The village of Manhattan has hired Rosemaria DiBenedetto, communications director for the city of Joliet, as its village administrator.

The Manhattan village board on Tuesday approved hiring DiBenedetto.

DiBenedetto replaces Jeff Wold, who left Nov. 13 and has taken the position of police chief in Seneca.

She was hired at the recommendation of Mayor Mike Adrieansen without the position being opened for applicants.

“It’s a mayoral appointment with consent of the village board,” Adrieansen said. “We are not required to post for this position.”

Adreiansen said he knows DiBenedetto from her past work as a public relations contractor for Manhattan and for himself during his first campaign for mayor.

“I really wanted someone who knew our community,” he said.

DiBenedetto primarily has been a public relations consultant to municipalities and political campaigns.

She does have a master’s degree in public and social administration from Brunel University of West London in the United Kingdom, which was noted in the news release from the village of Manhattan announcing her appointment.

“DiBenedetto brings more than 30 years of experience working with municipal governments, public agencies, and community organizations throughout the Chicago metropolitan area,” according to the release from the village. “She has extensive leadership experience in municipal management, public administration, intergovernmental relations and strategic communications.”

Her current position in Joliet is media management and communications director.

DiBenedetto starts in Manhattan in early January.

“My official departure date from Joliet hasn’t been determined yet,” she said on Wednesday.

DiBenedetto said she intended to stay at least a couple of weeks to work on pending matters, including the upcoming approval of the city budget.

“It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to work here,” she said. “I look forward to going to Manhattan and taking my skill set there.”

DiBenedetto has been the communications director in Joliet since May 2024. She previously was a public relations consultant to Joliet Mayor Terry D’Arcy, both during his 2023 election campaign and his first year as mayor.

She also previously ran her own communications firm that contracted with municipalities, including Manhattan.

Adrieansen, in the news release from the village, noted DiBenedetto’s previous work as a communications consultant for the village.

“Rosemaria brings an exceptional combination of municipal experience, strategic leadership and proven communications expertise that make her uniquely qualified to partner with me, the village clerk and the board to lead our village forward,” Adrieansen said in the news release.

“She has worked with me and with the prior administration for several years as a communications consultant and already understands our community, our staff, and our goals,” Adrieansen said. “Her depth of experience in municipal government and her strong ties to our community make her an ideal candidate to help guide Manhattan’s continued growth and success.”