BRIDGEPORT, WEST VIRGINIA (population 8,355) is seeking their next City Manager. Bridgeport is located in Harrison County in the North Central area of West Virginia. Nestled at the intersection of U.S. 50 and Interstate 79, Bridgeport is at the southern end of what has been termed the “High-Tech Corridor”. While that might seem like a large increase in growth, they are one of few cities in the area that have seen an increase in population over this time-period.
Bridgeport is a vibrant and growing community and has been a hotspot for growth in the state. The city has continued to experience development pressures due to the community’s ideal regional location with excellent interstate highway access location and a regional airport that continues to increase connectivity for the city via air travel. The city is a model of how to use planning for the betterment of the entire community by investing in infrastructure well in advance of development, gathering community input and support for major improvements such as the recently opened Bridgeport Recreation Complex named “The Bridge”, and working to improve the economy through a variety of public and private partnerships.
Bridgeport has consistently been ranked as one of the safest cities in West Virginia. Additionally, with a higher-than-average median household income at $84,382 and a median age of 44.1, it is seen as a model community in the state. The demographics of Bridgeport more align with those in Southwestern Pennsylvania and Southeastern Ohio.
Bridgeport is a home rule Community and operates under Manager-Mayor plan as set forth as Plan V in Section 2 of Article 3 of Chapter 8 of the West Virginia Code. The City is governed by a City Council consisting of an elected Mayor and Recorder with five other elected council members for four-year terms with limits. The City Manager is appointed by the Bridgeport Council and serves at its pleasure.
Bridgeport is a fiscally conservative driven community placing value on keeping the financial stability of the community at the forefront of their capital planning and growth. The total budget for 2020-2021 including all funds is about $27.2 million with a general fund budget of around $18.4 million. The City currently has 166 FTE employees with an additional 250 part-time employees primarily for the recreation complex.
The following factors of education, experience, and leadership and management skills have been identified as ideal attributes for the City Manager to possess to function effectively in the position.
- A Bachelor's Degree in public administration, public policy, business or related field with a Master’s in Public/Business Administration or related discipline from an accredited college or university preferred.
- Must have five to seven years of progressively responsible experience as a City Manager or an Assistant City Manager, including significant experience at a senior level interacting with elected officials and other stakeholder groups.
- Be committed to the community and the City Management profession and have a willingness to commit to a long tenured service in the community including residency.
The starting salary range for the position is $120,00 - $140,000 DOQ. The City will also offer an outstanding fringe benefit package. Residency within the City is required. Interested candidates should apply online by September 15, 2021 with a cover letter, resume, and contact information for at least five (5) professional references to www.GovHRjobs.com and to the attention of Sarah McKee, Senior Vice President, GovHR USA, 630 Dundee Road, Suite 225, Northbrook, IL 60062. Tel: 847-380-3240, EXT 120.
The City of Bridgeport, WV is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are critical to their success. They seek to recruit the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool and strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQ individuals, people with disabilities and veterans to apply.
