Rowlett, Texas City Manager PositionCast™
Rowlett City Manager Opportunity in a Growing DFW Community
The City of Rowlett, Texas is recruiting its next City Manager. It is a rare chance in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to lead an established community while helping shape its future. In the latest PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice, Rowlett Mayor Jeff Winget joins James Groom, Clear Vice President and The Clear Voice host, and Michael Boese, President of Clear Career Professionals and lead recruiter for the position, to discuss what makes this City Manager position unique, what the City Council expects from its next leader, and why experienced municipal executives should take a serious look at Rowlett. Rowlett is home to nearly 70,000 residents and sits along Lake Ray Hubbard on the eastern side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. The community is entering an important period of transition, with City leaders focused on strengthening the organization, rebuilding trust, advancing major capital projects, and creating a stronger economic development engine.
A City Manager Role Centered on Leadership
For Rowlett’s City Council, the next City Manager will need to bring more than technical experience. Mayor Winget emphasized throughout the conversation that communication, humility, honesty, empathy, and trust will be central to the next manager’s success. The City is looking for a leader who can build strong relationships with all seven members of the City Council, communicate openly with employees and residents, and help create realistic expectations around organizational capacity, funding, and project delivery. Winget also made it clear that Rowlett is looking for a City Manager willing to listen before acting. The successful candidate will need the confidence to provide professional advice and challenge assumptions when necessary, while also demonstrating the humility to admit mistakes and adjust when circumstances change.
Rebuilding Organizational Culture and Trust
One of the most important assignments for the next Rowlett City Manager will be strengthening the internal organization. Rowlett has approximately 575 full-time employees, and Mayor Winget described a workforce filled with employees who care deeply about serving the community. At the same time, the organization has experienced a challenging period and several important leadership positions remain vacant. The next City Manager will be expected to help recruit strong department leaders, create a positive workplace culture, and rebuild trust throughout the organization. For Winget, culture may be one of the most important factors in employee recruitment and retention. A strong City Manager can create an environment that attracts talented employees from throughout the region and gives existing employees a reason to stay and grow with the organization.
Economic Development Is a Major Priority
Economic development will also be a significant responsibility for Rowlett’s next City Manager. The City has historically been heavily residential, with roughly 75 percent of its tax base coming from residential development and approximately 25 percent from commercial development. That balance creates challenges for a community that must still fund the same core municipal services as other growing cities, including public safety, infrastructure, streets, parks, and utilities. City leaders want to expand Rowlett’s commercial base and pursue development opportunities that can provide additional jobs, sales tax revenue, and long-term financial stability.
Two major areas stand out.
Sapphire Bay remains one of the most significant development opportunities in the region. Mayor Winget described the waterfront property as one of the most valuable development opportunities on the eastern side of Dallas, with the potential to become a major destination.
Rowlett also has significant undeveloped and lightly developed property in its North Shore area. City leaders see opportunities there for commercial, office, retail, and potentially light industrial development.
The next City Manager will play an important role in helping City Council, staff, developers, and residents determine how those areas develop.
Major Capital Projects Are Ready to Move Forward
According to Mayor Winget, Rowlett’s next City Manager will inherit several major capital projects, including a new public safety facility, a new animal shelter, and improvements to Herfurth Park. These projects create a significant opportunity for an experienced manager who enjoys execution and project delivery.
Living and Working in Rowlett
For candidates considering relocation, Rowlett offers access to both a close-knit community and the amenities of one of the largest metropolitan areas in the country. The City sits along Lake Ray Hubbard and offers direct access to the broader Dallas-Fort Worth region. Rowlett is served by Dallas Area Rapid Transit and sits at the eastern end of the DART Blue Line, providing rail access into Dallas and other destinations throughout the system. The President George Bush Turnpike also runs through the community, helping connect Rowlett to employment centers and destinations across North Texas. Families have access to both Garland Independent School District and Rockwall Independent School District, depending on where they live within the community. Rowlett also offers parks, trails, athletic facilities, the Wet Zone water park, community recreation opportunities, and easy access to professional sports, entertainment, restaurants, airports, and cultural attractions throughout the Metroplex.
A Long-Term Leadership Opportunity
One of the clearest messages from Mayor Winget was that Rowlett is looking for someone who wants to stay. The City is not looking for a manager who views Rowlett simply as the next step toward a larger community. Instead, City Council wants a leader who sees a city of roughly 70,000 residents as the right fit, someone willing to put down roots, become part of the community, and remain long enough to see major projects and organizational changes through. The ideal candidate will bring energy, executive leadership experience, organizational skills, and a genuine interest in becoming part of Rowlett.
Why Experienced City Managers Should Consider Rowlett
From a recruiter perspective, Michael Boese described Rowlett as the type of leadership opening that may only become available a few times during a municipal executive’s career. The City offers an unusual combination. He described an engaged and professional City Council, an experienced municipal workforce, major capital projects, significant economic development potential, and an opportunity to directly influence organizational culture. For a successful City Manager who may not currently be considering another position, that combination is worth a closer look. The next City Manager will have the opportunity to leave a visible and lasting mark on Rowlett.
Salary and Application Information
The salary range for the Rowlett City Manager position is $285,000 to $315,000, along with a competitive benefits package.
The position is open until filled. Applications received by August 28, 2026, will receive first consideration.
Candidates interested in the position can learn more about the position, review the recruitment materials, and apply through Clear Career Professionals.
Learn more and apply: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/rowlett-texas-city-manager-job-posting
Listen to the Rowlett City Manager PositionCast™
The full PositionCast™ provides prospective candidates with something a traditional job posting cannot, the ability to hear directly from the Mayor and the recruiter about Rowlett’s leadership expectations, organizational priorities, challenges, and opportunities. Candidates considering the position are also encouraged to review Rowlett City Council meetings and learn more about the people they would be working with. As Mayor Winget explains during the episode, what candidates see from the Council publicly is what they should expect from the Council behind the scenes. For municipal executives looking for an opportunity to build culture, develop leaders, advance major projects, and help shape the next chapter of a growing North Texas community, Rowlett deserves a close look.
🎥 YouTube
https://youtu.be/mctcynJ_D8c
🎧 Apple Podcasts
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/78-rowlett-texas-city-manager-positioncast/id1824562318?i=1000782669046
🟢 Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7htVyFRnzKW1ig0lPFKpov
About The Clear Voice Podcast
The Clear Voice is a dedicated platform for transparency and expert led dialogue within the professional and public sectors. The show serves as a vital resource for leaders who want to move past surface level discussions and dive into the real world mechanics of governance, management, and organizational growth. James Groom is the host of the program. As the Vice President of Clear Career Professionals and a retired Police Chief, James brings a unique, high stakes perspective to every conversation. His background in public service and executive leadership allows him to extract practical, actionable insights from industry experts that help modern organizations function with total clarity.
Our Core Focus Areas
Executive Leadership: Exploring the transition from technical competence to high level strategic management.
Organizational Transparency: Discussing the importance of open communication and accountability in public and private leadership.
Governance and Strategy: Breaking down the complex decision making processes that drive successful communities and organizations.
Professional Development: Insights on coaching, culture building, and high performance team management.
About Clear Career Professionals
Clear Career Professionals is a specialized recruitment and strategic consulting firm focused on the public sector. We believe that the strength of any municipality or school district lies in the quality of its leadership and the cohesion of its teams. Our team is comprised of former practitioners and retired executives who understand the nuances of public service. We provide organizations with more than just a list of candidates; we provide the strategic oversight and expertise necessary to navigate transitions, maximize taxpayer funds, and implement long-term solutions.
Our Strategic Services
Executive Search and Recruitment: A tailored approach to identifying top tier talent for leadership roles in cities and school districts.
Interim Leadership: Providing experienced professionals to guide organizations through critical periods of transition.
Governance and Board Training: Specialized sessions designed to strengthen board relations and help leadership teams function as a unified School Board or City Council & Executive Team.
Shared Solutions Initiative: A program focused on fostering collaboration between municipalities and schools to address shared community challenges.
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