# Capitola Municode #9

City of Capitola City Manager Executive Search and Recruitment

**Posted:** October 09, 2026
**Respond By:** October 24, 2026
**Identifier:** 9
**NAICS:** 561312

The City of Capitola is seeking an executive search firm to lead the recruitment of its next City Manager.
- **Government buyer:** City of Capitola, Santa Cruz County, California; contact: Rudy Escalante, Interim City Manager.
- **Requested services:** One end-to-end City Manager recruitment (quantity 1), including regional and nationwide outreach, candidate screening and preliminary interviews, and recommendations of qualified finalists to the City Council.
  - Coordinate a one-day interview process with stakeholder panels and an extended City Council interview.
  - Complete professional reference checks and background verifications.
- **Proposal requirements:** Provide a recruitment plan, projected timeline, firm and staff qualifications, itemized cost proposal, and references for public-sector executive recruitment. Proposers should state their earliest available start date and projected date for final candidate interviews.
- **OEMs and named vendors:** No OEMs or search firms are named. The opportunity is for professional services, not a specified product.

### Description

The City of Capitola is seeking proposals from qualified executive search firms to recruit its next City Manager. The selected firm will manage the end-to-end recruitment, including regional and nationwide outreach, candidate screening and preliminary interviews, and providing the City Council with recommended final candidates. The firm will also coordinate a one-day interview process and conduct professional reference checks and background verifications. Proposals must include a recruitment plan, project timeline, firm and staff qualifications, cost proposal, and references, and are due by October 23, 2026 at 5:00 PM.

[View original listing](https://www.cityofcapitola.gov/bids.aspx?bidID=9)