#55 - Ruidoso, NM Finance, Economic Development, and Water Resource Directors

Certainly a lot to unpack as we feature three amazing opportunities from Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Ruidoso is entering a defining moment.

In this PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice, Mayor Lynn Crawford and City Manager Ron Sena join recruiter Kelly Kuenstler and Host James Groom to outline three critical leadership roles that will help shape the future of the Village of Ruidoso.

This is more than a recruitment. It is an opportunity to step into a community that is rebuilding, growing, and positioning itself for long-term success after significant challenges.

A Community at a Turning Point

Ruidoso is a small mountain community with big aspirations.

Located in the Lincoln National Forest at elevations between 6,500 and 12,000 feet, the Village blends natural beauty with a tourism-driven economy. It serves as a destination for both weekend visitors and long-term seasonal residents, particularly from Texas.

Recent years have brought major challenges, including wildfires and flooding that destroyed over 1,300 homes. In response, the Village has secured substantial federal and state funding and is now actively rebuilding infrastructure, housing, and long-term resilience systems.

At the same time, Ruidoso is advancing major initiatives, including a $145 million green energy project, expansion of the regional airport, and hosting international events such as Ironman and XTERRA.

This is not a maintenance phase. This is transformation.

The Opportunities

Three director-level roles are open, each playing a critical role in the Village’s future.

Economic Development Director Newly created position reporting to the City Manager. Focused on business recruitment, strategic growth, and long-term economic planning. Expected to grow into a larger department over time. Chief Financial Officer Oversees a $152 million budget and finance team. Critical role in grant management, audits, and maintaining the Village’s strong financial standing. Water Resources Director Highly specialized role overseeing water rights, conservation, and long-term sustainability. Works closely with technical experts and operations teams. Leadership Culture and Expectations

Ruidoso operates with a high-performance, team-oriented culture.

Leadership expectations include collaboration across departments, transparency with elected officials and the public, responsiveness to residents, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment.

The organization emphasizes hiring strong people, providing support, and allowing them to lead. Departments are expected to work together, not in silos.

What Candidates Should Know

This is a small town environment with big responsibilities.

Candidates should understand the Village’s recovery from fires and floods, review key planning documents, and be prepared for a tourism-driven workload that includes seasonal demands.

This is local government at its most direct. Your work will have a visible impact on the community.

Why Ruidoso

Ruidoso offers the opportunity to build a meaningful career in a place where leadership matters.

It is a community where you can see the results of your work, be part of a close-knit team, and help shape the future during a critical period of growth and recovery.

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Clear Career Professionals is a Texas based municipal executive search firm specializing in City Manager search services, municipal executive search, and local government leadership consulting for cities and counties across Texas and the United States.

Clear works with communities to recruit City Managers, City Administrators, Assistant City Managers, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, Finance Directors, HR Directors, and other senior municipal leaders. In addition to executive search services, Clear provides local government leadership training, organizational assessments, executive coaching, interim leadership placements, and strategic consulting designed to strengthen city organizations and support effective public service leadership.

Clear partners with city councils, county commissioners, and public sector leadership teams seeking experienced municipal professionals who can guide growing communities, manage complex organizations, and deliver strong public service outcomes.

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