Deputy Town Manager, Deputy Town Manager/Director of Finance, and the Director of Human Resources serve with the Town Manager as the Town's senior management team. There are six general government collective bargaining groups. Government Needham has a Select Board-Town Manager form of government with representative Town Meeting. Under Massachusetts General Laws (MGL) and the Needham General By-Laws & Charter, the executive powers of the Town are vested in the five-member Select Board. Members are elected for three-year staggered terms. The Select Board serves as the chief goal setting and policy-making body of the Town. The Board appoints the Town Manager as the Chief Executive Officer of the Town. There are 240 elected Town Meeting Members representing ten precincts. In addition, there are the following at-large members: Moderator, Town Clerk, Members of the Select Board, Chair of the Board of Assessors, Chair of the Board of Health, Chair of the Trustees of Memorial Park, Chair of the Park and Recreation Commission, Chair of the Planning Board, Chair of the School Committee, and any resident member of the General Court whose state legislative district is wholly within the Town. The Select Board annually reviews its goals for the community: Livable, Economically Vital, Accessible & Connected, Healthy and Socially Thriving, Safe, and Responsibly Governed. The Town Manager oversees the daily operations of the Town, advises, administers the policies and procedures of the Select Board, and enforces Town bylaws and actions passed at Town Meeting. The Town Manager is responsible for the effective management of Town departments (other than schools), preparing an annual budget and capital plan, coordinating activities leading up to the annual Town Meeting, providing support to the volunteer committee system, working with other levels of government, and managing special projects for the Select Board. There are nearly 50 boards, commissions and committees in Needham that are either advisory or regulatory. Many town residents are actively involved serving on these entities and citizen engagement with the government is encouraged. The Select Board is seeking a town manager who has excellent communication skills and will keep the Board members apprised of developments, issues and initiatives. Education The Town operates one pre-school, five elementary schools, two middle schools (High Rock and Pollard), and a senior high school. In 2024, 5,512 students were enrolled in the Needham schools. The newest school in the District opened in September 2019. Funding for the feasibility study for the reconstruction of the Pollard School is in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). The Mitchell Elementary School is also proposed for reconstruction as identified in the Needham School Master Plan. The $23.7 million renovation of the historic Emery Grover school administration building was completed at the end of 2024. The Town is a member of the Minuteman Regional Vocational Technical School District, which includes 10 member towns. Finances Needham's FY25 budget is $244,347,581. Needham has a diverse tax base with a mix of commercial, industrial, retail, and residential properties. The Town has consistently earned a Standard & Poor's bond rating of AAA for more than two decades. Needham is a well-run, fiscally conservative community. The Town accepted the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) and implemented the program in FY06. The current CPA Fund exceeds $8 million and is used to fund a variety of municipal projects. In 2009, the Town adopted a 0.75% Local Option Meals Excise and a 6% Room Occupancy Excise. The Town has a Capital Equipment Fund, a Capital Facility Fund, an Athletic Facility Fund, a Debt Service Stabilization Fund, an Opioid Stabilization Fund, and a Stormwater Stabilization Fund. The Town appropriates 100% of its actuarial determined annual contribution and pays its share of the retiree health and life insurance premiums from the OPEB Fund. The Select Board has approved written financial policies that guide budgeting and operational decisions. For FY25, the residential tax rate is $10.60. The rate for commercial, industrial, and personal property is $20.91. Residential tax revenues represent 87 percent of the total assessed value compared to 13 percent for commercial, industrial, and personal property (CIP). The residential levy as a percentage of the total FY25 tax levy ($192,425,222) is 77 percent while the CIP is 23 percent of the total levy. The tax levy accounts for 77.9 percent of the total budget without Enterprise and CPA funds; state aid 6.6 percent; local receipts 6.2 percent; and other funding sources the remaining 9.3 percent. The average single-family tax bill in FY25 is $15,523; the average single-family home value in FY25 is $1,464,398. Free cash was certified at $23,816,038 in May 2024. Needham has made significant capital investments in its public safety facilities, communication towers, schools and municipal buildings over the past few years. This includes new construction of Fire Station #1, reconstruction of Fire Station #2, and a new Police Station. The 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan details the proposed investments for the next five years. Planning for the phased reconstruction of the DPW operations building is a priority of the Select Board. The CIP also includes design funds for phased improvements to the Library and renovations to the Center at the Heights in future years. Other large projects include environmental remediation and field renovation at Claxton Field, and replacement and expansion of the tennis courts at the High School. In the coming years, the Town will also be required to make significant investments to improve stormwater quality. The Town will also need to assess opportunities to increase stormwater capacity. The Town is seeking a manager who has a strong financial background and can balance the needs of the community while remaining fiscally responsible. Economic Development The Town's economy has a mix of manufacturing, services, technology and commercial trades. Among its largest employers are Tripadvisor world headquarters, NBC Universal, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Clark's Shoes, Coca Cola Bottling, Dialogic Inc., IDG Technology, SharkNinja, WCVB Channel 5, and Olin College of Engineering. The Town has undertaken several climate mitigation and resiliency efforts. These include the lease of land for a solar array at the capped landfill, solar installation at the Sunita Williams School, and proposed solar installation. Four of the Town's buildings are fully electric, including the Emery Grover Building, which was recently renovated. The State designated the Town as a Green Community in February 2020. Needham has invested in several publicly accessible electric vehicle charging stations and continues to invest in electric vehicles in its fleet. The Town recently received approvals for a municipal aggregation program. The Climate Action Committee was established by the Select Board in 2024, to develop a plan to meet or exceed the State's climate goals. The Town promotes housing opportunities and in 2018 created the Needham Affordable Housing Trust to serve as the Town's entity for overseeing housing issues and managing a dedicated fund in support of affordable housing initiatives. In October of 2024, the final Arts and Culture Action Plan was completed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) in collaboration with the Town. The Town will be working with stakeholders to prioritize the goals identified in the plan including those that align with the Select Board's goals for this year. The comprehensive Needham 2025 Commercial and Residential Growth Impact Study was completed in 2020. The study identified the reasonably anticipated range of commercial and residential growth by 2025, and the associated impact/pressure that may be placed on existing, planned, or prospective infrastructure by this growth and other regional trends. The Town has continually reviewed, restructured, and enhanced staffing in the Department of Planning and Community Development to better serve the community. In 2021, the Economic Development Manager position was reclassified and moved to the Town Manager's Office. The Economic Development Manager is focused on enhancing the commercial and industrial tax base of the town, supporting and maintaining existing businesses, promoting business expansion, and attracting new business. The Council of Economic Advisors is charged with various tasks relating to the promotion of economic development. Potential Projects Funding to renovate and expand the Pollard Middle School and to reconstruct the Mitchell Elementary School was initially estimated to total $350 million. Rises in construction and material costs have increased those estimates to be as high as $465 million for both projects. The Pollard Middle School is in the feasibility phase with the MSBA, with an estimated cost of $311 million. Future multi-million dollar investments are planned in DPW facilities as described in the DPW Complex Feasibility Study and Master Plan, as well as a major stormwater project, a pump station project and a proposed sewer project. Sustainability, environmental concerns, and tree preservation are also issues that are important to the community. The Stephen Palmer Building, an old school building converted to housing, will revert back to the Town in 2027. The next Town Manager will need to work with a committee and the consultant to develop a relocation plan for the tenants and develop a re-use plan for the property. There is a history of longevity for municipal employees as town government has been supportive of its workforce and the Town has provided the resources for operations, facilities, and equipment. There may be turnover in certain key positions in the next few years due to retirements and attrition, thus the next Town Manager must continue to engage in succession planning in order to ensure continuity of operations. Needham is undertaking a major redesign of its downtown area, planning a complete redesign of the Highland Street corridor, and designing a new "quiet zone" area along the MBTA train track intersections. Each of these initiatives will be ongoing in 2025. The MWRA will be installing a new water line that will involve drilling and digging under the extensive impacted area. This project is expected to take seven years to complete. The Town just consolidated the IT Department with the School Department and is in the process of establishing policies and procedures to guide the operations of the restructured department. The Town recently implemented a new software system for its water billing that has issues. The Town Manager will have to address these types of operational challenges. The Town currently leases over 58 acres of land to the Needham Golf club. This current 20-year lease expires on April 30, 2029. The next Town Manager will be expected to renew and/or renegotiate this lease. While the Town is fiscally stable, operational and capital budget challenges are anticipated. Needham would like the next manager to evaluate opportunities for enhanced regional initiatives that may be cost effective and enhance services. The next Town Manager must have strong financial acumen and the ability to strategically plan for the future fiscal needs of the organization and Town. Duties and Responsibilities The Town Manager is appointed by the Select Board for a three-year term. The Town Manager is the chief executive officer of the Town and is responsible for the efficient administration of all departments except the school department. Section 20B of the Town Charter specifies the duties of the Town Manager, including: Reviewing and recommending the reorganization, consolidation, or abolishment of departments. Rental and use of all town property, except school property, and maintenance and repair of all town buildings, including school buildings and grounds. Serving as purchasing agent for the town, awarding all contracts for all departments and activities of the town with the exception of the school department. Adopting rules and regulations establishing a personnel system, including a classification and compensation plan, in cooperation with the Human Resources Advisory Committee. Fixing the compensation of all town employees except those under the jurisdiction of the school committee. Negotiating and administering all collective bargaining agreements with employee organizations representing town employees other than employees of the school department, pertaining to wages and other terms and conditions of employment, and participating in the deliberations of the school committee in collective bargaining with employee organizations representing school department employees, as provided in M.G.L. c. 150E. Keeping full and complete records of the office of Town Manager and rendering as often as may be required by the Select Board a full report of all operations during the period reported on. Keeping the Select Board fully advised as to the needs of the town and recommending to the Select Board for adoption such measures requiring action by them or by the town as may be deemed necessary or expedient. Implementing Town Meeting votes and reporting annually in writing to the Town Meeting on the status of prior Town Meeting votes on which implementation is not complete. Administering, either directly or through a designee, all provisions of general and special laws applicable to the town, and by-laws and votes of the town, and all rules and regulations made by the Select Board. Reporting to the Select Board and the Finance Committee as to the financial condition of the town. Providing advice and assistance to boards and committees of the town. Serving as chief fiscal officer of the town, preparing and recommending a Capital Improvement Plan. The Town Manager prepares a proposed annual operating budget - the Finance Committee budget is presented to Town Meeting. Requirements The Ideal Candidate has Bachelor's degree (master's preferred) in public administration or a related field. Experience as a Town Manager/ Administrator or as an Assistant Town Manager/ Administrator. Energetic, forward-thinking strategic planner. Excellent communication skills and ability to inform, interact, and engage with Board members and residents. Strong leadership and team-building skills. Ability to provide growth potential, professional development opportunities, and retention strategies for employees. Willing to advocate for, trust, and empower employees to be successful. Strong financial planning and budgeting skills. Track record in implementing policy. Strong personnel management, collective bargaining, and negotiation skills. Creative problem solver. Approachable, active listener, knowledge of best practices, and open to new ideas. Consensus builder willing to work collaboratively with boards, committees, residents, other stakeholders, and regional partners. Community-oriented and ability to understand the pulse of the community. Ability to balance the competing needs and interests of the community. Supplemental Information To apply, send cover letter and resume, in confidence, via email, in a single PDF, by February 14, 2025, 3:00 p.m. EST to: Apply@CommunityParadigm.com Subject: Needham Town Manager Questions regarding the position should be directed to: Julie Jacobson, Senior Associate Community Paradigm Associates jjacobson@communityparadigm.com The Town of Needham, Mass., is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. "The Town of Needham is a professionally run organization that is committed to creating an inclusive culture where employees can perform at the highest levels. Our employees are dedicated to their work and rely on each other as a team to ensure that Needham remains a place where engaged and committed people want to live, work, and play."