The Community
Golden is a vibrant, authentic, and historic community founded in 1859 and located between Denver and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Golden is home to more than 20,000 residents within city limits and 40,000 outside city limits, who enjoy a high-quality of life, world-class outdoor recreation, varied local arts and culture opportunities, and a thriving downtown. Golden is an employment hub with individuals commuting daily from Denver and Boulder on a robust transportation network of highways, transit, and regional bikeways. Golden is the county seat for Jefferson County and home to the Colorado School of Mines. Other major employers include Coors Brewery, Coors Tek, and the National Laboratory of the Rockies.
Golden welcomes visitors year-round as a destination or a central location to enjoy a Colorado vacation. The city has something to offer for everyone with abundant outdoor recreational activities including kayaking and fishing in Clear Creek; hiking, mountain biking and rock climbing in Jefferson County Open Space parks; cycling and paragliding on Lookout Mountain; or golf at the city’s award-winning Fossil Trace Golf Club. For less active pursuits, downtown Golden is a regional draw for shopping, dining, and entertainment, as well as a gathering place for large community events including weekly farmers markets, fine arts festivals, holiday parades and celebrations, and car shows.
The Organization
The City of Golden provides a full range of services including police, fire, streets, water, drainage, public improvements, parks, recreation and golf, planning and economic development, and general administrative services.
Golden is a home-rule municipality with a council-manager form of government. Residents elect a mayor at large, two district council members, and four ward council members on a non-partisan basis for four-year staggered terms, with elections every two years. City Council is primarily responsible for setting policy, passing ordinances and resolutions, adopting the budget, appointing committees, and hiring the City Manager, City Attorney, Municipal Judge, and Hearing Officer.
THE CITY AT A GLANCE:
FY2026 Budget: $112,098,005
Full-Time Employees: 304
Part-Time/Seasonal Employees: 250
The Role
The City Manager is the chief administrative officer responsible for planning, managing operations, and leading a team of highly skilled employees to achieve Council approved objectives and deliver excellent service to the community.
· Develops and manages the City’s annual budget in accordance with City Council directives
· Executes the goals and deliverables in City Council’s Strategic Action Plan
· Ensures resolution of inquiries or complaints of city services in a timely manner
· Identifies challenges and opportunities for continuous improvement of city services
· Serves as liaison between the City of Golden and other cities and outside agencies, and negotiates and resolves significant issues with the guidance of City Council
· Monitors and evaluates the City’s organizational structure and employee satisfaction
· Maintains the highest ethical, personal, and professional standards
· Participates on a variety of boards and professional groups; stays informed of new trends and innovations in the field of public administration
· Carries out additional duties listed in Chapter VII of the City Charter
· Other duties may be assigned
Desired Attributes
Golden is seeking a visionary, open-minded, and seasoned leader with a proven track record. The City Manager will need to possess the following skills:
· Effective communication with transparency and integrity
· Commitment to service delivery excellence
· Inspires cooperation, effectiveness, and efficiency
· Honors the past while strategically focusing the City on the future
· Develops and supports staff expertise, empowering individuals while valuing accountability
· Dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion
· Straightforward and confident working with a well-informed and engaged community
· Open to innovative technologies and ideas, and adaptable to a changing landscape
· Fact-based and data-driven decision making
· Adaptable and flexible to changing priorities and circumstances
· Available to and engaged with the community
Education and Experience
· Bachelor's degree (B.A.) plus ten (10) years’ related professional experience required.
· A graduate degree in public administration and five (5) years’ leadership experience in a comparable size or comparable services delivery model organization is preferred.
· Must have strong management and leadership experience in finance, public safety, public infrastructure, and employee relations.
Compensation and Benefits
The anticipated hiring rate for the position is between $248,000 - $289,000, depending on experience and qualifications. Additionally, the benefits below complement the attractive total rewards package:
• A monthly vehicle allowance
• A monthly mobile phone allowance
• Medical (Cigna, Open Access Plus PPO and LocalPlus)
• Dental (Delta Dental Premier or the Delta Dental PPO)
• Vision (EyeMed)
• Term Life Insurance (automatically enrolled 2x annual base salary)
• Supplemental Life Insurance
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Account (medical)
• Dependent Care Account
• 401(a) Defined Contribution Plan, optional 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
• Employee Assistance Program
• Academic Tuition Assistance Program
• Wellness Programs
• 128 hours Annual Leave per year
• 96 hours Annual Sick Leave
• 12 paid holidays
Per City Charter, residency within the city limits is required. The City will work with the finalist on timing of residency and understands the challenges of the current housing market. The City will consider relocation assistance, temporary housing assistance, and subsidy as part of the offer negotiations.
Application and Selection Process
Qualified candidates please submit your cover letter and resume online at: https://www.governmentresource.com/recruitment/golden-co-city-manager/
The job posting will close on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Following the first review, the recruiter will evaluate all applications against the posted qualifications, and then select candidates to complete additional assignments or participate in a virtual or in-person interview. The City requires the expressed authorization by an applicant to conduct criminal background report check, credit check, academic verification or contact references. Pursuant to the state or local laws governing access to public records, all information submitted and associated with an individual’s applications, including resumes and cover letters, may be subject to public disclosure.
To learn more about the City of Golden, CO, please visit their website at: www.cityofgolden.gov, and visit Guiding Golden for a look at current projects and initiatives, www.GuidingGolden.com.
The City of Golden, Colorado is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity and are committed to fostering an inclusive and welcoming workplace where all employees are respected and have the opportunity to succeed. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply and make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and applicable law.
