Nestled in the vibrant region of eastern North Carolina, the City of Rocky Mount—proudly known as “The Center of It All”—offers a unique opportunity for an experienced and visionary leader. Spanning both Edgecombe and Nash counties, Rocky Mount serves as the principal city of the “Twin Counties” metropolitan area, a community rich in history, culture, and growth. As the city continues to evolve, it seeks a dynamic leader to help guide its most valuable asset—its dedicated workforce. This pivotal role is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by advancing the city’s strategic goals and fostering a culture rooted in excellence, innovation, and inclusion. If you are a results-driven professional with a passion for public service and a strong track record in organizational leadership, we invite you to explore this outstanding career opportunity—and become a vital part of the Rocky Mount community.
The city of Rocky Mount is located in the Coastal Plains of eastern North Carolina, was incorporated in 1867 and lies in Edgecombe and Nash Counties. Rocky Mount is a two-time All-America City that sits on the Tar River. The city was recognized as one of 10 winners nationwide of the 2020-21 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Prize. Serving as the Gateway to Eastern North Carolina, the city’s nearly 1,000 employees serve approximately 54,000 residents daily.
The city’s mission is to advance community well-being, safety and quality of life by delivering excellent public services and actively collaborating with the community toward a fulfilling and inspired future for its citizens. As a publicly owned utility, the city of Rocky Mount is committed to safe, reliable service for its customers and operates in Nash and Edgecombe counties, providing customers with electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater (sewer), refuse, recycling and/or stormwater services.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY: Established at the falls of the Tar River, Rocky Mount is a leading cultural, economic and education center of Eastern North Carolina. With lovely parks and greenways, this city of over 50,000 lies in two counties, Nash and Edgecombe, and is home to North Carolina Wesleyan College as well as Nash and Edgecombe Community colleges. The 165,000 square-foot Rocky Mount Event Center is the region’s premier sports and entertainment venue and the Imperial Centre for the Arts and Sciences, which is housed in a lovingly renovated tobacco warehouse, serves as the community’s cultural gem. The city is served by three major highways: Interstate 95 to its west; U.S. 87 is its main east-west corridor and U.S. 301 (Wesleyan Boulevard) is the main north-south corridor. The city has easy access to Raleigh (55 miles) and the Research Triangle. It is also a two-hour drive from Wilmington and the beautiful North Carolina coast. Easy access to major highways and Raleigh-Durham International Airport make Rocky Mount a great place to live and do business. With its temperate climate and proximity to both the North Carolina mountains and Atlantic Ocean beaches, Rocky Mount provides residents with the best of both worlds. Additional information about the city is available at rockymountnc.gov.
ABOUT THE CITY GOVERNMENT: The city of Rocky Mount operates under a council/manager form of government with a city manager, two assistant city managers and 18 departments employing about 1,000 employees. The city manager reports to the Mayor and a seven-member City Council. Holding an Aa2 bond rating and multiple GFOA budget awards, the city has an annual budget of about $279 million, which includes a General Fund, an Electric Fund and a Gas Fund. In addition to traditional municipal departments, Rocky Mount is a member of Electric Cities, has a fixed route transit system, museum and theater. The city also boasts the Rocky Mount Event Center, which has received a Convention South Reader’s Choice award.
