Town Administrator

The Town of Silverton is seeking applications for Town Administrator. To view the full
posting go to www.KRW-Associates.com/open-positions.

The Town and Surrounding Community
The Town of Silverton, CO is located in the southwest corner of the state, nearly 200
miles southwest of Denver, 48 miles north of Durango and 22 miles by car to Telluride.
Silverton is the only incorporated town in San Juan County. With a year-round
population of 701, Silverton is a quaint historic mining town which offers idyllic small
town living and an exceptional quality of life. The downtown district is a National Historic
Landmark committed to preserving the area’s rich mining history. This highly walkable
downtown area is lined with Victorian-era architecture, colorful shops, galleries and
restaurants. It boasts micro-breweries, coffee shops, and many lodging establishments.
The community fosters its expanding arts and culture scene, hosting numerous special
events throughout the year. Summer tourism and recreation are Silverton’s main
economic drivers, though the winter and shoulder seasons are growing. The town is the
terminus of the Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, which shuttles nearly
150,000 passengers from Durango to Silverton each year via historic steam trains. In
summer, the town provides a perfect jumping off point for hiking, backpacking, trail
running, camping, fishing, mountain biking, rock climbing, mountaineering and four
wheeling adventures. Winter sports enthusiasts enjoy fat biking, Nordic skiing and
snowmobiling on an extensive network of groomed trails. Downhill skiing is readily
available at Kendall Mountain, Silverton Mountain and nearby Purgatory Resort. There
are nearly limitless options for backcountry skiing and stellar natural ice climbing.

Nestled at 9,318 feet above sea level in the heart of Colorado’s rugged San Juan
Mountains, Silverton is transforming into a nexus of outdoor adventure. Access to the
great outdoors is literally at one’s doorstep. San Juan County encompasses 389
square miles, approximately 89% of which is public land managed by the United States
Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. The county has the highest mean
elevation of any county in the U.S. at 11,240 feet. The Kendall Mountain Ski Area and
the Molas Lake Park are two of the Town’s greatest assets for winter and summer
recreation.

Silverton is proud of its excellent schools and other services. The Silverton School
(approximately 75 students in grades K – 12) provides an innovative, nationally
recognized Expeditionary Learning model with a low student-to-teacher ratio rarely
found in public schools. The Silverton Family Learning Center is a fantastic and
affordable licensed preschool and daycare program (serving infants—pre-K). The
curriculum fosters social and scholastic development inspired by the Reggio Emilia
philosophy which embraces the individual qualities of each child. College courses can
be pursued nearby in Durango, at one of the college campuses (Fort Lewis College,
Pueblo Community College Southwest and Southwest Colorado Community College.)
Locals and visitors have convenient access to commercial flights that operate out of the
nearby Durango-La Plata County and the Telluride Regional Airports.

Silverton offers a unique blend of an inviting community and outdoor adventure. With
this excellent professional opportunity, simply put, Silverton just may be the perfect
place to live, work, and raise a family.

Silverton is a statutory town, with a Mayor and a six-member Board of Trustees.
Elections are held in April on even-numbered years. All seven seats serve a four-year
term, and a two-term limit as a trustee.

To learn more, go to: Town of Silverton 2025 | Town of Silverton, Silverton, Colorado
Chamber of Commerce, Town of Silverton’s 150th Anniversary Legacy Video–Where
The Unicorns Live and Silverton – Real Town, Real People, Real Fun!

The Position
The Town Administrator is the Chief Administrative Officer to the Board of Trustees and
the Chief Administrative Officer of the Town. This position reports to the Board of
Trustees via the Mayor and supervises five (5) direct reports overseeing the offices of:
Clerk-Treasurer; Community Development; Facilities; Parks and Recreation; Public
Works; and Building and Code Enforcement.

The Town Administrator is also responsible for: Grantsmanship (applying for and
managing state and federal grants and other funding sources); Community and
Economic Development; Contract Administration; Personnel Administration; the Annual
Budget Process, (acts as Budget Officer); Risk Management (acts as Safety
Coordinator); Code Amendment and Enforcement; and Town-County Cooperation and
Communications (acts as liaison for the Town Board in establishing and maintaining
communication, cooperation and coordination between the Town and the County.)

Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree and at least three (3) years of demonstrated leadership experience
in local government or a business or non-profit administration, communications or a
related field. An advanced degree in political science, public administration, business
administration, planning or a related field.

A Master’s degree is preferred.

A combined equivalent of education, certifications, other credentials and experience
which provide the applicant the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the

job may be considered.

Applicants should also exhibit:

· Organizational skills and knowledge necessary to provide for the proper public
administration of Town government; to prioritize and accomplish Town business
affairs; and to organize and administer various government programs, projects, and
activities.

· The ability to work efficiently, effectively, and responsibly with elected and appointed
officials, employees, and the general public.

· The ability to access, transport, file, and retrieve Town records or documents as
filled in the Town’s vault, filing cabinets, storage facilities, and computers.

The Ideal Candidate

1. Is a trusted leader who is eager to work with the Board of Trustees, Staff and
Community to continue the positive momentum implementing the vision and
projects outlined in the recently adopted Compass Master Plan.
2. 2. A hands-on manager and mentor who is solutions-focused, ethical, fair, calm
and accessible. One who fosters a healthy organizational culture and
empowers staff to learn and grow professionally.
3. Has proven project management skills and successfully manages multiple
priorities.
4. Is an excellent communicator who is engaging and transparent and who
maintains effective working relationships with staff, elected officials, community
members, media and other key stakeholders.
5. Demonstrates political acumen, emotional intelligence and a willingness to listen.
6. Understands that the Town Administrator’s role is to carry out the mission set
forth by the Board of Trustees and is versed in issues related to local
government, public policy, and board governance.
7. Is financially savvy and experienced with managing a municipal budget,
leveraging partnerships, writing and managing grants, and pursuing alternate
funding sources.
8. Has working knowledge of public administration including: planning; human
resources; public works; water/wastewater management; public safety; capital
projects; affordable housing; population/job growth; tourism, community
recreation; and economic and community development.
9. One who is solution-focused, and understands the challenges associated with
living and working in a mountain resort community such as Silverton.

Opportunities & Challenges

This is an excellent opportunity build on a solid foundation of success! The new Town
Manager will work with the Board of Trustees, staff and the community to continue the
positive momentum set in motion by current leadership. The successful candidate will
use their leadership skills, financial acumen and project management expertise to
execute the initiatives outlined in the recently adopted Master Plan. While, there are
“big shoes to fill”, the new Town Administrator is coming into an environment and
culture where teamwork, transparency and trust are the norm. He/she will have the
opportunity to:

· Work with the Public Works Department to finalize the preliminary engineering report
for the financing of a new Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The sewer
collection system was updated this year through a USDA grant/loan in preparation
for the new WWTP.
· Coordinate with the Public Works Department to manage the refuse contract and
sustainable revenue sources for the refuse fund.
· Assist the Facilities, Parks and Recreation Director on prioritizing and funding
maintenance needs for both historic and new buildings.
· Support the Silverton Housing Authority Director in developing affordable housing in
Silverton.

Compensation & Benefits
Salary Range: $100,000-$115,000
The Town offers a competitive salary and benefit package.
· Housing & Relocation: The Town is offering a $7,000 housing stipend upon
execution of lease or purchase of a house and $7,000 after one year of employment
and $3,000 for reimbursable relocation costs.
· Medical—CEBT PPO3 and PPO4 Plans; – 100% paid by employer; eligible after 90
days of employment
· Dental– Delta Dental via CEBT-100% paid by employer; eligible after 90 days of
employment
· Basic Group Life– CEBT-(Life A)- $20k minimum to $450k maximum; 100% paid by
employer; eligible after 90 days of employment
· Vision– Vision Service Plan- 100% paid by employer; eligible after 90 days of
employment
· Retirement– 401(a) retirement plan with a 4% employer match; eligible after one
year of employment, plus a voluntary 457(b) plan– the employee can contribute up
to 7% of salary
· Short-term Disability Plan– Lincoln National Life Insurance Company; 100% paid
by employer
· Paid Time Off-accrual based on length of service
· Education Expense Reimbursement– up to $1,000 for undergraduate studies, and
up to $1,500 for post-graduate studies
· Season Ski Pass– Kendall Mountain Ski Area– for employee and spouse
· Wellness benefit offering up to 10 counseling sessions per year
· Cell phone and lap top– issued by the Town
· Compensatory Time for Exempt/Salaried Employees– For hours worked over 80
per pay period; an exempt/salaried employee may accumulate and bank up to 60
hours of comp time

Colorado Employer Benefits Trust (CEBT) is a self-funded, governmental multi-employer trust that
provides employee benefits for over 440 public entities with over 37,000 employees and dependents
covered in Colorado.

Apply Online- www.KRW-Associates.com/open-positions. Provide a cover letter,
resume and six (6) professional references. Deadline: Friday, October 31, 2025, 5:00
PM MT.

Questions? KRW Associates LLC is assisting the Town of Silverton with this search.

Questions should be directed to: info@KRW-Associates.com or by phone to: KRW
Associates Managing Partner Lorne Kramer – 719-310-8960 or KRW Senior Associates
Mark Collins – 307-460-1941 or Gina McGrail – 303-249-9572. The Town of Silverton is
an equal opportunity employer.