BETHEL, AK (Population: 6,500) is a remote city on the western coast of Alaska, approximately 400 miles west of Anchorage.  Bethel is only accessible by air and water and it is the largest Kuskokwim River port, serving as a transportation and administrative hub for over 50 Alaskan villages.  With a population of over 6,500, the city is about 48 square miles with approximately 5 square miles as water.  Bethel has been a 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 2019-2020 including all funds is about $31 million with a general fund budget of around $15.6 million.  The city currently has approximately 100 FTE employees.

Within Bethel, there are approximately 36 miles of roads which are not connected to any contiguous highway system.  The Port of Bethel is the northernmost medium-draft port in the U.S.A.  River travel is the primary means of local transportation in the summer and supports barge service that provides goods to Kuskokwim villages.  The state-owned Bethel Airport is a regional transportation hub served by four passenger carriers and three major cargo carriers.  The airport ranks third in the state for total number of flights.

Bethel is a vibrant and bustling community and continues to be a hub of commerce and transportation for its residents and surrounding villages.  The city could see some potential growth in the coming years through two proposed housing developments.  The median household income is approximately $83,400 with 32% of the population under the age of 18 and only 7% of the population over the age of 65, it is a young community.

The successful candidate will have the following qualifications and experiences:

• A strong commitment to creative problem-solving through teamwork and professionalism, outstanding supervisory and administrative skills, highly developed interpersonal and oral/written communication skills and ability to develop policies and procedures that evolve with the organization.
• A demonstrated record of leadership with a comprehensive knowledge of city/county management, government finances and budgeting, planning and growth, and consensus building.
• A bachelor’s degree in public administration, public policy, business or related field from an accredited college or university. A Master’s in Public/Business Administration is preferred along with extensive progressively responsible experience (5 to 7 years) in local government management, including significant experience at a senior level interacting with elected officials and other stakeholder groups. Experienced assistant and/or deputy managers/administrators are also encouraged to apply. Experience in Alaska is preferred.

The starting salary range for the position is $125,000 - $145,000 DOQ. The City will also offer an outstanding fringe benefit package including low cost health, dental and vision.  Residency within the City is required.  Interested candidates should apply online by August 30, 2019 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 130, Northbrook, IL  60062. Tel: (847) 380-3240.

Click HERE to Apply!