Town Manager - Cape Charles, Virginia

Cape Charles, Virginia is a picturesque coastal town located on the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, along the eastern shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Cape Charles exudes historic charm with its preserved Victorian-era architecture, quaint tree lined streets, and welcoming atmosphere. The town’s laid-back coastal vibe is complemented by a stunning waterfront with sandy beaches and panoramic bay views. With its primary economy being tourism, the town swells from 1,200 year-round residents to over 4,000 seasonally.

Cape Charles is seeking Town Manager to be responsible to the Town Council for the proper administration of the town government. This role involves advising the Town Council on strategic planning, managing a transparent budget, and securing grants to support town projects. The Town Manager also oversees the town’s capital improvement program, develops policies, and fosters relationships with local and regional partners. They are active in the community, attend all Town Council meetings, and keep the Council informed about the town’s financial health and needs. Additionally, the Town Manager ensures an annual audit is conducted and fulfills other duties as assigned by the Council. This role oversees 11 direct reports.

Leadership Opportunities 

The current Town Manager is leaving after a successful five-year term for a scheduled retirement. During the current managers’ tenure, many foundational elements of the town government were established or updated. These include comprehensive and strategic planning, transparent fiscal policies and budgets, a capital project management plan, personnel policies and pay systems, updated zoning and historic district guidelines, and the initiation of several long-range planning efforts.

With this foundation in place, the next Town Manager is poised to take the community to the next level. To realize major investments in municipal infrastructure and buildings, the revitalization of our beachfront, and oversee carefully considered development of currently vacant railroad property. It’s certainly an exciting time to be a member of Team Cape Charles.

The starting salary for the position is between $100,000 to $110,000, based on qualifications and experience. Benefits include an unparalleled quality of life, participation in the Virginia State Retirement System, vacation and sick leave, group life insurance, medical insurance, short and long-term disability insurance, professional dues, and conference expenses. Residency is not required but encouraged. Relocation expenses will be provided up to $8000. 

Competitive candidates must demonstrate a broad range of achievements. This includes working effectively with municipal governing bodies and building community consensus, understanding and addressing the needs of existing businesses, and facilitating municipal strategic planning efforts. Additionally, they should provide proven leadership that fosters a cohesive and motivated staff, develop and administer realistic budgets and financial practices, and create transparent processes for all local government functions. 

This position requires three to five years of public sector management experience as a municipal manager; with a bachelor’s degree in finance, public/business administration, or a similarly appropriate field of study.  An advanced degree is preferred. 

This position is open until filled; however, interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply no later than November 13, 2024. Interviews with Town Council will be held in early January 2025. The successful candidate’s first day as Town Manager will be April 15, 2025. 

For more information, please contact Anne Lewis at Anne.Lewis@bakertilly.com or 703-923-8214. 

Please browse the Town’s website at www.capecharles.org to learn more about Cape Charles.

Cape Charles is an equal-opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business needs.

Salary : $100,000 - $110,000