Why it matters
The hire matters because the city manager is Loveland's executive leader for day-to-day city operations, and the council's pick will be charged with long-term financial sustainability, transparency and stability across departments residents rely on.
Nationwide search opens with Nov. 29 deadline
Loveland launched a nationwide search for its next city manager on Thursday, Oct. 29, when the city published public recruitment materials and set a Nov. 29 deadline for candidates to apply online.
The City Council hires the city manager to serve as the executive leader of the organization, city officials said in the recruitment announcement. City officials are working with SGR, described as a local government executive recruitment firm, to recruit candidates for the permanent position following Thompson's retirement.
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply online at go.lovgov.org/loveland-cmo-recruit by Nov. 29. The search follows the requirements established in the City of Loveland municipal governance charter, the city's governing document covering executive appointments.
Waldes runs city hall until permanent hire
Acting city manager Brian Waldes will remain in the job until a permanent replacement is hired, after the City Council appointed him in May to manage the transition from James Thompson.
The council assigned Waldes to work with retiring city manager James Thompson to manage the transition leading up to Thompson's departure on July 7. Thompson's retirement created the vacancy the nationwide search is now meant to fill permanently.
Waldes came to the acting role from the city's finance office, where he had served as chief financial officer. Earlier this year, during a reorganization of municipal departments, he also was given the role of deputy city manager along with Rod Wensing.
Brochure stresses money, trust and steady leadership
The recruitment brochure tells candidates the next manager will be expected to plan for long-term financial sustainability, develop community trust and transparency, and strengthen the partnership with the City Council.
The brochure also lists building collaboration across departments and building organizational stability and succession planning as key initiatives for the incoming manager.
Similar to the 2024 city manager recruitment process, the city will provide regular updates and an opportunity to provide public input during a candidate meet-and-greet session once candidates are identified. The meet-and-greet is the next public step in the search, after the Nov. 29 application deadline passes and candidates are identified.
