Town Administrator

The Town of Derry, NH seeks qualified candidates for the position of Town Administrator to replace its longest serving incumbent who will retire in June 2025 after more than 8 years of exemplary service. 

The Town of Derry is located in southeastern New Hampshire. Traversed by I-93 and Routes 28 and 102, Derry is less than an hour’s drive from Concord, Boston, and the New Hampshire seacoast, and less than two hours from the lakes region and White Mountains.  Derry is New Hampshire’s fourth most populous community with approximately 34,248 residents, occupying 35.4 square miles of land.  

Derry is a community steeped in history, culture, and the arts, being the birthplace of astronaut Alan Shepard, the home of poet Robert Frost, and venues such as the Derry Opera House, Pinkerton’s Stockbridge Theater, and privately-owned Tupelo Music Hall.  The Town also has a vibrant downtown with locally-owned shops, several manicured parks, and robust recreational facilities.  In many ways Derry maintains its small town feel with the advantages of having a city form of government. 

Derry operates under a Town Council/Town Administrator form of government where the seven-member Council serves as both the governing and legislative bodies for the Town.  The Administrator is appointed by the Council and serves as the chief administrative officer of the Town, overseeing a $66M budget supported by 265 regular full-time and part-time employees and seven collective bargaining units. 

The next Town Administrator should be a mature and experienced leader, able to communicate honestly and effectively.  The successful candidate will have experience with fiscal management and revenue generation, community and economic development, and tactful advocacy with state and federal legislators. 

The ideal candidate will have at least three years of progressively responsible experience within a local government organization.  A bachelor’s degree is preferred, but consideration will be given to any combination of education and experience that provides the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to competently perform the functions of the Town Administrator. 

The Town of Derry offers a competitive salary and excellent benefits package. Compensation is negotiable, dependent on qualifications. 

For additional information, please visit the Employment Opportunities page of our website at www.derrynh.org. 

Submit letter of interest and résumé in confidence to catherinestledger@derrynh.org.  Submission deadline is October 10, 2024. 

The Town of Derry is an Equal Opportunity Employer