The Town of Mountain Village, CO is seeking applications for Town Manager. To view full posting go to: www.KRW-Associates.com/open-positions
The Town & Surrounding Area
The Town of Mountain Village, CO (incorporated in 1995) is a beautiful mountain resort community nestled in the heart of the Uncompahgre National Forest, in southwestern Colorado. Located just above Telluride in the San Juan mountains, its founders envisioned a charming, sophisticated European-style ski-in/ski-out and pedestrian-friendly destination to complement Telluride and the Telluride Ski Resort. That’s exactly what you’ll find here. While often associated as one, Mountain Village and Telluride are two distinct towns connected by a gondola system that serves as both transportation and a popular attraction for visitors seeking mountain access and spectacular views. Mountain Village’s population is a unique mix of full-time and part-time residents. Roughly 1,400 call Mountain Village home year-round and housing data suggests upward of 2,600 part-time homeowners or seasonal residents. During peak tourism season (summer and winter), its population soars as visitors flock to the area. In addition to skiing, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, fishing and other outdoor activities, the area is also known for its festivals, arts and culture.
Mountain Village is a full-service town with some unique services and challenges due to its size and its remote and secluded location. The Town owns and operates 257 rental units in Village Court Apartments and has continued to build workforce housing throughout its history. The Town also runs its own childcare facility, Mountain Munchkins, which is the only provider of infant care in the region. The Town has its own police department. The Town’s transportation department operates the gondola and seasonal bus service. The region’s highly rated schools, fire protection, transportation and medical care are each provided by independent public bodies.
Realizing virtually all of the Town’s goals, including housing, gondola replacement, water and wastewater improvements and economic development, depend on cooperation with four local entities: the Town of Telluride, San Miguel County, the Telluride Mountain Village Owner’s Association (TMVOA) and the Telluride Ski and Golf Corporation. A Town Manager with exceptional collaborative skills is essential.
The Town’s exceptional and experienced staff of 160 (nearly one-third of whom operate the gondola) is perhaps our greatest asset. Inspiring and skilled leadership of this team is a must. The Town’s financials are strong with reserves of $55 million and debt of $37 million. The operating budget is $50 million.
The Town is roughly a six-hour drive from Denver, Albuquerque and Salt Lake City. Many medical and retail services are 90 minutes away in Montrose, or further. Thanks to tourism there are good connections from the Montrose airport and a daily flight to Denver from the Telluride airport. Long winters are alleviated by the abundant winter sports. Any applicant should be enthusiastic about living in a remote, small town with stunning beauty and outstanding recreation. To learn more, go to: Home | Town of Mountain Village
The Position
This is an excellent opportunity for a seasoned executive-level professional seeking a new challenge and a rewarding career.
The Town Manager serves as the chief administrative officer for the Town of Mountain Village, CO and functions under the administrative direction of the Mayor and Town Council.
The Town Manager leads the analysis, development, implementation and coordination of all Town policies and programs; directs the activities of assigned departments and ensures all departmental activities align with the Town’s strategic and community goals.
The Town Manager upholds and actively champions the Town's values, fostering an organizational culture of accountability, respect and service excellence.
The Town Manager is expected to maintain a visible, accessible and engaged presence in the community, with a shared understanding that "community" encompasses Town residents, second homeowners, visitors, the business community and regional partners alike.
The Town Manager serves as the primary liaison between the Town Council and Department Directors, fostering collaborative relationships, improving organizational cohesion and ensuring clear, consistent communication across all levels of the organization.
The Town Manager is responsible for policy development and administration, organizational leadership and departmental oversight, Town Council and Board relations and community stakeholder engagement.
The Town of Mountain Village operates under a mayor-council form of government. The Town Manager is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor, with the consent of the Town Council.
The Ideal Candidate - The ideal candidate will embody and operate with the following skills, principles and attributes.
Collaborator, Connector and Coalition-builder- It is critical that the Town Manager be a collaborator, connector and coalition builder and must have a proven track-record of negotiating complex business arrangements and building collaborative working relationships with key partners.
Strategic Leadership / Vision- A leader with a strategic vision and genuine ideas for the future of Mountain Village. Holds a long-term view, while recognizing operational realities. Brings the energy and drive needed to execute plans and complete projects.
Integrity & Trust- A person of integrity who leads with fairness, objectivity and a high standard of conduct. Is trusted by the staff, elected officials, regional partners and the community.
Inspirational & People Focused Leadership- An inspirational leader with excellent people skills. One who attracts, develops and retains an outstanding committed team. Earns authentic loyalty and respect — not mere compliance. Sets a clear organizational vision and creates opportunities for meaningful professional development.
Results Focused- Translates Council direction and community priorities into clear, measurable goals to drive intended results. Holds people accountable, fairly and consistently. Reconciles Council-set and staff-set goals into one cohesive plan.
Community Minded / Cultural Fit- One who genuinely embraces Mountain Village- a small, high-elevation resort community. Seeks to serve long-term. Understands and is comfortable with the realities of living in a relatively isolated mountain community for themselves, staff and family. Simply put, one who is a “good fit” for Mountain Village.
Thoughtful & Transparent Communicator- Listens intently and communicates clearly. Is comfortable addressing Council, staff, the public and key stakeholders, both when the message is positive and when difficult.
Politically Savvy & Diplomatic- Navigates the dynamics of governance and competing interests gracefully. Builds — and rebuilds — trust across municipal partners, the resort/TSG, regional neighbors and a diverse resident base.
Business Acumen & Operational Efficiency- Possesses strong financial skills and sound operational judgment. Proven experience with overseeing budgets, finance and major capital projects. Works in tandem with the finance team to negotiate and structure complex financial deals. Collaborates with department heads to ensure operational efficiency and continuous process improvement.
Experience with Complex Stakeholder Environments- Proven success building and sustaining professional relationships across interdependent public and private bodies, ideally in a resort, regional or multi-jurisdictional context.
Project & Priority Oversight- Owns major multi-stakeholder initiatives at a strategic level — sets priorities, anticipates obstacles and ensures staff has the information and resources to keep deliverables on track. Trusts directors and staff to execute the details. “Serves as the conductor of the orchestra-not a player.” A leader, not a micro-manager.
Emotional Intelligence- Relates authentically across a wide range of stakeholders with varying roles, positions and influence within the organization and community.
Responsive- Ensures timely thoughtful responses and follow-up, taking into account staff workloads, budget realities and other priorities.
Curious & Adaptable– Continually learns and tests new approaches, without letting adaptability substitute for sound judgement and leadership experience. Grows and evolves as a leader/manager.
Compensation & Benefits - Salary Range: $211,463 - $306,621
The Town offers an extensive benefit package.
- The Town partners with CEBT* to offer Medical, Dental, Vision and Life insurance plans. Three medical plan options are available for employees and dependents, including PPO plans with Flexible Savings (FSA) eligibility and a High-Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with Health Savings Account (HAS) eligibility. The Town generously covers 80-100% of the premiums.
- Colorado PERA serves as the Town’s retirement system in lieu of Social Security. PERA Choice options employees choose between are the PERA Defined Benefit (DB) Plan and the PERA Defined Contribution (DC) plan. Employee and Town matching contributions to the 401(k) are 100% vested immediately upon starting the plan. A voluntary deferred compensation plan is also available for additional tax-advantaged retirement savings in a 457(b) option.
- Generous paid time off accrues from the date of hire. The Town Manager’s PTO schedule is negotiable and commensurate with experience.
- Annual wellness reimbursement for eligible items, prorated based on start date. Designed to cover benefits such as a Telluride ski pass.
- Discounted childcare rates are available for Town employees with children enrolled at Mountain Munchkins Child Care Center.
- Voluntary benefits: AFLAC and additional PERA life insurance plans.
- The Town Manager receives a housing allowance and is offered access to a newly constructed townhome (3 bed, 3 baths, end unit) in a local Mountain Village neighborhood. Meadowlark at Mountain Village | Town of Mountain Village. Relocation expenses and housing allowances are negotiable.
- Colorado Employer Benefits Trust (CEBT) is a self-funded, governmental multi-employer trust that provides employee benefits for over 450 public entities with over 37,000 employees and dependents across Colorado.
Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or closely related field. A Master’s degree (MPA, MBA or related advanced degree) preferred. A minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government or public-sector management. An equivalent combination of education, training and relevant experience in public or private sector leadership / management that would provide the necessary experience and competencies for success will be considered in lieu of the stated requirements. Experience serving as a liaison with resort, ski area or regional stakeholder entities is highly desirable. Possession of a valid driver’s license is required.
Opportunities & Challenges
Housing- Work with the County, Rural Homes, local employers and potential local funding partners to develop Phase I (approximately 49 units) and advance Phase II of a Town-owned 55-acre parcel, four miles from Mountain Village.
Wastewater Treatment Plant– Partner with the Town of Telluride to build a modern regional wastewater treatment plant on five town-owned acres on the Ilium region of Telluride/Mountain Village. Create a regional authority to finance, build and manage this facility to serve Mountain Village, Telluride and some unincorporated portions of San Miguel County.
Economic Vitality- Seek ways to create more economic activity and vitality in the Village Center, particularly in the shoulder seasons, while preserving the character of the community.
Fire Safety /Forest Health- Reduce the risk of catastrophic fires through forest health and defensible space protection.
Gondola– Successfully fund and execute on a replacement of the current aging gondola which is the main public transportation connecting Mountain Village with Telluride. This would involve collaboration with key stakeholders, such as the Town of Telluride, San Miguel Regional Transit Authority (SMART), Telluride Mountain Village Owners Association (TMVOA) and Telski.
Other goals: improvements to key areas of town; improved regional collaboration; improved access to childcare; expansion of trails, walkways, bike paths, and improved roadway safety; promoting the Telluride Conference Center.
