MIDDLEBORO — The list of contenders for the next Town Manager has been cut to four.

Those vying for the position are: Gregory Enos, Avon Town Administrator; Keith Hickey, Kingston Town Administrator; Michael McGovern, Shirley Town Administrator; and James McGrail, Marion Town Administrator.

The current Town Manager, Robert Nunes, is retiring as of October.

The candidates will be interviewed at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4 at a select board meeting at the Middleboro Police Station, 350 Wood St. The board is then scheduled to meet Tuesday, Oct. 11 to make a final decision. 

Enos has served as Avon’s Town Administrator since 2018. He previously worked as human resources director for Ashland from 2016 to 2018 and as Assistant Town Administrator in Whitman from 2012 to 2016.

Hickey has been Kingston’s Town Administrator since 2021. His prior experience includes serving as Town Manager in Winchendon from 2015 to 2021 and as Salem, N.H. Town Manager from 2011 to 2015. 

McGovern has served as Shirley’s Town Administrator since 2018. He previously served as the assistant city manager for Lowell from 2014 to 2018 and coordinator of school information and director of the school foundation at Greater Lowell Technical High School from 2003 to 2014. 

McGrail has been Marion’s Town Administrator since 2019. Before that, he was the director of facilities for Sandwich schools from 2018 to 2019 and the executive director of South Shore Country Club in Hingham from 2010 to 2018.

The select board hired Groux-White Consulting to oversee the search and bring the top contenders for the board’s consideration. 

Twenty-three individuals applied for the job, including town managers, town administrators, chief financial officers, senior level department heads, a state agency commissioner and a former mayor in the Midwest, Richard White from Groux-White Consulting wrote in a letter to the select board presenting the candidates. 

The pool is a strong one, White wrote.

“The quality of applicants is far superior to other searches we’ve done,’’ White told Select board at their Sept. 26 meeting. This shows, he said, that the Middleboro job is “a very attractive position.’’

“Each is on an upward trajectory professionally, have good solid experience as managers/leaders, are successful performers in their current communities and are well regarded in the field,’’ White wrote. “The four finalists provide the board with an excellent variety. ‘’

He wrote that “any one of the four will serve Middleboro well.’’

All candidates are committed to being accessible to the board, the staff and the community. “They will be a good partner with you,’’ he said.

The final decision, he said, will come down to who is the best fit.

Select board member Brian Giovanoni said each candidate brings specific strengths. When making a final decision, he said, “we’ve got our work cut out for us.’’

White encouraged the board to decide quickly, to avoid having a candidate take another position or otherwise become unavailable.