Enfield — Town officials last month chose Municipal Resources Inc., a New Hampshire-based consulting firm, to help search for Enfield’s next town manager.

The Selectboard hired MRI to conduct a search on Jan. 18, signing a $14,500 contract with the firm, according to current Town Manager Steve Schneider.

Schneider, who was hired to the post in 2005, announced his intention to step down last fall. His last day is slated for June 1.

MRI will work closely with a nine-member Town Manager Search Committee to fill the open position, narrowing down candidates and searching for potential matches, according to Dominic Albanese, the committee’s chairman.

He said the firm will soon begin speaking with public officials and town staffers about what they’re looking for in a manager, before those discussions are opened up to community groups and local residents.

Although the search process is still in an early phase, Albanese said, MRI has already begun researching candidates who applied to an ad posted last month.

The Town Manager Search Committee’s meetings are open to the public and the group will next meet at 9 a.m. on Saturday in the Enfield Public Works Facility, at 74 Lockehaven Road.