Sedona City Manager Justin Clifton announced his impending departure to take the same position in Palm Springs, Calif.

Within 48 hours, the Sedona City Council had his replacement, and it’s a familiar face and name to many in the city.

The city announced Sedona Assistant City Manager and Community Development Director Karen Osburn was hired as the new city manager on the morning of Thursday, Jan. 28. She will take over at the end of March.

“I’m honored to receive the City Council’s endorsement and thrilled to continue working with them in this new role,” she said. “I feel excitement, anticipation and maybe a little bit overwhelmed given how quickly this has all transpired. But mostly, I feel very fortunate.”

Osburn said that between her current roles as assistant city manager and director of community development — as well as being responsible for leading initiatives like transit and housing — she’s been enjoying her current work and wasn’t looking to make a move.

“With that said, I’m not sure anyone in my position wouldn’t seriously consider vying for such an important position in s uch a special community,” she said. “These opportunities don’t come around every day.”

Unlike in times past, council did not conduct the normal nationwide search for a replacement but instead made Osburn a direct offer. Mayor Sandy Moriarty said it speaks volumes that council chose very quickly to bypass the normal hiring process.

“Having the luxury to avoid the long, drawn-out task of a national search, and the time she would have to take to participate in it makes no sense when the council, staff and the community know what a great fit she is for the job,” Moriarty said.

“We were lucky to get her when she first came to us from the [Sedona] Fire District, and we are really fortunate to have her still with us now. She has been highly praised by those she has worked with, both within the organization and outside it. I expect It will be a very smooth transition, and I thoroughly believe we could not find a better candidate.”

Clifton agreed.

“It’s tempting for any council to see what’s out there,” he said, noting that Osburn is one of the most thoughtful, intelligent and dedicated professionals he’s ever worked with. “Council promoting Karen without a hiring process is a clear signal that they have full support and confidence in her.”

Council’s decision was not lost on Osburn.

“I can’t adequately articulate how honored and humbled I am that they have demonstrated such confidence in me,” she said. “I will do my best to confirm that they made the right decision.”

Osburn came to the city nine years ago as assistant city manager and took on the additional role of community development director two-and-ahalf years ago following the departure of Audree Tribbensee, then known as Audree Juhlin. Before being hired at the city, Osburn served as the business director for the Sedona Fire District. Prior to that she held various positions with the cities of Avondale, Phoenix and Peoria, as well as Maricopa County and the Arizona Governor’s Office.

A native of New York, Osburn received a bachelor’s degree from Binghamton University in New York and a master’s degree in public administration from Arizona State University.

Former Sedona City Manager Tim Ernster, who hired Osburn in 2012, said he was excited to hear the news of her promotion.

“She will do a great job for the city of Sedona,” he said. “Not only does she have the necessary knowledge and expertise to be an outstanding city manager, but she has the leadership talents to build an effective team and work collaboratively with the city council. Sedona is in very good hands with Karen at the helm.”

Osburn said she’s thankful to have worked for and with both Ernster and Clifton. She said she learned many things from them over the years, but thinks the common characteristic that made them both so successful is the value they place on collaborating and building trust and relationships.

“None of us operate in a vacuum and we accomplish nothing single-handedly. Given that we are trying to both build a community and build community with each other, the only way to effectively do either is by working together,” she said.

Once Osburn, who plans to move within city limits as soon as possible, becomes city manager, that leaves openings for both of her current positions. She said the city will immediately begin a recruitment process for the assistant city manager position, and she will work with Clifton and council over the course of the next 60 days to determine how best to fill the community development director position along other vacancies within city government.