Team

Scott Sanders was appointed as City Manager in September of 2014 and is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the City.  Mr. Sanders supervises all City staff, serves as the primary advisor to the City Council, directs major economic development initiatives, and is the chief negotiator for the City.  He joined the City of Des Moines in 2011 as Finance Director and also served as Assistant City Manager.  He has a strong background in city management with an emphasis on finance, budgets and administration.  Mr. Sanders received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Science from Iowa State University and a Master’s degree in Community and Regional Planning also from Iowa State.  He has worked as a Senior Managing Consultant at Public Financial Management; as the Finance Director for the City of Council Bluffs; Assistant City Manager and Finance Director for the City of West Des Moines.

Mr. Nickolas J Schaul is the Finance Director/Treasurer and is responsible for the financial affairs of the City, effective January of 2020. Mr. Schaul had been the Assistant Finance Director since July 2017. Prior to working for the City, he served as Budget/Management Analyst for the City of Iowa City, Iowa from 2013 to 2017, and the Internal Auditor from 2007 to 2013. Prior to his work with the City of Iowa City, Iowa he worked as an Auditor for the Auditor of State – State of Iowa from 2005 to 2007. Mr. Schaul earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Accounting from the University of Northern Iowa.