Deadline: December 21, 2026
Stockertown Borough, Northampton County, Pennsylvania (population 919) seeks a collaborative, hands-on professional to serve as its first Borough Manager. This is a rare opportunity to establish the management function in a small community. The successful candidate will build the systems, policies, and working relationships that will shape how the Borough operates for years to come.
The Community
Stockertown is a close-knit borough of approximately one square mile in Northampton County, PA. Incorporated in 1901 and named for the Stocker family, the Borough lies along the Little Bushkill Creek with convenient access to Route 33. It is a short drive from Easton, Nazareth, and Bethlehem.
The Borough combines established residential neighborhoods with an industrial history that continues to shape the community today. Residents are served by the Nazareth Area School District and are actively engaged in local government.
The Government
Stockertown operates under the Pennsylvania Borough Code. The Borough is governed by a seven-member Borough Council, elected at-large to four-year terms, and an elected Mayor. In 2026, following an independent organizational assessment conducted by the Meyner Center at Lafayette College, Council adopted Ordinance 2026-01 establishing the Office of Borough Manager under the Borough Code. The Manager will serve as the Borough’s chief administrative officer, appointed by and reporting to Council. An interim manager has been in place since mid-2026 to support the transition, and the permanent Manager will build on that initial work.
Borough staff include a Borough Secretary/Treasurer, who also serves as Tax Collector, and a Public Works Department led by a director with two laborers. Public Works employees are represented by the Teamsters, and the Borough is negotiating its first collective bargaining agreement. The Solicitor, Engineer, Zoning Officer, and code inspection services are contracted. Police protection is provided by the Pennsylvania State Police and fire protection by the Forks Township Fire Department. The Borough operates a sanitary sewer system as a separate enterprise fund.
The 2026 adopted budget includes a general fund of $754,335 and a sewer fund of $249,109, for total appropriations of approximately $1.0 million. General fund revenue is drawn primarily from real estate and earned income taxes.
The Position
The Borough Manager is responsible to Borough Council as a whole for the proper and efficient administration of Borough affairs. Under Ordinance 2026-01, the Manager supervises the day-to-day activities of Borough departments and employees, prepares and administers the annual budget, and provides Council with detailed monthly financial reports. The Manager serves as the Borough’s purchasing officer, oversees the performance of contracts in accordance with the Borough Code, and attends all meetings of Council and its committees. The Manager also assists with agenda preparation, keeps Council informed through regular reports and recommendations, and receives and investigates resident complaints. Council may also designate the Manager to serve as the Open Records Officer.
This is a working manager’s position in a small municipality. Because Stockertown has never had a professional manager, the position calls for someone who can build as well as administer. The Borough seeks a steady, even-handed professional who will help Council, the Mayor, and staff settle into clear roles, keep all members of Council informed, and earn the trust of staff and residents.
Opportunities, Priorities and On-going Projects
The first Borough Manager will step into a sizable agenda, including the following.
- Establishing the office. Setting up written procedures, current job descriptions, routine reporting to Council, and an organized system for Borough records.
- Financial management. Introducing monthly budget-to-actual reporting and a formal budget amendment practice, developing the Borough’s first multi-year capital improvement plan, and placing the sewer fund on a sustainable long-term footing.
- Personnel and Public Works. Supporting Council through the Borough’s first collective bargaining agreement, building a compensation and benefits program for Borough staff, updating the Employee Handbook and personnel policies, and working with the Public Works Director on work planning and road maintenance.
- Land use and zoning. Supporting a grant-funded update of the Zoning Ordinance and SALDO, and coordinating land development reviews and the Borough’s zoning consultants.
- Public safety and contracts. Analyzing long-term police service options, ensuring all service relationships are documented in current written agreements, and preparing for the solid waste contract renewal in December 2027.
Required Qualifications
Council seeks candidates who offer the following.
- A bachelor’s degree in public administration, political science, planning, finance, or a closely related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
- A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in local government, including supervisory experience as a manager, assistant manager, or director in a PA municipality.
- Demonstrated experience in municipal budgeting and finance, including fund accounting.
- Demonstrated experience in human resources and personnel administration, including benefits administration, and collective bargaining and contract administration under the Public Employee Relations Act (Act 195).
- Working knowledge of the PA Borough Code, the Sunshine Act, the Right-to-Know Law, and the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code.
- Experience overseeing public works operations, road maintenance programs, and sewer systems.
- Experience establishing or restructuring administrative functions, policies, and procedures.
Compensation
The anticipated salary range is $90,000 to $110,000, depending on qualifications and experience. The Borough is developing its first formal benefits program. Final terms will be set in an employment agreement approved by Council.
To Apply
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and salary expectations to Jennifer W. Smethers, Associate Director for Municipal Services, Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government: smetherj@lafayette.edu. Applications received by Monday, Nov. 2nd will receive first consideration. The position is open until filled. Stockertown Borough is an Equal Opportunity Employer.