HomeMy WebLinkAboutAssistant City Manager ResignationContact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • EdinaMN.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Edina to Recruit New Assistant City Manager
Edina, Minn., Aug. 22, 2023 – Recruitment for a new Assistant City Manager in Edina will begin next month.
Assistant City Manager Lisa Schaefer recently announced her resignation to accept the position of Human Resources Director with the League of Minnesota Cities. Her last day of work for
the City of Edina will be Friday, Sept. 15.
Schaefer has worked for the City of Edina for more than 12 years. Her first four years were as the City’s Human Resources Director before moving into the Assistant City Manager role
in 2015. A key member of the City’s Executive Leadership Team, the Assistant City Manager backs up the City Manager and oversees the Administration Department, which includes the City
Clerk, Community Engagement and Race & Equity divisions. The City’s Finance, Human Resources and I.T. directors currently report to the Assistant City Manager.
“Lisa has been a strong and caring leader for our Executive Leadership Team and Administration Department,” said City Manager Scott Neal. “She has many accomplishments here to look back
on and be proud of, including leading the City’s first HR Department; solidifying the City’s core goals of ‘Strong Foundation,’ ‘Reliable Service,’ ‘Livable City’ and ‘Better Together;’
establishing the Sustainability, Community Engagement and Race & Equity divisions and I.T. Department; and evolving the City’s work plan process and launching the Progress Portal. It
will be difficult to replace her.”
Schaefer, who is returning to the League after previously serving as the organization’s Human Resources Manager from 2006 to 2011, said the decision to leave the City was difficult.
“In my new role, I will direct the Human Resources services provided to the more than 800 cities that are members of the League. As a staff member for the League of Minnesota Cities,
I will continue to serve Edina, but in a different way,” she said. “Over the next four weeks, I will work to make this transition as smooth as possible. A leader among City Managers
and in this community, City Manager Scott Neal has consistently built strong leadership teams. I have total confidence that [staff] will continue to provide excellent services for the
City, as [they] continue to innovate and evolve.”
The City will retain an executive search firm to manage the recruitment process, which is expected to begin in September. Interviews and backgrounding of prospective candidates will
be done in mid- to late October. Neal is hoping to select the final candidate by late November and have a new Assistant City Manager on board at the start of 2024.
For more information, on the Administration Department, visit EdinaMN.gov/Administration.
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