The Town of Warrenton,

Virginia
is seeking a dynamic, highly
experienced leader to serve as its next

Town Manager
The Community
Community Profile
Located on the southern edge of the growing Northern Virginia region the
Town of Warrenton is Fauquier Countys largest incorporated community
and the county seat. Incorporated in 1810, Warrenton is named after
Revolutionary War hero General Joseph Warren. Rich in history from a
variety of periods, Warrenton exudes traditional southern charm, from its
well preserved historical buildings to the brick sidewalks in its vibrant
historic downtown area to the nationally acclaimed Warrenton Horse Show
which has been held annually in the community for over a hundred years.
Warrentons efforts to preserve its past and blend new development with its
history has resulted in the Town being recognized with a variety of
prestigious awards such as the Preserve America Community Award and as
one of the Prettiest Painted Places in America. As a result of a caring and
engaged citizenry, Warrenton offers residents and visitors a community with
a personal small town feel while providing the convenience of a growing
retail, office, and commercial presence.
Located approximately 40 miles southwest of Washington, D.C. and 90 miles
northwest of Richmond, Virginias state capital, the Town serves as a
transportation crossroads and a well-developed road network provides relatively easy access to the Washington
metropolitan area, both Dulles and Reagan Airports, and a wide range of employment opportunities. With a
growing population of 9,800 residents, the community has become a destination for many residents who enjoy a
slower pace of life and a lower cost of living.
Educational opportunities available to Warrentons citizens are far-ranging and a variety of educational
institutions are located within the community or nearby. The Towns elementary, middle, or high school
students may attend one of three elementary, two middle, or one high school which are part of Fauquier County
Public Schools, a fully accredited and well respected system which provides a broad range of educational
programs. Students may also attend one of seven private schools in the area. Higher educational opportunities
are also well developed and Warrenton offers convenient access to three
community colleges and two major universities, George Mason University
and the University of Mary Washington, both of which are considered
prominent academic institutions.
In response to the growing need for recreational opportunities for
residents the Town has developed an independent recreation department
with a variety of programs, parks and trails which are well-maintained and
are growing in size and number. The Warrenton Aquatic and Recreation
Facility (WARF) opened in 2007, provides over 59,000 square feet of
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Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Executive Search Town Manager

space including an indoor competition pool, lazy river, water slide,

spa, and a 3,200 square foot fitness center. Surrounding the
recreation facility are seven (7) playing fields and a large park built
to accommodate children with disabilities.
Other leisure activities include the Towns farmers market, open
each year from April to November, and a variety of historical venues
from the Fauquier Veterans Memorial to the Old Jail Museum.
Winery locations are increasing in the region and Fauquier County
offers wine tour packages where groups can rent a limousine for the
day and visit the various local vineyards. Other attractions including Civil War trails, the Kellys Ford
Equestrian Center, and the Rappahannock River attract thousands of visitors annually. Also nearby Warrenton
are a number of golf courses, the Appalachian Trail, the Fauquier Community Theatre and a wide variety of
other recreational opportunities.
As a regional center, medical care options in Warrenton are extensive and include Fauquier Health hospital, a
24-hour facility offering inpatient and outpatient care and emergency services which is now part of the LifePoint
hospital system. The 97 bed hospital, which is a designated Planetree facility, offers personalized care that is allencompassing, from the design of the physical environment to the welcoming of family members as part of the
health care solution. In addition, Warrenton offers three retirement/nursing facilities and one rehabilitative
center and a number of physicians who focus on specialized care.

Warrentons Government and Structure

The Town of Warrenton is governed under the Council-Manager structure, consisting of a seven member
council and an independently elected mayor, all of whom are elected by the citizens of Warrenton on a
staggered term basis. Of the seven member council, five council members are elected to represent each of the
five wards in Warrenton, and the remaining two council members are elected at-large. The Town Council
possesses all lawmaking powers, with the Mayor presiding over the Council. Under the Town Charter and the
laws of the Commonwealth, the Council is charged with adopting ordinances, policies, and the Towns annual
budget. Additionally, the Town Council is responsible for appointing a Town Manager and Town Attorney. The
Town Manager is the Chief Administrative Officer for the Town and serves at the pleasure of the Council. The
Town Manager has the responsibility for overseeing the Towns six departments and 180 staff who provide a
full range of services. The Town is operating with a Fiscal Year 2015 budget of $18.5 million for all operations.
The mission of the Warrenton Town Council is to be an exceptional provider of public safety, economic
opportunity, and public service to all.
The Town Managers Position
Warrentons Town Manager is charged with maintaining a smoothly functioning governmental system on a
daily basis. The Managers position is a charter-appointed
position which is directly accountable to the Council and the
Manager serves as an at will employee. The Manager is
responsible for ensuring a high level of quality services are
provided to the Towns citizens in an efficient manner.
Management, oversight and leadership are provided by the
Manager to a dedicated and highly skilled staff which includes
the departments of Economic Development, Finance and
Human Resources, Police, Planning and Zoning, Public Works
and Public Utilities. Additionally, the Town Manager serves as
the legislative liaison for the Council, develops the Town's
annual budget, prepares monthly Council agendas, develops
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Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Executive Search Town Manager

options for Council consideration in regard to pending or future issues and resolves problems in regard to
service related issues The Manager also provides for effective communication with other agencies of
government at the local, state and federal level to ensure that the Town Council is wellinformed and the Town
is in conformance with appropriate federal and state laws and regulatory requirements.

The Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Town Manager Profile
Position Requirements
Education and Experience
Minimum requirements for the position include a bachelors degree in finance, public or business administration
or a related field with a masters degree preferred. An adequate level of public and/or private sector management
experience (eight to ten years) as a manager, deputy or assistant, or department head in a public or private
organization with similar or significantly greater complexity, budget and staffing as the Town of Warrenton is
also an important consideration, with more experience preferred. Candidates should have extensive experience
in working with a Council or similar type of governing body in developing a realistic community vision and in
working toward supporting the governing bodys efforts to realize the established vision. Competitive
candidates must demonstrate a high level of interest and successful achievement in a broad range of areas that
includes being visible and working effectively with a diverse, engaged and motivated Town Council, governing
body, board and community, economic and community development, working with and understanding the needs
of existing businesses, building Council and community consensus, developing transparent processes for all
functions of local government and development and administration of realistic budgets and financial practices in
a challenging economic environment.

Skills and Past Performance

Administrative Ability
The Town Manager must be willing to devote whatever time is necessary to achieve the goals and directives
established by the Town Council. The Manager must be proactive and have the ability to track staff progress and
manage projects and programs to ensure completion in a timely fashion. Must have demonstrated a high level of
performance in working with a diverse and engaged group of elected officials and staff to build consensus on
administrative issues. Knowledge of how to effectively use existing community resources and strong leadership
qualities are extremely important. Must demonstrate an understanding of the growing nature of transparency in
all public processes and show a willingness to delegate responsibility to department heads.
Town Manager/Council/Interdepartmental Relations
The Town Manager must have the ability to take the time to work with all Council members to keep them
informed and explain technical processes in understandable terms. Should be able to adequately inform the
entire Council on a regular basis so there are no surprises. The Manager must be adaptable and able to accept
constructive criticism and to implement needed changes incorporating new ideas when needed and directed by
the governing body. The Manager must be open and honest with the Council, providing a thorough assessment
of the practicality of new proposals, and must be able to present well thought out options and recommendations
for issues and problems which affect the Town. The Manager should be able to interpret and carry out the
Councils vision and the intentions and direction of the Council enthusiastically.

Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Executive Search Town Manager

Budget and Finance

Must have demonstrated prior experience in successfully managing a similarly sized public or private sector
budget with emphasis on efficient utilization of available resources. Must be able to develop a budget, that is
delivered in a timely fashion, that is transparent and understandable to elected officials, citizens and staff and
targets the use of available resources in a well thought-out and prioritized manner.
Human Resource Management
Must be a strong and visible leader who can effectively communicate the Town Councils goals and the Towns
needs to department heads and employees. Must be prepared to motivate employees and demonstrate fairness in
dealing with staff while holding all staff accountable for their performance. Should have demonstrated a
commitment to teambuilding, equal employment opportunity and upward mobility of staff with the desire to
ensure staff is service-oriented. Must have demonstrated an ability to select well-qualified and motivated
department heads.
Economic Development
Must have demonstrated skills in successfully initiating and completing a wide range of economic development
projects in an urban setting. Must have thorough knowledge of redevelopment issues and demonstrated success
with downtown revitalization working within a strong regional center.
Community Relations
Must have a desire to work with and be visible in a dynamic and growing community demonstrating success in
incorporating a wide range of opinions into recommended solutions. Must possess excellent listening and
communication skills with the ability to work with all segments of the community. Must be able to present a
confident image of Warrentons town government to the community at large and demonstrate a positive,
productive attitude to citizens and businesses of the community.
Intergovernmental Relations
Must be able to develop and maintain a good working relationship with local governments within the
area/region, community organizations and state and federal agencies.

Leadership Opportunities and Challenges

Economic Development
The Town has entered into a cooperative agreement with Fauquier County to rebuild its economic development
program, fill vacant storefronts throughout the community and expand the Towns tax base. The new Manager
will be challenged to ensure that a balanced whole town program is developed which ensures existing
businesses are retained and appropriate new businesses are introduced into the community.
Dealing with Development Issues
With an improving economy, the Town is experiencing pressure to approve development of remaining vacant
parcels and to redevelop several existing facilities. The new Manager working with the governing body, staff
and community will have an opportunity to assist the Town Council in updating the Towns comprehensive plan
and forging a vision for the community which allows for well thought change and development and provides the
best return on investment for the community.
Assessment and Upgrading of Utilities
Warrentons water and sewer infrastructure is aging with limited opportunities for expansion of capacity for
future needs. The new Manager will have the opportunity to lead an effort resulting in development of a
financially balanced program that increases operational efficiencies by replacing and upgrading existing
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Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Executive Search Town Manager

infrastructure and allocates capacity in a well thought out manner which results in a positive return on
investment for the Town.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for the position is negotiable within a range of $135,000 - $150,000 annually, based on qualifications
and experience. Benefits include but are not limited to participation in the Virginia Retirement System, vacation
and sick leave, group life insurance, medical and dental insurance, professional dues and conference expenses.

Application & Selection Process

The application deadline is April 22, 2015. To be considered, please submit a cover letter, rsum with salary
history and five (5) professional references online by visiting Waters & Company Executive Recruitment
(WCER) website at https://waters-company.recruitmenthome.com. Following the filing date, rsums will be
screened by Waters & Company based on the criteria established by the Town of Warrenton. The Town will
review recommended candidates who most closely meet the established criteria and finalists should be
interviewed in Warrenton during the month of May 2015. For more information, please contact John Anzivino
at richmond@springsted.com.

The Town of Warrenton is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Town of Warrenton, Virginia

Executive Search Town Manager