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Town Manager

Town Manager Job Posting | Hartford, Vermont | May 2026

As Hartford’s next Town Manager, you’ll be stepping into a role where decisions have real impact: on regional housing, economic development, infrastructure, and the daily experience of a community that blends working downtown energy with immediate access to trails, rivers, and mountains.

What You’ll Actually Get To Do

Run a complex system that still values human scale. Hartford operates like a small city in a rural setting - multiple villages, major employers, active arts and downtown scenes, and significant infrastructure.
Translate policy into reality. Work directly with a Selectboard with an ambitious agenda to move from ideas → budgets → execution.
Be the connective tissue. Between departments, between villages, and between Hartford and the broader Upper Valley region and its multidimensional stakeholders.
Own the big picture. Budgeting, capital planning, staffing, and long-range strategy aren’t side tasks here, rather they are central priorities to the role.
Show up visibly. This is a community that expects its leadership to be present, accessible, and engaged and the Selectboard actively supports this key aspect of the role.

What You Won’t Find Here

A passive role
A one-dimensional community
A place where you can stay behind a desk and succeed

The Kind of Person This Fits

Comfortable operating in complex but not bureaucratic environments
Can move between strategy and execution without friction
Direct and personable relationship-based leader and communicator

The Formal Stuff

The Town Manager, per Hartford’s Charter and VSA 24 V.S.A.

1231–1243, Serves as Chief Executive/Administrative Officer responsible for all Town operations, including budgeting, personnel, capital planning, compliance with applicable laws, and implementation of Selectboard policy.

The position’s starting salary is between $150,000 - $175,000 depending on experience, and the Town offers a comprehensive benefit package and paid time off (more on the website). The Town Manager must live within a reasonable commuting distance, and will be required to undergo a background check prior to hire.

Interested?

Visit HartfordVTTownManager.com to meet Alex from Rethink Local (your recruiter) and Tim from the Selectboard, review our position profile, job description, benefits summary, and apply right online.

Interviews are rolling. To be considered in the first round please make sure to submit your application before May 25th at 5pm.

Hartford is an equal opportunity employer.

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