I. PURPOSE The City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is seeking proposals from qualified executive recruitment firms to assist the City Council in conducting a comprehensive nationwide search and recruitment process for the position of City Administrator. The selected consultant shall provide professional executive search services, advise the City Council throughout the recruitment process, facilitate stakeholder engagement as directed, and assist the City in attracting highly qualified candidates who possess the experience, leadership qualities, and values that align with Carmel-by-the-Sea's unique community character and organizational goals. II. COMMUNITY AND ORGANIZATION BACKGROUND The Community Incorporated on October 31, 1916, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea is a community founded by artists, writers, and visionaries whose legacy continues to shape the City's identity today. Carmel-by-the-Sea is supported in its mission by highly engaged residents, dedicated public servants, and elected and appointed officials committed to preserving the exceptional quality of life that defines the community. Located in north Monterey County along California's scenic Pacific Coast, Carmel-by-the-Sea is internationally recognized for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, artistic traditions, and historic character. The City is renowned for its white sand beach, dramatic coastal bluffs, and urban forest. The absence of formal sidewalks and streetlights throughout much of the residential area contributes to the City's distinctive village atmosphere and forest-like setting. More than 80 acres of public parkland are located throughout the community. Visitors and residents alike enjoy a rich calendar of cultural events year-round. Organizations and venues such as the Carmel Bach Festival, Monterey County Symphony, and Sunset Cultural Center bring nationally and internationally recognized performers to the community. Residents also enjoy numerous annual traditions including the Carmel Surfabout, Halloween Parade, Pumpkin Roll, Fourth of July in the Park, Homecrafters Holiday Marketplace, and many other community-centered events. The City provides exceptional municipal services to ensure that Carmel-by-the-Sea remains a safe, attractive, and welcoming community for residents and visitors alike. Services include planning and building functions, law enforcement, public works, library services, community activities, and special events. Fire protection and ambulance services are provided through a contractual partnership with the City of Monterey. The Organization Carmel-by-the-Sea is a one-square-mile General Law City located entirely within California's Coastal Zone. The City is governed by a five-member City Council committed to preserving and enhancing the community's exceptional quality of life while protecting its unique character and natural resources. The City Administrator serves as the chief administrative officer and is responsible for the day-to-day management of municipal operations, implementation of City Council policies, and leadership of approximately 87 full-time employees. The City delivers a high level of service to both residents and visitors and operates with an annual budget of approximately $41 million. III. SCOPE OF SERVICES Phase 1 – Position Assessment and Recruitment Strategy • Meet with City Council members individually or collectively. • Develop potential community engagement process based on Council direction. • Develop a candidate profile and recruitment strategy. Phase 2 – Outreach and Recruitment • Develop recruitment brochure and marketing materials. • Conduct statewide, regional, and national outreach. • Identify and actively recruit qualified candidates. Phase 3 – Candidate Screening and Evaluation • Review applications and assess qualifications. • Conduct preliminary interviews. • Verify credentials and references. Phase 4 – Final Selection and Appointment Assistance • Assist with interview planning and facilitation. • Conduct background investigations. • Assist with employment offer and contract negotiations if requested. IV. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS Proposals should be concise and limited to information requested. Each proposal shall include the following information. • Qualifications: Provide resumes of the key personnel to be assigned to the project and list the City Manager recruitment processes that they have coordinated within the last three years. • Work Plan: Provide a brief description of the work plan proposed to carry out the tasks outlined in the Scope of Work. • Costs: Submit a cost proposal including a proposed amount for each task and the overall cost to complete the entire scope of work. • Schedule: Provide a schedule outlining key milestones related to the scope of work. • Additional services (optional): Include any related and recommended services not specified in this RFP which may be considered essential or beneficial by the firm. These services should be priced separately. • References: Provide five professional references including name and daytime contact information. California governmental agencies are preferred. V. SELECTION PROCESS The selection will be based upon the following criteria: • Experience and qualifications of the firm and assigned personnel. • Demonstrated experience conducting executive-level local government recruitments, including recruitment of City Managers/City Administrators. • Ability to conduct a comprehensive regional and national recruitment effort to attract highly qualified candidates. • Proposed recruitment approach and project schedule. • Quality of references and past performance with public agencies. • Cost effectiveness of the proposed services. • Qualifications and effectiveness of the firm's oral presentation and interview before the City Council. Top (3) firms will be invited to deliver a brief presentation to the City Council during its meeting on August 4, 2026. Presentations may be conducted either in person or via Zoom. VII. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS The City must receive one printable PDF copy of the proposal via e-mail sent to Marisa Bermudez at mbermudez@ci.carmel.ca.us with the subject line “Executive Search Firm RFP Response-City Administrator Recruitment” by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026 Thank you for your interest in working with the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea. We appreciate your effort in preparing a proposal.
