Deputy City Manager

Summary

Description

General Purpose

The Deputy City Manager advises the City Manager in developing a city-wide strategy and vision to support Council initiatives. The Deputy City Manager leads strategic planning, innovation, citywide operations, organizational development, and community engagement. This position requires a strategic critical thinker who is collaborative, approachable, responsive, and trustworthy.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• • Provides citywide leadership and assists the City Manager in the administration and operations of the organization. Provides direct leadership as assigned by the City Manager.

  • Collaborates with the City Manager to set strategic direction and priorities to achieve outcomes established by the City Council. Gathers and incorporates community input; analyzes challenges and identifies innovative alternative solutions, including implications of proposed actions by utilizing and understanding complex economic and statistical data, laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines. 

  • Fosters an engaged and innovative work environment that encourages creative and adaptive responses to changing priorities from the community and City Council.

  • Actively champions a positive and supportive work environment and establishes a culture of teamwork and communication that supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

  • Oversees citywide continuous improvement programs, focusing on innovation and a creative approach that fosters collaboration and effectiveness at all levels within the organization. 

  • Communicates complex issues in a relatable manner to diverse audiences, including City Council, City leadership, community members, and outside agencies, businesses, and organizations. 

  • Models, promotes, and engages in developing positive and collaborative working relationships with community members, City Council, internal and external colleagues, and stakeholders.

  • Assumes the authority and responsibilities of the City Manager in their absence.  

  • Performs other duties as assigned.

    • Develops and leads reporting on strategic actions to Council and the community to ensure completion at various levels in the organization to achieve desired results.  

  Operations

  • Works cross-functionally with executive leadership and departmental subject matter experts to coordinate and lead the City’s operations.

  • Considers management and staff feedback brought to executive leadership and supports two-way feedback on progress toward goals and strategic initiatives with an emphasis on accountability and transparency. 

  • Collaborates with the Executive Team and coordinates responses to challenging or cross-functional inquiries or concerns from City Council and the public.

  • Supports the preparation and presentation of the City’s annual budget and internal fiscal control measures; Approves internal financial requests for personnel and special projects/programs.

  Strategy

  • Oversees and facilitates the development and execution of the City’s Strategic Plan and framework with a detailed current-year operating plan while adhering to the directions set by the City Council and City Manager

  • Formalizes and leads the strategic planning process, focusing on both short-term needs and long-term trends.

  • Facilitates the execution of strategies by working collaboratively with executive leadership and ensuring that strategies are communicated and easily understood by all employees throughout the organization.  

  • Leads the City’s approach to the development and implementation of appropriate metrics to measure performance and progress toward strategic goals, with a focus on the use of an organizational dashboard for impact and organizational effectiveness.  

  • Oversees and facilitates the development of a comprehensive leadership performance measurement, benchmarking, and reporting program.

  • Collaborates with executive leadership to develop, implement, and oversee city policies that support innovation and execution of strategic initiatives.  

Performs other duties as assigned

Essential Supervisory Duties

• • Performs first-level supervision of assigned staff; provides regular performance feedback; coaches and mentors employees; assigns work and determines employment actions such as hiring, termination, salary changes, and training.

  • Prepares timely performance evaluations that clearly define key performance indicators and expectations.

  • Identifies and acts on employee performance and/or morale issues.

  • Serves as a resource for department personnel, City staff, other organizations, and the public; coordinates pertinent information, resources, and work teams necessary to support a positive and productive environment.

  • Coordinates with the Deputy City Manager- Operations in evaluating and prioritizing team goals within the City’s organizational goals, objectives, and commitment to service.

  • Provides visible leadership presence Citywide to promote and encourage innovation, creativity, and service to the community.

  • Creates an open and safe communication environment.

Minimum Qualifications
A Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration or a relevant discipline and a minimum of ten years of progressively responsible experience in public sector management positions with responsibility for program direction and budget administration are required. A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline and relevant certification are preferred. An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge of

• Principles and practices of public administration and management, strategic planning, and local government, structure and operations

• Personnel management and supervision, organizational development , and budgeting

• Current social, political, and economic trends and operating challenges in government

• Budgeting and finance principles and practices

• City of Commerce City personnel policies and procedures

• Principles of effective public relations and interrelationships with community groups and agencies, private businesses and firms, and other levels of government

Skill in

• Analyzing challenges and identifying solutions, including implications of proposed actions, by utilizing and understanding complex economic and statistical data, laws, regulations, policies, and guidelines

• Establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City Council, employees, other agencies, and the public

• Interpreting and applying federal, state , and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations pertaining to local government operations, as well as knowledge of federal and state legislative processes

• Creating a positive and supportive work environment and establishing a culture of teamwork and communication that supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion

• Communicating effectively, including verbal and written communication and active listening skills, with Council, employees at all levels of the city, and diverse members of the public

• Writing and delivering effective presentations

Ability to

• Utilize critical and strategic thinking to analyze a variety of administrative, operational, fiscal, and social problems and make innovative and thoughtful recommendations for solutions

• Negotiate and resolve complex issues

• Delegate authority and responsibility and remain aware of progress toward results

• Identify and develop appropriate courses of action to respond to a wide variety of organizational needs

• Partner with the City Manager and executive leadership to effectively accomplish city goals and objectives

• Handle confidential information and share only on a need-to-know basis 

Equipment Used, Work Environment and Physical Activities

• Driving: Must be physically capable of operating motor vehicles safely in the normal course of assignments
• Office equipment: Daily use of a copier, calculator, and printer
• Computer equipment: Daily use of a personal computer and Microsoft Office software
• Other equipment: 
• Physical activities: Sits for long periods of time; may walk, stand, bend, stoop, reach, climb, carry and lift for varying periods 
• Lifting: May involve lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs for short periods of time
• Vision and hearing: No special vision or hearing requirements 
• Exposure to environmental conditions: Must be able to work under high stress conditions; often involving evening and/or weekend meetings and commitments
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to individuals with disabilities for the essential functions of the job

NOTE:     This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and qualifications. Employees are accountable for all duties associated with this position.