The Town of Plymouth New Hampshire is accepting applications for the position of Town Manager. Located in central New Hampshire, this beautiful, diverse town is known as the gateway to the north country and is recognized as the destination for Environmental Studies for Eco-Tourism. With easy access to I-93, Plymouth, is 45 miles north of Concord and houses Plymouth State University.
Plymouth operates under Selectboard/Town Manager/Town Meeting form of government. The five members of the Selectboard are elected for staggered 3-year terms. Plymouth has a year-round population of 3,500 which can increase to an estimated 8,000 in the fall. Plymouth employs approximately 52 full-time staff, approximately 25 on‑call firefighters/EMT/paramedic personnel, and additional part‑time and seasonal employees.
The Town has an annual budget of $14.75 million exclusive of the schools.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL:
- Be an effective leader, comfortable in empowering staff to be creative problem-solvers to ensure the long-term success of the Town, who is forward-thinking, fair-minded, transparent, and thinks outside the box
- Supervise, manage, and annually evaluate all town department managers
- Establish and maintain performance metrics and goals for town departments for annual publication
- Be responsive and accessible yet stay focused on the top priorities for the Town and say no when necessary
- Have proven planning and zoning experience and be able to work with partners in the business and nonprofit communities, as well as the University, to ensure the continued vitality of the downtown and the University, as well as retain the high quality of life for residents
- Partner with K-12 and higher education institutions and nonprofits to focus on workforce and pandemic recovery and chart the future for the Town's continued vitality
- Be energetic, personally invested in the Town, and will be active and visible in the community
- Work to bring the residents, businesses, students, college, and other key stakeholders together and find common ground on quality-of-life issues that impact all of Plymouth
- Be an effective and experienced Manager from an environment of similar complexity with proven organizational and professional skills
- Have strong skills in finance and capital planning, human resources, employee relations and unions, planning, and community and economic development
- Have the ability to work positively and effectively with staff and promote positive morale and team building in the organization
- Listen, engage, understand, and sustain relationships with all stakeholders (public and private partnerships)
- Articulate clearly achievable goals to staff, provides tools and resources to achieve the goals, and expects accountability
- Have experience working in a community with large population fluctuations and service requirements
- Understand the issues of sustainability and climate change and the ability to assist the community to work though issues and develop solutions
- Be able to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives
- Have unquestionable ethics and integrity, committed to the standards for municipal management professionals
- Have strength in written, verbal, and public presentation skills and be able to promote the Town in a variety of communications
- Engage and become part of the fabric of the community. Manager may reside outside of the Town with approval of the Selectboard
- Engage and participate with the local and regional school systems (k-12 both public and private), higher education organizations, non-profit organizations and other municipal entities (i.e. Town’s separate water & sewer district)
- Highland Street Road Project & Other Infrastructure Projects currently ongoing
- Sustainable Master Planning Process
- Continued downtown vibrancy
- Continued development of the technology needs assessment for the Town in concert with department managers
- Engage with regional partners and state initiatives that support housing affordability, renewable energy, and climate change resiliency
- Prepare the Town to utilize federal resources for infrastructure needs
The Selectboard has identified the following priorities as some of the top priorities for the Town:
The Selectboard’s current priorities are identified as the following four priorities for the next Town Manager:
- Development Budget and Financial Sustainability
- Economic and Business Development
- Climate Change Environmental Sustainability
- Affordable Housing
The Board remains vested with the responsibility of managing the prudential affairs of the Town; provided, however, that the Town Manager shall have the managerial and administrative responsibilities established by law. Specifically, the Town Manager shall have the powers and duties enumerated in RSA Chapter 37 and shall exercise these powers and duties in the manner required by that chapter, including but without limitation, RSA 37:3, 5, 6, and 7.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or related field, with a Master’s degree preferred; five years senior management experience (preferably in municipal government); OR any equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates possession of the required knowledge, skills and abilities.
Salary range begins at $117,000 and will be determined based on experience and qualifications. The Town of Plymouth offers an extensive benefit package. The Town of Plymouth is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to cultivating and preserving a culture of inclusion and connectedness.
For further information about Plymouth please visit plymouthnh.gov.
The position will remain open until filled. Priority consideration will be given to applicants who submit a cover letter, resume, salary requirements, and five (5) references by May 31, 2026 to:
Plymouth Town Manager Search
Town of Plymouth
Attn: Zachary Tirrell, Chairman, Selectboard
6 Post Office Square
Plymouth, NH 03264
Email: zach@tirrell.com Telephone: 603-289-9221