City Administrator - City of La Vista, Nebraska

City Administrator Position

The City of La Vista is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and visionary leader to become its next City Administrator. La Vista is located southwest of the Omaha metropolitan area and consists of 5.4 square miles. La Vista is known for its safe neighborhoods, excellent schools, beautiful parks, and a wide range of shopping and dining opportunities.

The local government in La Vista can best be characterized as stable and professional. The City Council consists of a group of highly experienced elected officials with an average tenure of 23 years on the Council. The current Mayor has served in that capacity for 20 years and was reelected in 2024 to another four-year term ending in 2028. The previous City Administrator held the position for 24 years. The City's leadership team consists of seasoned and dedicated professionals.

La Vista is a friendly community, offering the advantages of a small town and the opportunities of a large city. Its inviting neighborhoods feature well-kept homes abutting tree-lined streets, and its commercial and industrial districts are undergoing impressive development and redevelopment.

La Vista's local economy showcases a diverse range of businesses, including market-leading technology service companies, medical care providers, light manufacturing businesses, and a wide range of retail and commercial enterprises. These companies benefit from a highly skilled workforce in La Vista and its neighboring communities. La Vista also offers a wide range of dining options that will satisfy anyone's palate and budget.

La Vista's diverse and high-quality housing stock provides a wide range of residential options, from affordable multi-family and single-family offerings to higher-end executive-level residential developments. With 17 parks, including a premier 62-acre sports complex, a community center, recreational programs for everyone, and an outstanding public library, leisure time opportunities abound in La Vista.

Elementary and secondary education is provided through the Papillion-La Vista Community Schools, the fourth largest school district in the state and known for its outstanding academic and extracurricular programs. The Omaha Catholic Archdiocese operates excellent parochial school options in neighboring Ralston and Papillion.

The University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), Creighton University, and Bellevue University are easily accessible from La Vista. The University of Nebraska at Lincoln is only 45 minutes away. The Metropolitan Community College Sarpy Center is also located in La Vista.

La Vista boasts unparalleled transportation linkages. Interstate 80 runs along its western boundary, providing the community with outstanding surface transportation access. La Vista residents and businesses also have convenient access to Omaha's Eppley Airfield. This major airport is served by many of the nation's largest airlines, including American, Allegiant, Delta, Frontier, Southwest, and United.

The City of La Vista is governed by an eight-member Council elected by wards to four-year overlapping terms. The Mayor is elected at large to a four-year term. The Mayor appoints a City Administrator with the advice and consent of the City Council. The City of La Vista offers a full complement of traditional municipal services provided via the following operating departments : Administration, City Clerk, Community Development, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, Library, Parks & Recreation, Police, and Public Works. The City of Papillion Fire Department provides fire protection and EMS services to the residents and businesses of La Vista.

The City's annual operating budget totals $58.34 million, and its General Fund budget totals $26.7 million. It carries an Aa2 bond rating. The City of La Vista has 130 full-time and 36 part-time municipal employees.

The La Vista City Administrator serves as the chief administrative officer of the municipal government. As such, the Administrator oversees and directs all day-to-day operations and activities of the city. The major responsibilities of the City Administrator include the following : Prepares and administers the annual operating and capital budgets, provides recommendations to the Mayor and Council on all policy matters, represents the City in a variety of intergovernmental initiatives and meetings, and directly supervises four managing directors who oversee the following major functional areas of Administrative Services, Community Services, Public Works, and Public Safety.

The City Administrator of La Vista must possess a strong understanding of all facets of local government operations. Candidates shall have a master's degree in public administration, business administration, urban planning, or some other related field. An ICMA Credentialed Manager is preferred but not required. In addition, qualified candidates should possess at least five years of progressively responsible public sector managerial experience, preferably as a city administrator / manager or an assistant city administrator / manager.

Ideal candidates for the La Vista City Administrator position will possess the following leadership attributes, technical skills, and personal attributes :

• A leader who creates a strong team-oriented culture among the leadership team members and allows professional staff to perform their duties without unnecessary interference.
• Serves as a coach, mentor, and teacher to the department heads and inspires all municipal staff through his or her actions and behavior.
• Promotes a healthy work / life balance in the workplace and prioritizes family values and needs.
• Is accessible and approachable to employees, elected officials, and residents of the community.
• Is an innovative, resourceful, and strategic thinker who is always searching for new methods and to benefit the citizens of La Vista.
• Aggressively pursues the successful implementation of all policy decisions of the governing body, irrespective of whether or not those decisions were consistent with his or her professional recommendations.
• Will be a careful, thoughtful, and conservative steward of the community's finances.
• Is committed to the highest standards of integrity and ethical conduct in carrying out the position's responsibilities.
• Is an outstanding overall communicator and places a high priority on transparency.

The annual salary range for the position is $171,000 to $240,000. The maximum starting salary is $200,000. The City of La Vista provides the City Administrator with a competitive and comprehensive fringe benefits package. Relocation assistance may be negotiated with the successful candidate. Apply online with a resume, cover letter, and contact information for 5 professional references. The position will remain open until filled. Confidential inquiries about the position should be directed to Mark Peterson, MGT Approved Independent Executive Recruiter, at 309-825-5091. The City of La Vista is an Equal Opportunity Employer.