City Manager Recruitment

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Consultation has concluded

The front of Golden City Hall with Castle Rock rising behind.

Council Appoints Scott Vargo as new Golden City Manager!

Following the resignation of Jason Slowinski, City Council conducted a comprehensive search and interviewed qualified candidates for the position of City Manager. City Council voted unanimously to appoint Scott Vargo as City Manager for the City of Golden effective September 12, 2022.

Scott Vargo currently serves as County Manager for Summit County, Colorado. Summit County’s popularity has many benefits, but it also presents challenges around carrying capacity, affordability for its workforce and heightened service expectations not typical for a community of its size.

Scott has helped to develop many community partnerships, such as the Summit County Emergency Services Authority workgroup, which sought to share resources, reduce expenses and improve EMS levels of service; partnerships with local towns around nicotine cessation programming and funding, workforce housing development and program partnerships with towns, private developers and businesses, and fire mitigation programs with the USFS, fire districts and towns.

Please join us in welcoming Scott to the City of Golden, “Where the West Lives!”


Finalists Selected for City Manager Position

The City of Golden has narrowed its search for a new City Manager to five finalists**. Finalists visited for interviews and selection events with City Council, city staff, and community stakeholders. View the Recruitment Timeline Key Dates.

The finalists for the City Manager position in the City of Golden are:
**Please note, the fifth candidate (Jennifer Phillips) selected by Council to move forward has withdrawn her name from consideration.

  • Heather A. Balser, current Interim Chief Resiliency Officer for the City of Greeley, Colorado, and former City Manager for City of Louisville, Colorado.
  • Larry R. Dorr, current Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Westminster, Colorado, and former Finance Director with the City of Lakewood, Colorado.
  • Carolyn (Carly) G. Lorentz, current Interim City Manager, previously Deputy City Manager, for the City of Golden, Colorado, and former Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
  • Scott Vargo, current County Manager for Summit County, Colorado with a background in health care, manufacturing, and the public sector.

Community Meet & Greet with the Finalists

If you missed the Community Meet & Greet on Monday, June 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. you can watch a video of the meeting and learn more about the finalists selected by City Council to move forward in the City Manager recruitment process. The candidates introduced themselves and discussed their qualifications to lead the City of Golden, followed by a Q&A session.


City Manager Community Input Survey has Closed

Thanks for all of your feedback, Golden! The survey has now closed and we heard from more than 100 of you. Input has been sent to Council to assist them as they review candidates.

Golden City Council seeks your input to ensure the best possible recruitment process for the next City Manager of Golden. This short survey is designed to collect information to help weigh the unique characteristics necessary for this position. Collected information will be used to inform the applicant review and Council decision-making processes. Thank you for your input on this important topic.

This survey was open until Monday, May 16.

Job Posting and Brochure

The job posting for the City Manager position went out on a variety of job posting sites frequented by potential candidates. The posting was open until Friday, May 6. Over 30 applications were received.

Accompanying the job description and posting was a Recruitment Brochure which has a description of the Golden Community, the City of Golden organization, and what characteristics and qualities are wanted in the new city manager. The executive recruiter mailed this brochure to qualified potential candidates across the United States, encouraging them to apply to live and work in Golden.

Executive Recruitment Process

The City of Golden collected proposals from qualified recruiting consultant firms and selected the executive recruitment firm of Baker Tilly to fill the City Manager position due to the resignation of former City Manager Jason Slowinski.

Executive recruiters worked to identify the qualifications and traits that would make an applicant a good fit for the Golden community and the city organization. The City of Golden selected the firm Baker Tilly to be the executive recruiters for this search. An executive recruiter from Baker Tilly is met with City Council members and presented to Council at the March 29 meeting with the plan and process for moving forward.

Qualified candidates have been identified and presented to City Council, which will invite candidates for an interview process consisting of multiple rounds. Included in the interview process will be meetings with city staff and a public forum for members of the community to talk with the candidates directly.

Council Appoints Scott Vargo as new Golden City Manager!

Following the resignation of Jason Slowinski, City Council conducted a comprehensive search and interviewed qualified candidates for the position of City Manager. City Council voted unanimously to appoint Scott Vargo as City Manager for the City of Golden effective September 12, 2022.

Scott Vargo currently serves as County Manager for Summit County, Colorado. Summit County’s popularity has many benefits, but it also presents challenges around carrying capacity, affordability for its workforce and heightened service expectations not typical for a community of its size.

Scott has helped to develop many community partnerships, such as the Summit County Emergency Services Authority workgroup, which sought to share resources, reduce expenses and improve EMS levels of service; partnerships with local towns around nicotine cessation programming and funding, workforce housing development and program partnerships with towns, private developers and businesses, and fire mitigation programs with the USFS, fire districts and towns.

Please join us in welcoming Scott to the City of Golden, “Where the West Lives!”


Finalists Selected for City Manager Position

The City of Golden has narrowed its search for a new City Manager to five finalists**. Finalists visited for interviews and selection events with City Council, city staff, and community stakeholders. View the Recruitment Timeline Key Dates.

The finalists for the City Manager position in the City of Golden are:
**Please note, the fifth candidate (Jennifer Phillips) selected by Council to move forward has withdrawn her name from consideration.

  • Heather A. Balser, current Interim Chief Resiliency Officer for the City of Greeley, Colorado, and former City Manager for City of Louisville, Colorado.
  • Larry R. Dorr, current Deputy City Manager and Chief Financial Officer for the City of Westminster, Colorado, and former Finance Director with the City of Lakewood, Colorado.
  • Carolyn (Carly) G. Lorentz, current Interim City Manager, previously Deputy City Manager, for the City of Golden, Colorado, and former Assistant to the City Manager with the City of Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
  • Scott Vargo, current County Manager for Summit County, Colorado with a background in health care, manufacturing, and the public sector.

Community Meet & Greet with the Finalists

If you missed the Community Meet & Greet on Monday, June 27 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. you can watch a video of the meeting and learn more about the finalists selected by City Council to move forward in the City Manager recruitment process. The candidates introduced themselves and discussed their qualifications to lead the City of Golden, followed by a Q&A session.


City Manager Community Input Survey has Closed

Thanks for all of your feedback, Golden! The survey has now closed and we heard from more than 100 of you. Input has been sent to Council to assist them as they review candidates.

Golden City Council seeks your input to ensure the best possible recruitment process for the next City Manager of Golden. This short survey is designed to collect information to help weigh the unique characteristics necessary for this position. Collected information will be used to inform the applicant review and Council decision-making processes. Thank you for your input on this important topic.

This survey was open until Monday, May 16.

Job Posting and Brochure

The job posting for the City Manager position went out on a variety of job posting sites frequented by potential candidates. The posting was open until Friday, May 6. Over 30 applications were received.

Accompanying the job description and posting was a Recruitment Brochure which has a description of the Golden Community, the City of Golden organization, and what characteristics and qualities are wanted in the new city manager. The executive recruiter mailed this brochure to qualified potential candidates across the United States, encouraging them to apply to live and work in Golden.

Executive Recruitment Process

The City of Golden collected proposals from qualified recruiting consultant firms and selected the executive recruitment firm of Baker Tilly to fill the City Manager position due to the resignation of former City Manager Jason Slowinski.

Executive recruiters worked to identify the qualifications and traits that would make an applicant a good fit for the Golden community and the city organization. The City of Golden selected the firm Baker Tilly to be the executive recruiters for this search. An executive recruiter from Baker Tilly is met with City Council members and presented to Council at the March 29 meeting with the plan and process for moving forward.

Qualified candidates have been identified and presented to City Council, which will invite candidates for an interview process consisting of multiple rounds. Included in the interview process will be meetings with city staff and a public forum for members of the community to talk with the candidates directly.

Consultation has concluded

Do you have a question about the recruiting process? If so, ask here and we'll do our best to get an answer back to you as quickly as possible.

  • Share Was there enough applications for the City Manager position or will there be an extension to the application process? on Facebook Share Was there enough applications for the City Manager position or will there be an extension to the application process? on Twitter Share Was there enough applications for the City Manager position or will there be an extension to the application process? on Linkedin Email Was there enough applications for the City Manager position or will there be an extension to the application process? link

    Was there enough applications for the City Manager position or will there be an extension to the application process?

    Michael asked almost 2 years ago

    Hi Michael,

     

    Thank you for your question. We’ve received 86 applications and are in process to narrow it down to finalists. Based on the quantity and caliber of the applicants, we don’t anticipate needing to extend the application process at this time. Please let me know if you have any further questions.

     

    Kristen Meier

    HR Director

    City of Golden

  • Share Regarding this bullet point: June 7 - 8: The Golden City Council will conduct on-site interviews with finalists and will select top candidates. The candidates will meet with stakeholder groups during the interview process, as well as participating in a public community forum. Who are the stakeholder groups? on Facebook Share Regarding this bullet point: June 7 - 8: The Golden City Council will conduct on-site interviews with finalists and will select top candidates. The candidates will meet with stakeholder groups during the interview process, as well as participating in a public community forum. Who are the stakeholder groups? on Twitter Share Regarding this bullet point: June 7 - 8: The Golden City Council will conduct on-site interviews with finalists and will select top candidates. The candidates will meet with stakeholder groups during the interview process, as well as participating in a public community forum. Who are the stakeholder groups? on Linkedin Email Regarding this bullet point: June 7 - 8: The Golden City Council will conduct on-site interviews with finalists and will select top candidates. The candidates will meet with stakeholder groups during the interview process, as well as participating in a public community forum. Who are the stakeholder groups? link

    Regarding this bullet point: June 7 - 8: The Golden City Council will conduct on-site interviews with finalists and will select top candidates. The candidates will meet with stakeholder groups during the interview process, as well as participating in a public community forum. Who are the stakeholder groups?

    barb asked about 2 years ago

    Thanks for your question Barb. Council is still working to define who the final stakeholder groups for interviews will be. I anticipate decisions on this over the next month or so. It was a topic of discussion at the 3/29 Council meeting if you want to watch that conversation. Please let me know if you have any other questions.

    Kristen Meier, HR Director

    City of Golden

  • Share Your wording in the description above is highly confusing. The first paragraph states you identified a recruiter, but the second paragraph says you still need to identify a recruiter, and then the job posting will be made public. Does this mean the job posting is now publicly available, or not? Regarding the recruiting process, will it be nationwide? What are the metrics that will be considered to identify potential recruits? on Facebook Share Your wording in the description above is highly confusing. The first paragraph states you identified a recruiter, but the second paragraph says you still need to identify a recruiter, and then the job posting will be made public. Does this mean the job posting is now publicly available, or not? Regarding the recruiting process, will it be nationwide? What are the metrics that will be considered to identify potential recruits? on Twitter Share Your wording in the description above is highly confusing. The first paragraph states you identified a recruiter, but the second paragraph says you still need to identify a recruiter, and then the job posting will be made public. Does this mean the job posting is now publicly available, or not? Regarding the recruiting process, will it be nationwide? What are the metrics that will be considered to identify potential recruits? on Linkedin Email Your wording in the description above is highly confusing. The first paragraph states you identified a recruiter, but the second paragraph says you still need to identify a recruiter, and then the job posting will be made public. Does this mean the job posting is now publicly available, or not? Regarding the recruiting process, will it be nationwide? What are the metrics that will be considered to identify potential recruits? link

    Your wording in the description above is highly confusing. The first paragraph states you identified a recruiter, but the second paragraph says you still need to identify a recruiter, and then the job posting will be made public. Does this mean the job posting is now publicly available, or not? Regarding the recruiting process, will it be nationwide? What are the metrics that will be considered to identify potential recruits?

    Ann asked about 2 years ago

    Thank you for your questions. The job posting is not yet available as it is still under development with the recruiter who was selected by Council in February. Once completed, the posting will be made public and the search will be nationwide. The criteria used to identify candidates, such as education, experience, knowledge and other attributes, is also under development currently and will be outlined in the posting. Please let me know if there are any further questions I can answer for you.

    Kristen Meier, HR Director

  • Share As I review the information I see no mention of seeking public input on the front side of this process. This is a mistake. The community should be asked what they would like to see in a new city manager. Why is the community not involved at the beginning of this process? on Facebook Share As I review the information I see no mention of seeking public input on the front side of this process. This is a mistake. The community should be asked what they would like to see in a new city manager. Why is the community not involved at the beginning of this process? on Twitter Share As I review the information I see no mention of seeking public input on the front side of this process. This is a mistake. The community should be asked what they would like to see in a new city manager. Why is the community not involved at the beginning of this process? on Linkedin Email As I review the information I see no mention of seeking public input on the front side of this process. This is a mistake. The community should be asked what they would like to see in a new city manager. Why is the community not involved at the beginning of this process? link

    As I review the information I see no mention of seeking public input on the front side of this process. This is a mistake. The community should be asked what they would like to see in a new city manager. Why is the community not involved at the beginning of this process?

    Golden1 asked about 2 years ago

    Thanks for reaching out. Since this recruiting process is going to be handled by an outside recruiting firm, getting the firm selected was the first step in the process. The firm, who was selected during a Council meeting on February 15th, will now work with Council to outline the rest of the process, including when and how community input will be gathered. Please keep an eye on the website for updates as things progress, or feel free to ask any additional questions here.

    Kristen Meier, HR Director