
Ellsworth Hires Sara Devlin as Deputy City Manager Effective February 10
The City of Ellsworth has announced that Sara Devlin has been hired as Deputy City Manager, effective February 10, 2025.
An Ellsworth local, Ms. Devlin brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in community planning, organizational leadership, and infrastructure development to support the city’s operations and strategic initiatives.
Ms. Devlin joins the City of Ellsworth from the Bangor Area Comprehensive Transportation System (BACTS), where she served as Executive Director. After earning a master’s degree in Community Planning and Development, she began a career at the Maine Turnpike Authority as Government Relations Liaison, where she worked for nearly a decade before advancing to Director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization at the Greater Portland Council of Governments. Ms. Devlin brings extensive experience in grant acquisition and management, including securing a $500,000 Safe Streets for All grant. She has a proven ability to build strong relationships with key stakeholders and has made substantial contributions to regional infrastructure projects.
“Throughout my career, I have always worked under the guidance of a board or council,” said Ms. Devlin. “I thrive in a team environment and have had the privilege of growing organizations, leading major capital projects, and facilitating community outreach initiatives.”
As Deputy City Manager, Ms. Devlin plans to work alongside the City Manager Charlie Pearce and staff to establish a strong foundation for growth, focusing on sustainable and reliable infrastructure, alongside policies that preserve Ellsworth’s character while promoting development to key areas of this growing community. She looks forward to strengthening partnerships with federal, state, and local stakeholders, as well as with residents, whom she considers one of the city’s most valuable resources and deserving of meaningful engagement. She looks forward to spending more time in the community and building strong connections.
After an extensive search that received around 200 applications with many strong candidates across Maine and the country, the Hiring Committee and City Manager Pearce determined that Ms. Devlin is the right fit for the role. “Her exceptional leadership, expertise in planning and infrastructure, community engagement, and grants management make her perfectly suited to help shape a bright future for Ellsworth. I’m excited to work alongside her and achieve great things for our city.
Ellsworth holds a special place in Ms. Devlin’s heart, rooted in family traditions and memories at her grandparents’ camp on Branch Lake. Her great-grandfather was an Ellsworth High School graduate, and after returning to the area in early 2020 following two decades in Portland, Ms. Devlin is eager to deepen her engagement with the community and raise her family here.
“Working as Deputy City Manager aligns perfectly with my experience and aspirations and is an opportunity to serve a community I cherish,” she remarked. “I look forward to collaborating with residents and businesses to make Ellsworth the best place to live, work, and play.”

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