East Lansing is looking for its next city manager and wants a professional firm to help find one.

The city issued a Request for Proposal on Thursday, Sept. 24, seeking an executive recruiting firm to conduct a national search for a permanent city manager, according to a city press release. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.

The move is the first formal step toward replacing Interim City Manager Annette Irwin. She has held the role since June 22. The East Lansing City Council voted unanimously on June 16 to appoint Irwin after the council and former City Manager Robert Belleman mutually agreed to part ways, according to council meeting minutes.

Irwin, who joined the city in 1996 and retired earlier in 2026 as director of the Planning, Building and Housing Department, is serving until a permanent replacement is named.

The hired firm will design and run the search, screen candidates and recommend finalists to the five-member City Council.

This will be only the city's third manager search since 1995, East Lansing Info reported. Ted Staton served from 1995 to 2011, George Lahanas from 2011 to 2023 and Belleman from 2023 until his departure this year. The city paid $19,000 for the 2023 search, which was led by the Michigan Municipal League. Council members have signaled they want a more thorough process this time, which could cost significantly more.

"I think we've got to do it right," Mayor Erik Altmann said at the council's Aug. 11 meeting, when members first discussed the search.

At that same meeting, Councilmember Kerry Ebersole Singh estimated the city is looking at a February start date for its next city manager. Irwin told the council the process will take months: once a firm is selected, it will work with the council to identify desired qualities, then conduct a nationwide search followed by weeks of screening before finalists visit East Lansing for interviews and public events.

The search also has implications beyond the hire itself. At the council's Sept. 22 meeting, planning for a possible City Hall relocation appeared to be on hold until a permanent manager is in place, according to East Lansing Info. Irwin told the council she has not been part of any discussions about moving from the current building and said the topic will fall to the next city manager to explore.

The RFP is available on the city's website. Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Oct. 13, and residents with questions can contact Human Resources Director Emily Kenney at (517) 319-6854.