Summary
Description
At the City, we are focused on finding the strongest candidate for the role, and we recognize that excellence can come from a wide variety of experiences and paths. When reviewing applications, we consider an equivalent combination of knowledge, skills, education, and lived experiences that align with the minimum qualifications. If you are interested in this opportunity, we encourage you to view your background broadly and highlight the skills and experiences that best prepare you for the role.The City of Fort Collins is a bias-conscious employer. We ask that you please avoid the use of photos when submitting a resume and/or an application for employment. You will receive an email acknowledgment when you have successfully submitted an application. Your completed application will be forwarded to the hiring manager. You will be notified if you are selected for further testing or interviews. Please keep your contact information up-to-date. The status of your application will be updated in your applicant profile.
Post-Offer Requirements
– Background check (Background checks are considered in relation to the responsibilities and requirements of the position)
While the City of Fort Collins offers many remote and/or hybrid positions, all remote or hybrid work must be performed in the state of Colorado.
Why Work For the City of Fort Collins?
- Medical, dental, vision (for self, spouse, domestic partner, children) – eligible on the 1st of the month following date of hire
- Paid vacation, paid holidays, sick leave, and additional one-time bank of 40 PTO hours for new, full-time, Classified and Unclassified Management hires
- Retirement + company contributions – after 6 month probation period and immediate vesting
- Flexible spending: Medical expenses FSA, dependent FSA or both
- Employee Assistance Program: counseling, legal, financial assistance
- Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability
- Wellness program, workout facilities
- Employee/family onsite health clinic
- Learning and development opportunities at all levels in the organization with opportunities for career mobility
- Collaborative work environment
To learn more about The City of Fort Collins and Our Community, please read Our Community and Our Organization Brochure
Job Summary
Provides enterprise-wide leadership for strategic planning, long-range financial planning, and development of the City's integrated Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Serves as a strategic advisor to the Chief Financial Officer, ensuring alignment between City Council priorities, organizational objectives, financial resources, and capital investments. Leads complex, cross-functional initiatives that support organizational effectiveness, long-term financial sustainability, and community outcomes. Responsible for translating strategic priorities into actionable financial plans, capital investment strategies, performance measures, and resource allocation decisions. Provides leadership for highly visible special projects and organizational initiatives requiring significant coordination across departments, executive leadership, external stakeholders, and elected officials.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
The following duties and responsibilities are illustrative of the primary functions of this position and are not intended to be all inclusive.
- Serves as a strategic advisor to the Chief Financial Officer, helping establish organizational priorities, evaluate alternatives, and advance strategic initiatives.
- Leads development and maintenance of long-range financial plans and forecasts, integrating operating, capital, debt, reserve, and revenue considerations to support sustainable decision-making.
- Coordinates and facilitates the development and ongoing management of the City's integrated CIP, ensuring alignment between departmental needs, financial capacity, and asset management objectives.
- Facilitates collaboration among departments to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and sequence capital investments based on organizational priorities, fiscal constraints, service delivery objectives, and community outcomes.
- Develops analytical tools and performance measures that support organizational planning, financial decision-making, and accountability for strategic outcomes.
- Evaluates the long-term financial and operational impacts of strategic initiatives, policy decisions, service delivery changes, and capital investments, providing actionable recommendations to executive leadership.
- Develops and presents complex financial, strategic, and operational analyses to Executive Leadership, Boards and Commissions, and City Council, translating technical information into clear and compelling recommendations.
- Leads highly complex, enterprise-wide special projects and strategic initiatives on behalf of executive leadership, developing governance structures, implementation strategies, communication plans, and recommendations while coordinating across departments, stakeholders, and elected officials.
- Partners with departmental leadership to evaluate risks, identify opportunities, and develop strategies that improve organizational performance and long-term sustainability.
- Monitors emerging trends, industry best practices, regulatory requirements, and innovative approaches related to strategic planning, municipal finance, capital planning, and organizational effectiveness.
Management Responsibilities
Yes
City Competencies
- Demonstrated cultural competence to effectively interact, work, and develop meaningful relationships with people of diverse identities, perspectives, and cultural backgrounds.
- Strong learning orientation. Leverages all resources and is creative in ways of learning for self to continue adapting to changing issues and trends.
- A desire and ability to understand the diverse needs of internal and external customers, and to create experiences and deliver services that exceed their expectations.
- A desire and ability to utilize digital tools for organizational information, individual, and teamwork.
Required Knowledge Skills and Abilities
- Municipal budgeting, capital planning, long-range financial planning, and public sector finance principles and practices.
- Strategic planning, organizational performance management, and project prioritization methodologies.
- Financial analysis, forecasting, financial modeling, and business case development.
- Project leadership and organizational skills to manage complex initiatives, competing priorities, and multiple workstreams while maintaining progress toward strategic objectives.
- Written and verbal communication skills, including the development of executive-level presentations, recommendations, and supporting materials.
- Communication of complex financial, technical, and strategic concepts in a manner that is clear and meaningful to diverse audiences, including executive leadership, elected officials, and community stakeholders.
- Influence and consensus-building skills that advance initiatives and achieve results across functions and stakeholder groups, including situations without direct reporting authority.
- Facilitation and stakeholder engagement techniques that support effective decision-making, collaboration, and problem-solving.
- Proficiency with business technologies and enterprise applications used for financial management, budgeting, planning, reporting, and analysis.
Required Qualifications
MinimumPreferredAssociates / Bachelor's degree or other specialized skill training / certification may be required in some positionsBachelor's degree in Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, Economics, Accounting, Planning, or a related field from an accredited college or university.Associates / Bachelor's degree or other specialized skill training / certification may be required in some positionsMaster's degree in Public Administration (MPA), Business Administration (MBA), Finance, Planning, or related field preferred.
Experience Requirements
- Five years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government involving strategic planning, capital planning, long-range financial planning, budgeting, organizational performance management, or related functions, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
The content in this posting was created for recruitment purposes. To view the full job description click the link below.
Manager, Strategic Initiatives
The City of Fort Collins will make reasonable accommodations for access to City services, programs and activities and will make special communication arrangements for persons with disabilities. Please call (970) 221-6535 for assistance.
Notice Regarding Medical and/or Recreational Marijuana Use
Because the possession and use of marijuana, whether for medical use or otherwise, constitutes a federal offense and because the City is a drug free workplace, the City will not accommodate the medical use of marijuana and enforces written policy prohibiting working for the City while marijuana is in the body. The fact that state law recognizes medical marijuana as a prescribed, or otherwise permitted, medication does not alter or otherwise change this policy.
The City is committed to equal employment opportunity for all applicants and employees. Employment decisions will comply with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination in employment. The City does not tolerate behavior that results in the terms and conditions of employment being adversely impacted based on an employee’s protected status, or any behavior that violates this policy.
Consistent with the City’s respect for the rights and dignity of each employee, the City is committed to providing a work environment that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment. The City prohibits discrimination or harassment based on protected characteristics, including race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation (including perceived sexual orientation), gender, gender identity, gender expression, disability, age 40 years or older, pregnancy or related condition, military, veteran status or uniformed service member status, genetic information, marital status or any other status protected under federal, state or local law.
The City is committed to providing a healthy and safe work environment. In addition to the City’s commitment to equal opportunity employment, the City strictly prohibits discrimination or retaliation against an employee who raises any reasonable concern about workplace violations of government health or safety rules or a significant threat to the health or safety of City employees or the public, if the City controls the workplace conditions giving rise to the threat or violation.
Note: Some information in your application may be public information under the Colorado Open Records Act.
