Urbandale is a thriving, growing community with bold plans to shape a vibrant future. As our next Management Analyst, you’ll play a direct role in advancing the goals of the City Council and helping the City Manager’s Office deliver exceptional value to residents and businesses. This is an opportunity to launch or advance your career in local government management—where your work will matter from day one.
Turn your passion for public service into bold, tangible results.
Join our team as a Management Analyst and help shape the future of Urbandale.
Target Audience
- Emerging local government professionals
- Graduate students in Public Administration / Policy
- Analysts looking to grow into leadership roles
- Problem-solvers passionate about community impact
- Future city managers
Notable Opportunities
- Work directly with City Manager & Assistant City Manager
- Exposure to every City department and Director
- Projects tied to City Council’s strategic priorities
- Trusted responsibility from day one
- A launchpad for a career in city management
Why This Role Matters
Impact from the Start
From your very first day, you’ll be entrusted with meaningful work that has a direct connection to Urbandale’s future. Whether it’s preparing a grant application that brings in new resources, analyzing policy options to solve a pressing community challenge, or designing creative ways to position the City’s initiatives, your fingerprints will be on real, visible outcomes. You’ll get to see how your analysis, insight, and problem-solving skills translate into stronger neighborhoods, smarter government, and better services for the people of Urbandale.
Your Future Starts Here
Build a Career in City Management
This position is a launchpad for a fulfilling career in public service leadership. If you’ve ever imagined yourself working in a City Manager’s Office, helping to chart the course of a community, this is your opportunity to step into that world. We’re looking for people who aren’t just curious about government but who are eager to make things happen. Along the way, you’ll gain direct exposure to the complexities of municipal management, from budgets and capital projects to strategic planning and community engagement. You’ll build skills that are not only valuable here in Urbandale, but also transferable to any city in the country. In short, this role is designed for people who want to grow, stretch, and someday lead.
The Secret Sauce
Trusted Responsibility
This isn’t the type of role where your work disappears into a drawer. As a Management Analyst, you’ll be empowered to use your judgment, resourcefulness, and creativity to tackle problems head-on. You’ll be part investigator, part strategist, and part project manager—finding ways to make the City more efficient, responsive, and effective. The City Manager’s Office will count on you to spot opportunities others might miss, frame solutions in ways that inspire action, and deliver results that make a difference. You’ll quickly become a go-to person for solving problems, helping the City Council achieve its ambitious goals, and ensuring residents experience excellent customer service at every turn.
A Little Of Our Story
Collaborative Culture
Local government is a team sport, and in Urbandale, you’ll join a team that knows how to play—and how to win. The City Manager’s Office is home to experienced, forward-looking professionals who understand where the City is headed and how to get there. You’ll be part of an environment that values innovation, embraces bold ideas, and celebrates creative problem-solving. Expect to work alongside colleagues from every City department, as well as elected officials, business leaders, and community organizations. Every day brings a new set of conversations and collaborations, and that variety keeps the work exciting. In this role, your curiosity, flexibility, and sense of humor will serve you as well as your technical skills. We take the work seriously—but we don’t take ourselves too seriously.
Apply NowMeet The Team
The City of Urbandale operates under a Council–Manager form of government, and at the center of day-to-day operations is a talented group of Department Directors who lead every corner of the organization. These Directors oversee the full range of municipal services—they are seasoned professionals who not only manage their teams and budgets, but also bring vision and expertise to the City’s biggest initiatives.
As a Management Analyst, you’ll work side-by-side with this leadership team on projects that cut across functions and impact the entire community. You’ll see how each department contributes to the City’s success—and your role will be to connect the dots, add value through analysis and insight, and help Directors deliver on the City Council’s goals.
This access and exposure to Urbandale’s leadership team is what makes the role both challenging and rewarding. You’ll learn how seasoned department heads approach decision-making, strategy, and operations, and in turn, they’ll look to you as a trusted partner to help solve problems, bring fresh ideas, and keep the organization moving forward.
David has over 25 years of local government management experience, receiving a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications from Kennesaw State University in Georgia.
Curtis Brown is Urbandale’s Assistant City Manager. Prior to this position, Brown worked as the Economic Development Director/Assistant Director for the City of Ankeny. He also held positions as the Executive Director of the Mason City Economic Development Corporation and Community Development Director/Assistant City Administrator for Blue Earth, Minnesota. Brown has a BA Magna cum Laude from Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota and a Master of Arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin. He will complete an MPA from Southern Utah University in 2025. Originally from the Saint Paul, Minnesota area, Curtis resides in Urbandale with his wife Rachel and four sons.
John leads Urbandale’s Risk Management & Support Services, overseeing the systems and safeguards that keep the City operating smoothly and securely. With a detail-driven approach and a deep knowledge of municipal operations, John ensures that Urbandale’s employees, assets, and resources are protected. His leadership helps the City minimize risks, maximize efficiency, and maintain the high standard of service delivery that residents expect.
The City of Urbandale is committed to providing the highest quality of public service possible. To that end, we are dedicated to both the hiring and developing of city employees who share in this commitment of service to the residents of Urbandale. All employees are important members of the city team and we do our best to ensure that we hire the best available candidates while promoting equality of opportunity.
Derek has spent more than 15 years helping governments and non-profits communicate with purpose, clarity, and confidence—especially when the information is complex and the critics are loud. At heart, he’s a public servant who believes that good design, clear messaging, and smart marketing are essential for strong communities and organizational success. And when done well, we help people make informed decisions that enrich their lives.
Nicci’s expertise ensures that Urbandale continues to deliver excellent services while maintaining one of the lowest municipal tax rates in Iowa. Known for her commitment to accuracy, transparency, and long-term financial stewardship, she plays a central role in keeping Urbandale fiscally strong and positioned for future growth.
Aaron is Urbandale’s Director of Economic Development. Previously, DeJong was the Director of Economic Development of the City of Louisville, Colorado. DeJong has also held positions in the Economic Development Department of Dubuque, Iowa, and Coralville, Iowa. He has a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls and a MA from the University of Iowa.
Jan brings both vision and experience to her role as Urbandale’s Parks & Recreation Director. A lifelong athlete, Jan played college basketball on scholarship, and later competed professionally in Germany, where her team won the national championship. After returning to the U.S., she turned her passion for the game into a 15-year career as a referee, working across four Division I conferences and the WNBA—including courts as iconic as Madison Square Garden and the Forum in Los Angeles. Jan is currently one of the longest tenured Directors in Urbandale, with more than 27 years of experience. Today, Jan channels that same competitive spirit, teamwork, and drive for excellence into expanding Urbandale’s park system, recreation programs, and quality of life for residents.
Rob Johansen serves as Urbandale’s Chief of Police, leading a nationally accredited department dedicated to safety, trust, and community partnership. Under his direction, the Urbandale Police Department provides a full range of law enforcement services with a focus on transparency, accountability, and proactive engagement with residents. Chief Johansen oversees a team of highly trained officers and staff committed to protecting life and property, preventing crime, and strengthening community relationships. His leadership ensures that Urbandale remains one of the safest and most welcoming communities in the metro.
As Urbandale’s City Clerk, Nicole Lunders ensures the transparency, accuracy, and accessibility of the City’s official records. She manages the legislative process for the Mayor and City Council, prepares agendas and minutes, oversees public notices, and safeguards the City’s vital documents. Nicole also administers licensing, elections support, and records requests, helping residents engage easily with their local government. With a commitment to precision and public service, Nicole plays a key role in maintaining the integrity and accountability of Urbandale’s decision-making processes.
Michael Cardwell holds the positions of Fire Chief/Emergency Preparedness Director for the City of Urbandale. Cardwell has been instrumental in implementing several successful emergency preparedness initiatives in Urbandale and the Des Moines Metropolitan Area. He helped lead the planning and construction of Urbandale’s FAST (Fire and Safety Training) facility, a cutting-edge site that advances training for emergency responders, and spearheaded regional partnerships including the Central Iowa Fire/EMS Testing Consortium and the Polk County Regional Mass Casualty Incident Plan. Chief Cardwell holds a master’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University and has earned the National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer designation. Throughout his career he’s championed the importance of training and education and lectured at numerous state and national conferences. With over 25 years of command-level experience in the firefighting profession, Chief Cardwell’s extensive background and expertise have earned him recognition as a leader in the field. His commitment to excellence and innovative approach to fire safety, training, and prevention make him a standout leader.
Nicholas leads efforts to connect residents of all ages with knowledge, technology, and community experiences. Under his direction, the Library provides dynamic programming, digital resources, cultural events, and spaces that foster learning and connection. Nicholas oversees a dedicated team that champions literacy, lifelong learning, and equitable access to information for all. With a vision for the library as both a cornerstone of education and a hub of community life, he is guiding the Urbandale Public Library into its next chapter as an innovative, welcoming space for discovery and engagement.
James leads Urbandale’s Information Technology Department, ensuring that the City’s digital infrastructure is secure, reliable, and future-ready. He oversees the systems, networks, and tools that empower every City department to serve residents efficiently and effectively.
Steve serves as Urbandale’s Community Development Director, guiding the planning, zoning, and growth of the city with a focus on smart, sustainable development. He leads a team that reviews development proposals, manages long-range planning efforts, and ensures that Urbandale continues to grow in ways that strengthen neighborhoods, support businesses, and enhance quality of life.
John leads the Engineering & Public Works Department, overseeing the infrastructure and essential services that keep the city moving every day. His team manages everything from street design, traffic flow, and stormwater systems to snow removal, garbage collection, and fleet services. John is known for combining technical expertise with a practical, down-to-earth approach—whether it’s delivering complex capital improvement projects or responding quickly to community needs. By blending long-term planning with day-to-day service excellence, he helps make Urbandale a well-connected, resilient, and thriving community.
Urbandale is more than just where you’ll work — it’s where you’ll want to stay, play, and build a life.
95
of residents rate Urbandale as an excellent or good place to live.
96
of residents rank Urbandale as an excellent or good place to raise children.
93
of residents rank the overall quality of life in Urbandale as excellent or good.
97
of residents report feeling safe in their neighborhood during the day.
50
parks and 40+ playgrounds are located in Urbandale.
57
miles of paved recreation trails are in Urbandale.
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