The Tacoma City Council voted this evening to enter into contract negotiations with Hyun Kim to officially assume the role of City Manager for Washington’s third-largest city.
Mr. Kim currently serves as Interim City Manager for the City of Tacoma, where he leads enterprise-wide initiatives and works closely with the City Council on complex policy and operational matters. He brings extensive executive leadership experience in local government, including service as Deputy City Manager in Tacoma, City Manager in Fife, Washington; City Administrator in Gillette, Wyoming; and senior finance and real estate leadership roles in Boulder City, Nevada.
Throughout his career, Mr. Kim has guided organizations through periods of change, fiscal pressure, and growth, with a leadership style grounded in integrity, collaboration, and disciplined execution. His experience includes infrastructure delivery, economic development, regional partnerships, and governance reform. Mr. Kim is committed to public service and focused on supporting Tacoma’s long-term economic vitality, operational excellence, and quality of life.
About the City Manager Role
Appointed by and reporting directly to the Tacoma City Council, the City Manager serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the City of Tacoma and is the sole employee of the City Council. The City Manager is a trusted partner guiding the implementation of policy priorities while ensuring equitable, efficient, and effective service delivery for the community.
Responsibilities include:
- Managing the day-to-day operations of a dynamic, full-service city serving more than 220,000 residents.
- Overseeing a biennial budget of $4.7 billion, including a $635 million General Fund.
- Providing executive leadership and direction for all City departments, operations, and more than 4,000 employees.
Pending successful negotiations, a final employment agreement will be brought forward for formal City Council approval at an upcoming meeting.