Kristen Kollgaard, Interim Town Manager

Local government managers are similar to corporation presidents or other chief executives in that they are responsible for the overall performance of their organizations.  As the top administrator, the manager organizes and directs a team of department heads, supervisors, technicians and support staff to implement programs and deliver public services.  Many managers, particularly those in larger communities, have assistants who take on substantial administrative responsibilities.

The primary responsibility of the local government manager is to implement the policies of the elected officials for whom they work.  In council-manager government, the manager assumes responsibility for preparing the annual budget, hiring and firing personnel, and directing day-to-day operations.  In addition to supervising the local government's daily operations, managers work with elected officials and citizens to plan for the future of the community-to define and carry out the vision of the community by setting goals and establishing strategies for reaching these goals. Managers meet regularly with legislators and citizens to discuss current problems and future initiatives.

Local government managers must identify, understand and address specific problems that face their communities.  They must be prepared to deal with federal and state mandates, population and population and demographic shifts, and other changes that affect public service demands.  For the community to remain economically competitive, the manager may need to find ways to encourage business investment and economic development in the jurisdiction.

Specific duties of local government managers depend on the population of the community, the number of departments and employees, and the size of the manager's staff, as well as the goals that are set by the council.  In small jurisdictions, managers may do most or all of the tasks described next; in larger jurisdictions, assistant managers and staff perform many of the duties under the manager's supervision.

General duties of local government managers include Budgeting, Team Leadership, Delegating, Financial Analysis, Empowerment, Strategic Planning, Functional/Operational Area of Expertise, Citizen Service, Vision, Facilitative Leadership, Interpersonal Communication, Initiative and Risk Taking, Diversity, Presentation Skills, Mediation/Negotiation, Democratic Advocacy, Creativity and Innovation, Media Relations, Operational Planning, Citizen Participation, Coaching/Mentoring, Professional and Organizational Integrity, Advocacy, Human Resources Management, and Technological Literacy.

Typical responsibilities of administrators in council-manager communities include but are not limited to: 1. Meeting with the elected council to determine the policies that have been set by the council and to inform council members and citizens about the operations of the local government.  The manager may discuss problems and recommendations, propose new building or traffic plans, or discuss issues that affect the community and its citizens. 2. Hiring department heads, administrative personnel, and other employees, and supervising top appointees. 3. Preparing the annual budget, submitting it to elected officials for approval and implementing it once approved. 4. Soliciting bids from government contractors and selecting or recommending the appropriate individual (s) or organization (s) to do the work.  5. Ensuring that laws and policies approved by elected officials are enforced equally throughout the city.  6. Investigating citizen complaints and problems in  the administrative organization and making recommendations for changes to elected officials.  7. Managing the daily operations of the city or county by completing administrative reports, corresponding by mail and telephone, and performing many other duties needed to meet community needs.

Copied with permission of the International City/County Management Association, Washington, D.C. Please visit www.icma.org for more information.