Description
The City of Walker is a friendly, family-oriented community that has a nice balance between suburban comfort and easy access to amenities and nature. The city is known for a safe, quiet, and clean vibe — with well-kept landscaping, good schools, and a high homeownership rate, giving it a stable, welcoming feel. Residents and visitors alike value the abundant parks and trails—including Millennium Park—plus local restaurants and neighborhood businesses, creating a close-knit yet vibrant local economy and social life. Population statistics, walkability, and affordability all contribute to Walker's popularity, especially for families and young professionals seeking a mix of suburban space and community-minded living.
The City of Walker is in Kent County and is a suburb of Grand Rapids. Walker borders Grand Rapids to the north and west. The city was organized as a township in 1837 and later incorporated as a city in 1962. It is home to the headquarters of Meijer and Bissell.
Walker is a home rule city and operates under a Commission-Manager form of government, with a mayor and six commissioners. City government is represented by three wards, each with two elected commissioners and an elected mayor. The Mayor and City Commission are elected in even years with staggered terms. There are term limits for elected officials with a maximum of two terms per role.
The city levies an income tax of 1 percent on residents and 0.5 percent on nonresidents. The Mayor and City Commission appoint a City Manager to manage the day-to-day operations of the city. The city has 128 full-time employees, 42 part-time employees, 62 seasonal employees, and 18 paid-on-call firefighters. The city is financially stable with a general fund budget of $27.5 million and a total budget of $58.7 million.
The City’s current city manager will be retiring after 28 years of service, and the City Commission is seeking its next city manager.
DEADLINE January 19th, 2026
To Apply:
Please submit resume, cover letter, consent form, and five professional references to or by selecting the "Apply Now" button on the right-hand side of the page (you CAN upload more than one document):
Email: execsearch@mml.org
Subject Line: Walker Search
Questions can be directed to MML Executive Recruiter Joyce Parker at jparker@mml.org.
Candidates desiring confidentiality of their interest, as allowed for and provided by Michigan law, must indicate such in a separate subject line above the body of the cover letter.
This search is conducted by an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Requirements
The ideal candidate shall be a collaborative manager with a non-partisan leadership style, be visible in the community with experience in community engagement, be approachable and accessible, have strong ethics, and be able to demonstrate empathy. The candidate shall also have excellent written and verbal communication skills, knowledge of laws, and be a strategic planner.
Required qualifications for the position:
- Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Political Science, or a related field. A master’s degree is desired.
- Ten years of progressive experience in local government as a city manager, assistant city manager, or senior department head.
