Assistant to the City Manager

Assistant to the City Manager Job Description

City of Sonoma
Updated:

Under direction of the City Manager, performs a wide variety of highly responsible,
complex, and diverse advanced level professional duties involved in providing
administrative, analytical, and technical support to the City Manager’s Office; plans,
coordinates, and participates in various program and administrative operations and
activities including those having a City-wide impact; serves as liaison between the City
Manager’s Office and the general public, City staff, appointed boards and committees,
community organizations, and other governmental agencies seeking interaction with the
City Manager and/or City Council; coordinates assigned activities with City departments,
outside agencies, and the general public; and provides information and assistance to
internal and external customers regarding assigned programs and services

The Assistant to the City Manager is distinguished from other City job classifications in
that incumbents work as a member of the City Manager’s Staff, performing complex and
sensitive administrative (and confidential) work on programs with citywide implications.
Incumbents assigned to a particular program area have considerable latitude for program
administration, icy and procedure development, and exercise independent judgment,
particularly when representing the City with other agencies, boards and commissions,
and community groups. Persons appointed to the Assistant to the City Manager
classification are At-Will positions that are exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair
Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are Designated Management positions.

Receives direction from the City Manager.

May exercise technical and functional supervision over assigned staff.

Essential Functions (included but not limited to the following):

• Conducts complex and sensitive administrative, operational, and management
  analyses, studies, and research projects including those involving City-wide
  issues, programs, policies, and procedures; selects, adapts, and applies
  appropriate research and statistical techniques; gathers and analyzes data and
  information from various sources on a variety of specialized topics.
• Coordinates assigned services and program/project activities with those of other
  City programs, functions, departments and staff, boards, committees, and task
  forces as well as external agencies, groups, and the general public to ensure
  effective cooperation consistent with optimal efficiency, effectiveness, and
  economy; assists in the installation of new programs and procedures; develops
  new and revised programs, systems, procedures, and methods of operation and
  advises and recommends change and improvements.
• Performs a wide variety of complex and responsible administrative and
  professional duties for the City Manager and City Council; relieves assigned staff
  and elected officials of administrative work including investigating and answering
  complaints and providing assistance in resolving operational and administrative
  problems.
• Manages operations, activities, and performance of the full range of duties and
  responsibilities of the City’s housing programs.
• Coordinates and oversees City efforts with housing development companies to
  implement affordable housing projects.
• Coordinate and assist with grant writing to fund City projects and programs.
• Assist with human resource functions; including recruitment activities and
  assistance to finance and human resources for negotiations.
• Serves as staff liaison, participates on, and provides staff support to a variety of
  committees; completes specific objects; prepares and presents staff reports and
  other correspondence as appropriate and necessary.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive complaints and inquiries with
  political sensitivity; provides general and specialized information and assistance
  within area of assignment that may require the use of judgment, tact, and
  sensitivity and the interpretation of policies, rules, and procedures as appropriate;
  explains programs, policies, and activities related to specific program area of
  assignment; prepares responses, writes reports, makes recommendations and
  reviews with City Manager as appropriate; refers matters to appropriate City staff
  and/or takes or recommends action to resolve the request or complaint.
• Participates in special projects including planning and implementation of special
  programs and events and complex research of new programs and services.
• Participates in the development and implementation of goals, objectives, and
  priorities for assigned functions and programs; recommends and implements
  resulting policies and procedures.
• Participates in the development and administration of the department budget;
  submits budget recommendations; monitors expenditures.
• Ensures that assigned program activities and services comply with relevant
  federal, state, and local laws, policies, and…