Deputy Town Manager
Department: Town Manager
Job Code: TM 01.2
Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Reports To: Town Manager
Salary Range: $114,868.63–$175,334.88
Lead with purpose. Strengthen local government. Shape Hanover’s future.
The Town of Hanover is seeking an experienced, strategic, and collaborative municipal leader to serve as Deputy Town Manager. This senior-level position offers the opportunity to help guide Town operations, advance community priorities, support responsible financial and organizational management, and strengthen the delivery of services to residents.
Working closely with the Town Manager, you will provide executive oversight of assigned departments, lead strategic initiatives, support Selectboard priorities, and build productive relationships with employees, elected officials, Dartmouth College, community organizations, and regional partners. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to a community that values effective governance, thoughtful planning, and professional public service.
Why Join Us & Benefits – Town of Hanover, NH
- Serve in a key leadership role supporting effective and responsible local government.
- Collaborate closely with the Town Manager, Selectboard, department directors, and community partners.
- Help shape organizational priorities, strategic initiatives, and long-term community planning.
- Lead projects that improve municipal operations, accountability, and service delivery.
- Support employee development, strong teams, and a collaborative workplace culture.
- Build relationships with Dartmouth College, neighboring municipalities, regional organizations, and state agencies.
- Help strengthen executive leadership capacity and continuity for the Town’s future.
Position Overview
The Deputy Town Manager is a senior executive responsible for assisting the Town Manager with the administration, coordination, and oversight of Town government. The position provides direct management oversight of assigned departments, coordinates major cross-departmental projects, supports the development and implementation of Selectboard priorities, and provides policy, financial, organizational, and management support.
Assigned areas of oversight include Planning, Zoning and Codes; Parks and Recreation; Information Technology; and Etna Library, consistent with the statutory authority of the Etna Library Board of Trustees. Additional departments, programs, employees, or special projects may be assigned by the Town Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Assist the Town Manager with the day-to-day administration and oversight of Town government.
- Provide leadership, supervision, mentoring, and performance management to assigned department directors.
- Coordinate activities across Town departments and identify opportunities to improve operations, communication, accountability, and service delivery.
- Assist with implementation of Selectboard policies, objectives, and annual priorities.
- Research municipal issues and prepare recommendations, reports, presentations, and meeting materials.
- Attend Selectboard meetings and other public meetings as assigned.
- Represent the Town Manager before boards, committees, community groups, government agencies, and partner organizations when requested.
- Participate in the preparation and administration of annual operating and capital budgets.
- Review departmental operating requests, staffing proposals, capital needs, contracts, and major expenditures.
- Assist with the Capital Improvement Program and long-range financial planning.
- Evaluate the long-term financial and operational implications of proposed programs and projects.
- Lead major projects assigned by the Town Manager, establishing project scopes, schedules, responsibilities, budgets, and performance measures.
- Coordinate consultants, contractors, Town departments, outside agencies, and community partners.
- Assist with long-range organizational and community initiatives.
- Develop and maintain productive relationships with Dartmouth College, neighboring municipalities, regional organizations, state agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other governmental partners.
- Support recruitment, employee development, retention, performance management, and organizational succession planning.
- Mentor department heads and emerging municipal leaders and promote cross-training and the development of institutional knowledge.
- Assist the Town Manager in evaluating organizational structure, staffing, policies, and management systems.
- Promote a workplace culture emphasizing professionalism, collaboration, accountability, innovation, respectful communication, and public service.
- Perform related duties and special projects as assigned.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Broad knowledge of municipal management and local government operations.
- Strong leadership, supervisory, project-management, and organizational skills.
- Ability to analyze complex organizational and policy issues and develop practical recommendations.
- Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and public presentation skills.
- Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously and prioritize competing demands.
- Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to develop productive working relationships with elected officials, employees, community members, institutional partners, and outside organizations.
- Commitment to ethical, politically neutral, and professional municipal management.
- Knowledge of municipal budgeting, capital planning, personnel administration, organizational development, and public-sector operations.
Minimum Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, public policy, finance, management, or a related field.
- Seven years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government, public administration, or a comparable governmental organization.
- Significant management or supervisory experience.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex projects and working with elected officials, boards, department directors, and the public.
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience demonstrating the required knowledge and abilities may be considered.
Preferred Qualifications
- Master’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Policy, or a related discipline.
- Prior experience as an Assistant or Deputy Town/City Manager, Town Administrator, department director, or similar senior municipal executive.
- Experience with New Hampshire municipal government and the Town Meeting/Selectboard form of government.
- Experience with municipal budgeting, capital planning, land use, technology, parks and recreation, personnel administration, and organizational development.
- ICMA credentials.
Physical Demands and Work Environment
- Work is primarily performed in a municipal office and public-meeting environment.
- Evening meetings and occasional work outside normal business hours are required.
- The position may require responding to significant municipal incidents or emergencies outside normal working hours.
Leadership Continuity and Succession Planning
An important purpose of the Deputy Town Manager position is to strengthen the Town’s executive management capacity and ensure leadership continuity. The position will develop broad familiarity with Town operations, finances, personnel, capital planning, community relationships, Selectboard priorities, and major projects.
When designated and authorized, the Deputy Town Manager may serve as Acting Town Manager during the Town Manager’s absence or as otherwise authorized by the Selectboard and New Hampshire law. The position is intended to build executive leadership capacity and prepare for progressively greater municipal leadership responsibilities. Appointment as Deputy Town Manager does not guarantee future appointment as Town Manager; that appointment remains the responsibility of the Selectboard in accordance with New Hampshire law.
Hours of Work
Full-time, exempt position. Evening meetings and occasional work outside normal business hours are required. The position may also require responses to significant municipal incidents or emergencies outside normal working hours.
If you are ready to bring your leadership experience, strategic thinking, and commitment to public service to a dynamic municipal organization, we encourage you to apply.
The Town of Hanover is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The Town does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. We are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and encourage qualified candidates from all backgrounds to apply.
