Hilliard City Council plans to interview finalists for the community’s next city manager beginning Feb. 4.
The interview process will take place over two days and will include a public meet-and-greet with the finalists from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 4, at The Well, 3993 Cosgray Road.
The public is invited to meet the candidates in an open-house setting, offering residents an opportunity to engage with them before a final decision is made.
The interview candidates were selected with assistance from Raftelis, an experienced search firm specializing in public-sector executive hiring. To identify individuals who would be a strong fit for the position, Raftelis used criteria developed in part through surveys of community members and City staff.
City Council held virtual interviews with candidates in January.
This will be the City’s second city manager. Former City Manager Michelle Crandall, who served from 2020 to 2025, resigned to become the Chief Member Services Officer for the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
Crandall was Hilliard’s first city manager, following a voter-approved charter amendment in November 2018 that changed the City’s form of government from Mayor-Council to Council-Manager.
The City Manager serves as Hilliard’s chief executive officer, appointed by and reporting to the seven-member City Council. The role oversees all administrative functions across City departments, including Community Development, Recreation & Parks, Finance, Police, Human Resources, IT/CityLab, and Public Service.
No official date has been set for announcing the preferred candidate; however, the new City Manager is expected to begin by spring 2026.
