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The city of McGrath is seeking a qualified individual to fill the position of City Administrator.
The Administrator position is subject to continued funding by a non-partisan, seven (7)
member City Council (of which the Mayor is a voting member). The Mayor is an unpaid
elected official and relies on the Administrator to serve as chief operation officer of the city.
The City of McGrath is a 2nd class municipality with a population fluctuating around 300 and
serves as a hub to the two surrounding villages of Nikolai and Takotna. Located 219 miles
NW of Anchorage and 272 miles SW of Fairbanks and served by three airlines, this rural
community supplies it’s own electricity and water and sewer system. The US Weather
service has a station here. McGrath has two hotels and two bunkhouses, a coffee shop, a
grocery store, a gas station (with hardware goods for sale) and a seasonal restaurant. There
is a well-equipped and well-staffed health clinic that was built in 2015 and is maintained by
the South Central Foundation. There are several family-owned gold mines in the
surrounding area that sometimes cater to gold seekers. McGrath is the base for the Dept of
Natural Resources fire camp in the summer fire season. The Innoko Wildlife Refuge has an
office in McGrath as does the Alaska Fish and Game. The Iditarod Area School District is
headquartered in McGrath and serves six schools, on both the Yukon River and the
Kuskokwim River. There is a popular music festival held in McGrath each summer called
the McGrath Back to Bluegrass that draws people from Anchorage, Fairbanks and the
villages up and down the Kuskokwim River. Each fall the library sponsors a Christmas craft
fair that also draws people from the surrounding area. The greater McGrath area is a
popular destination for hunting moose, caribou, bear and bison and the City maintains a
rifle range with 100 yard and 200 yard targets. The Iditarod dog race and the Irondog
snowmachine race are both hosted during their stops in McGrath. The city boasts an
historic museum of the first quality and a large public library. McGrath’s dirt roads lend
themselves to bike riding, ATV travel and walking. There is a hiking nature trail system being
created and berry picking is a favorite activity as the berries ripen. McGrath is a friendly and
welcoming community that thrives on its own quiet, rural life style. Driving down the roads,
people wave and even stop to greet each other when there is no traffic to break up the chat
The City currently has (4) full-time employees (including Administrator) and (3) part-time
employees. There is a labor pool for those seasonal projects that need extra hands. The city
participates in a 457(b)-retirement plan. Currently the City offers the State of Alaska
Political Subdivision Health Insurance plan with Aetna as our carrier. The health insurance
premiums are 100% covered by the municipality.
The Fire Department operates exclusively with volunteers; City provides a full area-wide
Ambulance service with our Kuskokwim Valley Rescue Squad (KVRS). 911 Dispatch
services are routed through Fairbanks Emergency Communications Center. There is no
municipal police department; we have a local Alaska State Troopers office. The McGrath
School is within the Iditarod Area School District and is part of the State of Alaska REAA
(Regional Educational Attendance Area).
The person in this position is nominated by the Mayor and approved by the City Council.
This is a salaried, exempt position; the City Administrator serves at the pleasure of the
Mayor, at will.
The City provides 12 paid holidays per year and personal leave (combined vacation/sick)
accrual is per hour of work at the rate of .077 to .115, depending on the years of service.
One time death benefit to remaining spouse or family. No overtime or compensatory time is
given (exempt employee), and the Administrator is expected to adhere to normal City work
hours of at least 9 am to 3 pm Monday through Thursday with 6 hours to use during the
week to work longer days as needed and have Friday off, or to work it when the office is closed to get work done.
Points of importance related to the City Administrator position include:
1. Your education information
2. Former positions or knowledge as municipal administrator or manager.
3. Prior jobs that include supervision of employees
4. Knowledge of budget preparation
5. Prior experience as spokesperson for a business or organization
6. Knowledge of the levels of government, departments, legislature, etc.
7. History of working with the public (knowledge of constituents served and the
community in general) including the conduct of public meetings.
8. Ability to communicate, via phone or written communication.
9. Computer knowledge. Which programs do you work with? IT knowledge?
10. Familiarity with the Alaska Municipal League, Alaska Statutes (especially Title 29)
and regulations related to operation, and the Federal government.
11. Knowledge of landfill operations and SWANA (Solid Waste Association of North
America) is a plus, as is knowledge of heavy equipment operation.
12. Current or prior residence in the Alaska interior is a plus (McGrath has a winter with
several months average temperature below zero and occasional temperatures
below -40 degrees)
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