The Clear Voice

#64 - From Chief to City Hall | Jim Devlin on Leadership

Jim Devlin joins James Groom for Part 1 of a 2 part conversation on leadership, accountability, culture, and the move from Police Chief to City Hall. Jim serves as Assistant City Manager for the City of Hewitt, Texas, after nearly three decades in law enforcement, including more than a decade as Chief of Police. In this episode, he discusses dynamic leadership, correcting people without tearing them down, building trust inside an organization, and why culture matters in public service. The conversation also covers Jim’s decision to move to Hewitt, the challenge of helping reshape an organization, the value of community connection, and how police leadership can prepare someone for broader municipal leadership. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Jim Devlin 02:39 Dynamic leadership in law enforcement 07:00 Accountability and relationships 10:20 Correcting people without tearing them down 16:55 Taking on the challenge in Hewitt 23:04 Building community trust 26:10 Succession planning and leadership development 29:04 Culture fit in recruitment 32:02 Problem solving in local government 35:33 Moving from police chief to city hall 40:51 Part 2 Coming Soon Announcement Connect With Clear Career Professionals 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.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities [https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities] LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro [https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro]

#63 - City Administrator Recruitment | Caldwell, Texas PositionCast™

The City of Caldwell, Texas is searching for its next City Administrator, and this PositionCast™ episode gives candidates a deeper look at the community, the organization, and the leadership expectations behind the role. James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice and Retired Chief of Police, is joined by Brad Stafford of Clear Career Professionals, outgoing Mayor Janice Easter, and incoming Mayor John Rychlik for a conversation about Caldwell’s future. The discussion covers Caldwell’s small town identity, growth pressures, downtown opportunity, infrastructure priorities, full service city operations, community partnerships, and the type of leader who can build trust with staff, council, residents, and regional partners. Caldwell is described as a close knit Texas community with strong civic pride, a growing local economy, a historic downtown, major community events, strong parks and recreation assets, and a council focused on responsible growth. The next City Administrator will enter an organization with meaningful opportunities in communication, modernization, infrastructure planning, economic development, and community engagement. This episode is especially useful for candidates who want to understand not just the job description, but the people, expectations, and leadership environment behind the opportunity. For more information about this role by check the job posting: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/caldwell-city-administrator-posting Connect With Clear Career Professionals 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.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities [https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities] LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro [https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro]

#62 - TMRS Human Resources Director PositionCast™

In this PositionCast™ episode of The Clear Voice, James Groom and Michael Boese talk with Debbie Munoz, Executive Director of the Texas Municipal Retirement System, about the Human Resources Director opportunity at TMRS. Debbie explains TMRS’ mission to provide secure lifetime income to members across 946 participating Texas cities, the organization’s statewide impact, and the culture that makes TMRS a meaningful place to work. The conversation covers the role of the next HR Director, including employee engagement, HR modernization, succession planning, learning management, leadership development, and the need for an authentic, people centered leader. The episode also highlights TMRS’ Austin location, compensation and benefits, TMRS retirement participation, the Clear Career Professionals recruitment process, and why this role offers a unique opportunity to support the people who serve public servants across Texas. More Information: For more information about the TMRS Human Resources Director position, including job details and application materials, visit: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/tmrs-human-resources-director-posting [https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/tmrs-human-resources-director-posting] Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction to TMRS and the Human Resources Director recruitment 00:03:21 Understanding TMRS, mission, structure, and statewide service 00:06:45 What makes TMRS unique for cities and members 00:11:47 TMRS funding, stability, and fiduciary responsibility 00:14:51 TMRS culture and employee engagement 00:19:14 The HR Director role, reporting structure, and team size 00:22:14 Rebranding HR and building employee trust 00:24:21 Modernizing HR systems, knowledge transfer, and AI 00:25:52 Training, continuing education, and learning management 00:26:16 Candidate traits, communication, and leadership presence 00:27:17 Why city HR leaders should consider TMRS 00:29:33 Measuring success for the next HR Director 00:32:25 Why this opportunity stands out 00:33:32 TMRS office location and working in Austin 00:34:55 Living in Austin and the community environment 00:37:33 Compensation, benefits, and TMRS retirement participation 00:40:06 The Clear Career Professionals recruitment process 00:41:37 Upcoming TMRS Governmental Relations Director recruitment 00:42:24 Sneak peek at the Governmental Relations Director role 00:45:29 Final message for candidates considering TMRS 00:47:12 Closing and how to learn more Connect With Clear Career Professionals 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.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities [https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities] LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro [https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro]

#61 - Rethinking Public Sector HR with Katie Hagen

Katie Hagen, CEO of CPS HR Consulting, joins Host of The Clear Voice James Groom and Clear Career Professionals President Michael Boese for a conversation about public sector HR, workforce challenges, organizational change, and the future of public service. Katie brings decades of public sector leadership experience, including senior roles in California state government, where she worked in HR, civil service reform, organizational turnaround, and change management. In this episode, she discusses why hiring challenges are often about more than salary, how agencies can reduce barriers for applicants, why professional development still matters, and how public organizations can use technology without losing the human side of human resources. James and Michael join Katie to explore recruitment, candidate communication, civil service systems, organizational assessments, public sector partnerships, and the importance of helping agencies move forward before problems become crises. Topics include public sector HR, workforce challenges, hiring barriers, candidate experience, salary and flexibility, public service motivation, organizational turnaround, change management, civil service systems, AI, technology, professional development, organizational assessments, workforce planning, internships, apprenticeships, and keeping people at the center of public service. Learn more about CPS HR Consulting: https://www.cpshr.us/ [https://www.cpshr.us/] Learn more about Katie Hagen: https://www.cpshr.us/katie-hagen/ [https://www.cpshr.us/katie-hagen/] Contact Katie Hagen: khagen@cpshr.us [khagen@cpshr.us] 00:00 Introduction to Public Sector Challenges 03:58 Understanding Hiring Challenges in the Public Sector 06:28 Generational Perspectives on Public Service 08:48 Katie Hagen's Journey in HR and Leadership 11:03 Leading Change in Public Sector Organizations 13:29 The Political Landscape of Public Sector Leadership 15:55 CPS HR Consulting and Public Sector HR Solutions 17:50 Maintaining Culture Across a Remote Team 20:14 Current Trends in Public Sector Recruitment 22:47 Building Talent Pipelines for the Future Workforce 25:10 Streamlining the Hiring Process for Applicants 26:48 Candidate Communication and Modern Recruitment 29:49 The Role of Technology in Public Sector HR 32:18 Balancing AI and Human Interaction in HR 34:29 Understanding Organizational Dynamics Before Acting 36:55 Finding Simple Solutions to Complex Problems 39:36 Professional Development for HR Leaders 41:55 The Future of the Public Sector Workforce 43:25 Organizational Assessments Before Crisis 43:39 Employee Development in a Technology Driven Workplace 44:54 Basic Technology Skills Still Matter 46:12 TMHRA, CPS HR, and Public Sector Partnerships 47:42 Final Advice for Public Service Leaders Connect With Clear Career Professionals 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.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities [https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities] LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro [https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro]

#60 - Deputy City Manager Role | Victoria, TX PositionCast™

The City of Victoria, Texas is recruiting its next Deputy City Manager, and this PositionCast™ episode gives candidates a closer look at the opportunity, the organization, and the leadership environment. James Groom, Host of The Clear Voice, is joined by Kelly Kuenstler, retired city manager and recruiter for this position, and Jesús Garza, City Manager for the City of Victoria. Together, they discuss why Victoria is creating this Deputy City Manager role, what the City needs from the successful candidate, and why this opportunity may appeal to experienced local government executives. Victoria is a regional hub of approximately 65,000 residents, located between San Antonio, Houston, Austin, and Corpus Christi. The community offers a strong mix of big city amenities and small town character, with retail, restaurants, outdoor recreation, access to the Guadalupe River, and proximity to the Texas coast. A major theme of this episode is stability. Victoria operates under a council manager form of government, with a seven member City Council that includes the Mayor. City Manager Jesus Garza describes a governing environment marked by alignment, professionalism, and a shared focus on the entire community. That stability matters for candidates who want to join an organization where elected officials, staff, and the public are generally moving in the same direction. This Deputy City Manager role is designed to support continuity of progress. Victoria has seen recent internal promotions and leadership transitions, and the City is being intentional about strengthening executive capacity for the future. The position is not framed around finding one candidate who can do everything. Instead, Victoria is considering two clear candidate pathways. One pathway is for an experienced public safety leader. A candidate with this background may bring value in areas such as police, fire, municipal court, dispatch, emergency management, civil service, collective bargaining, and public safety operations. Victoria recently brought multiple public safety functions into a new 70,000 square foot public safety headquarters, creating new opportunities for coordination, collaboration, and strategic planning. The second pathway is for an experienced economic development or growth focused leader. A candidate with this background may help advance the City’s Growing Victoria initiative, support population and tax base growth, strengthen the use of the City’s Type B economic development corporation, and help move major strategic priorities forward. Victoria is not requiring candidates to have both public safety and economic development experience. Either pathway may be the right fit. The goal is to find an experienced executive who complements the existing leadership team and brings depth, judgment, and leadership capacity in one of these key areas. The episode also covers Victoria’s full service municipal operations, including water, wastewater, landfill services, residential trash collection, tourism, public safety, parks, infrastructure, and other core city functions. The City has 656 authorized full time employees and a fiscal year 2026 operating budget of approximately $255 million. Candidates will also hear about Victoria’s workplace culture, employee retention efforts, new public safety investments, strategic planning, master planning, infrastructure work, downtown improvements, parks improvements, and the Victoria 2035 comprehensive plan. Jesus also discusses his leadership style, which he describes as mission driven, transformational, and focused on developing the next generation of leaders. For candidates preparing for the interview process, the advice is straightforward. Do the research. Victoria has major plans, priorities, and investments already in motion. Candidates who understand the community, the organization, and the opportunity will be better prepared to show how their experience can help Victoria continue its momentum. Learn more about the Victoria Deputy City Manager opportunity here: https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/victoria-deputy-city-manager-opportunity [https://clearcareerpro.com/clear-news/victoria-deputy-city-manager-opportunity] Connect With Clear Career Professionals 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.  Career Opportunities https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities [https://clearcareerpro.com/career-opportunities] LinkedIn https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro [https://linkedin.com/company/clear-career-pro]