Who is a member?
Our members are the local governments of Massachusetts and their elected and appointed leadership.
Appointed by the Board of Selectmen for a three-year contract, full-time, exempt, 30-40 hours/week, fully-benefited, non-union.
The town of Townsend, Massachusetts, population 9,127 (2020 census), seeks an individual who has hands-on experience in municipal government, a strategic mindset and is a visionary leader with effective communication and collaborative skills to serve as its Town Administrator. This is an immediate position in a full-service municipality led by a three-member Board of Selectmen with a representative town meeting form of government. The total operating budget of Townsend is approximately $30 million. The candidate will hold a bachelor’s degree in public administration or a related field and at least five years of progressive experience in municipal administration with a master’s degree in public administration or related field, but any equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
Compensation for this position is in the $120,000 range, commensurate on experience, as negotiated with the Board of Selectmen as the Town Administrator’s supervisory body. The preferred candidate would reside in or near Townsend and be readily available for any possible municipal situation requiring immediate attention. Additionally, the operating Town Administrator may not presently hold any simultaneous elective town office or have previously held one within the past 12 months. Candidate must pass a pre-employment physical exam, a drug/alcohol screen, and full CORI background check.
An employment application as well as the full detailed job description listing all essential duties of the Town Administrator are available online at https://www.townsendma.gov/home/files/town-administrator-job-description-5-1-2024. All applications will be vetted by the Town Administrator Search Committee and viable candidates will be presented to the Board of Selectmen for the final interviews.
Applicants should apply by email with an employment application, cover letter, and resume along with salary requirements to the search committee at selectmen@townsendma.gov. Applications will be accepted until a suitable candidate is found.
