Johnstown, OH - City Manager - Management Advisory Group LLC

Current Job Listings

Johnstown, OH - City Manager

CLICK HERE FOR PDF VERSION

INTRODUCTION
Johnstown, Ohio is seeking a highly motivated and accomplished local government manager with the experience and leadership skills to serve as City Manager for one of central Ohio’s greatest small towns. Historic Johnstown is recognized as a close-knit and stable community with strong midwestern values which is home to ~6,000 residents and is experiencing significant growth demands. Its charming downtown is walkable, inviting, and serves as a gathering place that exudes a strong hometown feel. The next City Manager will be a respected, visible, and approachable leader, a proactive community leader, who will help it navigate the pressures and challenges of imminent growth.

The City Manager leads and directs the daily functions and operations of the City’s various departments, serving as the Chief Executive Officer of the City. It is a highly responsible leadership position which works closely with the Mayor and City Council, various departments of the City, as well as neighborhood groups, developers, and civic/fraternal organizations to maximize Johnstown’s quality of life. The City Manager provides overall leadership and direction for all operational functions including enforcement of all state and local laws. The City Manager is a highly visible, accessible and engaged leader who collaborates well with others for the benefit of residents, businesses and visitors alike.

HISTORY
Johnstown is located in western Licking County and adjacent to Columbus, the state Capitol and center of the rapidly growing Central Ohio region. Founded in 1813, the City comprises just under 4.0 square miles. The City transitioned from village status following the 2020 Census as residential growth increased. Johnstown lies in a section of Ohio originally designated as the U.S. Military Tract. This area was set aside as a means of paying Revolutionary War soldiers for their service.

Construction of a railroad began in 1880 which opened trade and commerce opportunities for the community with a heavy emphasis on agricultural services serving the neighboring rural townships. Several industries located in Johnstown after World War II, the most notable of which is Technical Rubber Co., now Tech International, the City’s largest employer. Small business and local merchants in the quaint downtown area round out the commercial sector of the community.

JOHNSTOWN TODAY
Today, Johnstown is positioned as a unique blend of small town and growing, vibrant exurban community that is poised to experience tremendous growth in and around the City in the coming decades. This growth trajectory results not only from the City’s location in the greater Central Ohio region, an economic dynamo in the Midwest, but also due to its proximity to the $20 billion Intel semiconductor manufacturing complex. The Intel project sits on a 900-acre site immediately adjacent to Johnstown’s corporation limits and is projected to employ up to 3,000 permanent workers at completion, representing the largest single economic development project in the history of the State of Ohio.

Central Ohio is one of the fastest growing metro areas in the entire Midwest with regional planners projecting growth of over 700,000 additional residents by 2050. Johnstown sets at the intersection of two major state highways, US Route 62 and State Route 37 which intersect in the heart of the historic downtown. Johnstown is conveniently located and offers a short commute to the State Capitol of Columbus and to Newark, the county seat. John Glenn International Airport is easily accessible within a 25-minute drive as are Interstates I-70 and I-71.

The City has a wide variety of affordable housing stock in both suburban and semi-rural settings. Johnstown’s strong quality of life is supported by an array of municipal services such as utilities, public safety, street maintenance, planning & zoning, parks and a Mayors Court. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are provided to the community through the Monroe Township Fire Department which services the City plus the unincorporated areas of the Township. K-12 education is provided through the well-respected Johnstown-Monroe Local school district which serves all of the City of Johnstown, and portions of the City of New Albany, as well as all of Monroe Township, and portions of Liberty and Jersey townships within Licking County and Harlem Township in neighboring Delaware County.

THE ORGANIZATION
The City of Johnstown is a full-service charter municipality operating under the Council-Manager form of government. The City Council is comprised of seven members all serving at-large in four-year overlapping terms and serves as the legislative body of the City. The Mayor and Council President are members of Council and are selected every two years from among Council following municipal elections.

The City Manager is appointed by City Council and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the City. The City staff consists of 25 full-time personnel spread across several departments including the Service Department, the Police Department, Planning & Zoning, Finance and Law. The Law Director is appointed by and under the direction of the City Council. The Johnstown Police Department consists of 9 sworn full-time officers who serve in a variety of operational capacities including Patrol and Criminal Investigations. Emergency Communications and Dispatching is handled via contract with the Licking County Sheriff’s Office. The City maintains productive, professional relationships with its three recognized collective bargaining units.

The City of Johnstown operates with a 2026 annual budget of just over $10 million, a general fund budget of $4.6 million, and a capital fund budget of $513,000. A voter approved municipal income tax rate of 1.00%, collected via contract with the Regional Income Tax Agency (RITA), generates the largest component of the city’s revenues. The City of Johnstown has a low to moderate municipal debt profile $10.8 million and reasonable fund balances.

CHALLENGES FOR THE NEXT CITY MANAGER
Johnstown’s next City Manager will have a number of opportunities as well as challenges:

Planning and preparing for anticipated growth in both residential and commercial sectors resulting from the adjacent Intel development
Working with neighboring jurisdictions and community partners to coordinate and manage development of areas adjacent to the corporation limits
Maintaining Johnstown’s small-town identity and quality of life in light of significant growth pressures
Ensuring transparency in the financial management and fiscal health of the City
Developing a plan to provide a sustainable financial model to support current and future operating and capital investment needs of the community
Addressing current and anticipated infrastructure maintenance and growth needs of the City
Creating a focused economic development plan for the City that leverages its location, services, and small town quality of life
Recruiting and retaining well qualified personnel to staff operations and meet anticipated needs resulting from expected growth

The Ideal Candidate will:

Develop a strong appreciation of the history and traditions of the community they serve while embracing a creative and innovative approach for continued improvement.
Be an excellent communicator. He or she will be a highly personable individual who is engaging and feels at ease speaking to and interacting with groups of all sizes and backgrounds.
Be strategic in his or her management approach and will establish and articulate clear, achievable goals for the internal operations of the city and will consistently and objectively monitor and hold accountable subordinates for their anticipated levels of achievement.
Possess a proven ability to work collaboratively with and earn the respect and trust of his or her elected leaders, peers, subordinates, and community residents.
Be a fiscal conservative and an excellent steward of taxpayer dollars while recognizing and creating opportunities to leverage public and private sector partnerships for the betterment of the overall community.
Have the economic development acumen and skillset to foster well planned, financially viable and beneficial growth initiatives for the City.
Be a recognized/respected leader and team builder of the various city departments and personnel and will bring a balanced management style of fairness and firmness to his or her new position.
Be transparent in dealings with the City Council, subordinates, residents, and businesses while always understanding the importance of upholding the city’s reputation for honesty and openness in all its governmental actions.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
The City of Johnstown offers a highly competitive salary and fringe benefit package. Starting salary will ultimately be commensurate with the skills, experience and educational qualifications of the successful candidate. Hiring salary range for the position is $140,000 to $170,000.

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and detailed resume to:

Management Advisory Group, LLC
ATTN: David Collinsworth, Managing Partner
[email protected]

Electronic submittal/correspondence is preferred.
David Collinsworth
P.O. Box 1915, Westerville, Ohio 43086
Phone: (614) 787-4283

Applications/resumes are encouraged to be submitted by May 30, 2026 to be given the utmost consideration, although applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Resumes for this position are public records and subject to inspection. The City of Johnstown, Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Connect with us.
(614) 787-4283
[email protected]