Across the country, cities and counties are grappling with unprecedented turnover among their top leaders, leaving municipalities without the time, resources or internal pipelines needed to fill critical city manager roles.
In a column for the Public Sector HR Association’s website and Public Eye Magazine, Vice President of Practice Development Melissa Barker explores the forces behind this nationwide exodus and what communities can do to attract qualified successors.
Melissa outlined the complex mix of retirement waves, burnout, budget constraints and shifting political dynamics pushing and pulling top leaders out of government service. She also highlighted how gaps in leadership pipelines are making it harder for agencies to promote from within.
“City managers likely will continue to come and go,” she said. “Developing a thoughtful plan to set municipalities apart among candidates is the best way to guide a community into the future.”
Read the full article on pages 16-17 of the November–December issue.
