The assistant city manager is an appointed administrator who assists the city manager with any and all responsibilities delegated to him or her the mayor or city council. As a result, the assistant to the city manager is given specific ongoing responsibilities, as well as the opportunity to assist with short-term projects approved the mayor or council. Many city charters and bylaws empower the assistant city manager to assume all of the city manager’s responsibilities in the event that the manager becomes incapacitated or leaves office for any reason.
Assistant city managers are part of the team responsible for ensuring that the city runs smoothly. The assistant city manager may participate in the preparation of citywide budgets and handle the hiring and firing of various administrative personnel, depending on the decisions of the officials elected to govern the jurisdiction. The assistant manager may also serve as a liaison between the departments and their respective heads, such as the police, fire, and sanitation departments.
An assistant city manager is not uncommon to represent the local civil government at various gatherings throughout the city. The assistant manager may be called upon to act in an official capacity on occasion, such as making announcements to the local press and the general public. As the official spokesperson for the local government, the assistant may also attend meetings of the local Chamber of Commerce or a labor union.
In many municipalities, being directly involved in any type of labor relations, including disputes with local unions, is a part of the assistant city manager’s job. As a result, the majority of assistant managers in this position are well-versed in contract negotiations and strategies. The goal is typically to reach a compromise that both the union and the city council can accept and support.
At community events, an assistant city manager may also represent the city council and the mayor. These include public gatherings such as parades, grand openings of new businesses, and any other type of public relations event where the city government is deemed appropriate to be represented. In this light, the assistant city manager’s role is not only that of an administrator, but also that of a direct link between the city’s government and its citizens.
The amount of discretion and authority given to an assistant city manager will differ depending on the circumstances. In general, the assistant has only the authority that the city manager has delegated to him or her. In turn, the city manager can only delegate so much authority to the assistant based on the mayor’s and/or city council’s directives.