Deputy Town Manager

Salary : $145,370.00 - $173,730.00 Annually
Location : 300 South Main St, Blacksburg, VA
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: Deputy TM 120426 FT
Department: Town Manager
Division: Town Manager Admin
Opening Date: 11/06/2026
Closing Date: 12/4/2026 5:00 PM Eastern

General Definition of Work
The Town of Blacksburg, Virginia, is seeking an experienced local government professional to serve as its next Deputy Town Manager, as part of the Town Manager's Executive Leadership Team. Reporting to the Town Manager, the Deputy Town Manager assists the Town Manager with the direction, control, and evaluation of Town operations. The Deputy Town Manager provides leadership, supervision, and guidance to assigned department directors and plays a central role in preparing the annual operating budget and the Capital Improvement Plan. The position works closely with the Town Council, advisory boards, community partners, and residents, and represents the Town with regional and intergovernmental organizations. This position also serves as the Acting Town Manager in the Town Manager's absence, when designated.

Salary and Benefits

The hiring range for the position is $145,370 - $173,730 annually. The Town provides an excellent benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision insurance; Virginia Retirement System membership; life and long-term disability insurance; flexible spending accounts; a deferred compensation plan; an employee assistance program; annual, sick, holiday, and flexible leave; leave to volunteer for community services and/or children's schools; an educational incentive program; and the MyTOB wellness and recognition programs. Visit to learn more.

Essential Functions
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable an individual with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Energizes staff to have a passion for the Town of Blacksburg vision, meet high standards of performance, work together in a unified fashion, and collaborate with partners to meet strategic goals
• Assists the Town Manager in strengthening a collaborative, progressive, creative, innovative, service-driven, problem-solving organizational culture
• Strategically plans for organizational and community growth and development, and helps ensure that the Town's financial resources align with its strategic priorities
• Continues to build trusting, collaborative relationships with the Council, the Town Manager's Office, department heads, community partners, and local and regional organizations
• Facilitates cross-department communications
• Develops strategies for accomplishing organizational goals; researches and drafts policies for consideration and implementation by the Town Manager and Council
• Provides direction, leadership, supervision, coaching, and guidance to assigned directors and staff, as well as establishing clear expectations, delegated responsibilities, and performance accountability
• Coordinates solutions within and between departments and works with Human Resources to advise assigned directors on employee matters, consistent with Town policies
• Assists the Town Manager with the direction, control, and evaluation of Town operations, including informing the Manager of operational issues, progress on Town council priorities, and emerging needs. Assists in the preparation of the annual operating budget and Capital Improvement Plan
• Guides cross-department projects and organizational change initiatives, and develops operating procedures to improve coordination and efficiency of service delivery to improve the customer experience
• Represents the Town in various settings and with various intergovernmental groups and officials, and serves on various boards and committees
• Conducts analysis, studies, and reports on complex administrative and operational issues and presents information to the public, outside agencies, advisory committees, commissions, and/or Town Council
• Participates in the development of goals, objectives, policies, and priorities
• Maintains a thorough knowledge of the principles and concepts of municipal administration, including ensuring assigned departmental operations comply with applicable laws, ordinances, Town policies, and direction from the Town Manager and Town Council
• Interprets, explains, and answers questions on ordinances, policies, services, and programs for the public, news media, and staff
• Exercises sound judgment and maintains composure while managing competing priorities and responding to urgent high-pressure operational issues
• Undertakes a variety of special projects and handles general management issues as directed by the Town Manager

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledgeable about the full range of local government operations and able to work across departments to solve problems and deliver results
• An impeccable communicator who builds trust with residents, businesses, community partners, and elected officials, and who can explain complex issues clearly and with respect and empathy to diverse stakeholders
• Experienced working in the council-manager form of government and skilled at supporting the Town Manager and Town Council with sound analysis, clear recommendations, and timely information
• Experience developing, monitoring, and communicating operating budgets and capital improvement programs
• Experienced working across a broad range of municipal departments, coordinating shared priorities, resolving complex issues, and strengthening collaboration to deliver effective Town services
• An excellent problem solver who is adaptable, proactive, and responsive, and who seeks win-win solutions where divergent interests lie
• A person of high ethical standards and integrity who leads by example and thrives in a culture of accountability and high performance

Education and Experience:

• A bachelor's degree in public administration, urban planning, business, finance, or a related field
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in local government administration, including leadership or supervisory experience
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered
• Knowledge of the principles and concepts of municipal administration and general local government operations
• Experience working with the public, community groups, and elected officials
• Preferred qualifications:
  • A master's degree in public administration, urban planning, business administration, or a related field

Special Requirements:

• Valid driver's license with a satisfactory driving record
• Residency within the Town of Blacksburg is required

Physical Requirements

• This work requires the frequent exertion of up to 10 pounds of force and occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force
• Work regularly requires speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle, or feel, and repetitive motions; frequently requires sitting and reaching with hands and arms, and occasionally requires standing, walking, pushing or pulling, and lifting; work has standard vision requirements
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word and conveying detailed or important instructions to others accurately, loudly or quickly
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels and to receive detailed information through oral communications and/or to make fine distinctions in sound
• Work requires preparing and analyzing written or computer data, operating motor vehicles or equipment and observing general surroundings and activities
• Work occasionally requires exposure to outdoor weather conditions
• Work is generally in a moderately noisy location (e.g., business office, light traffic)

The Town of Blacksburg offers a wide range of benefits.
Read more about what we offer