City Manager - City of Mulberry, FL

Posted: 24-Jul-26 | Location: Mulberry, Florida | Internal Number: CM-City of Mulberry, FL

About the role

The City of Mulberry operates under a Commission-Manager form of government. The Mulberry City Commission consists of five members and a Mayor. The City Manager serves as the Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the professional administration and day-to-day operations of the City and its Departments, implementation of the City’s strategic vision, and directing all municipal activities, redevelopment initiatives, and economic development efforts. The City Manager has, in the past, also served as the Executive Director of the Mulberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA).

Mulberry provides an array of traditional municipal services including Administration; Code Enforcement & Permitting; Public Works; Utilities; Finance; City Clerk; Human Resources; Community Library; Culture & Programs; and Outreach & Engagement. Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS services are provided through service contracts with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and the Polk County Fire/EMS Department, respectively. Planning services are provided by the Central Florida Regional Planning Commission (CFRPC) in Bartow.

Conveniently located at the intersection of Florida State Roads 60 & 37, the City is centrally located on a main travel route between Lakeland and Bartow, providing easy access to shopping, healthcare, restaurants, and employment while maintaining a more peaceful residential environment. Nearby metro areas of Tampa and Orlando, along with their international airports, are each about an hour's drive from Mulberry.

Responsibilities

• Professional administration and day-to-day operations of the City and its Departments.
• Implementation of the City’s strategic vision.
• Directing all municipal activities, redevelopment initiatives, and economic development efforts.
• Building consensus to achieve community and organizational goals.
• Establishing obtainable goals and championing exceptional customer service for Mulberry’s residents and stakeholders.
• Managing municipal operations with a focus on transparency, collaboration, and proactive communication.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Planning, Finance, Political Science, or closely related field.
• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible executive or senior management experience in municipal government, county government, special district administration, or a related public sector organization.
• Minimum five (5) years of supervisory experience in municipal government, public administration, or a related leadership role.
• Valid Florida Driver’s License (or ability to obtain).
• At the time of appointment, the City Manager need not be a resident of the City or State of Florida but shall reside within the City during tenure of office.

Qualifications

Preferred Qualifications Include:

• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Leadership, Business, Management, or related field.
• At least five (5) years of experience managing or working as a CRA Director.
• Certified Public Manager, ICMA Credentialed Manager (ICMA-CM), FRA Redevelopment Administrator (FRA-RA), Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Emergency Management certification, or similar professional credential.
• Experience with economic development, downtown revitalization, grant acquisition, and public-private partnerships.
• Knowledge of Florida Sunshine Law, Public Records Law, procurement, budgeting, ethics, and land use regulations.

Skills

• High level of emotional intelligence with advanced interpersonal and listening skills.
• Proactive, transparent, collaborative, and “no surprises” management style.
• Strong communication and consensus-building abilities.
• Passion for local government and developing teams to deliver exceptional public services.
• Strategic, ethical, and decisive leadership.

Pay

The salary range for this position is $145,000 - $185,000, depending on experience and qualifications.

Benefits

An array of traditional municipal benefits is offered.