City Manager job description.
A city manager serves as the chief administrative officer of a municipal government, implementing policies set by the city council and overseeing day-to-day operations across departments. They manage budgets, personnel, and public services while advising elected officials on operational and policy matters.
The City Manager job description · $29
The full editable .docx — role summary, 8 worked responsibilities, qualifications, and skills, formatted for your letterhead. Delivered to your inbox within 24 hours — usually instantly.
Role: City Manager Reports to: City Council or Mayor
A city manager serves as the chief administrative officer of a municipal government, implementing policies set by the city council and overseeing day-to-day operations across departments. They manage budgets, personnel, and public services while advising elected officials on operational and policy matters.
- Implement policies and directives approved by the city council or governing board
- Oversee daily operations of municipal departments, including public works and public safety
- Prepare and manage the annual municipal budget and capital improvement plans
What's inside the document.
One-paragraph plain-English explanation of the role's outcome and scope.
8 responsibilities phrased the way the work is actually done.
4 qualifications a candidate must have to perform on day 30.
3 qualifications that would make a candidate excellent in year two.
5 skill chips you can copy directly into your ATS.
City Council or Mayor
A complete document set.
- Word document (.docx) — fully editable
- PDF — signature-ready
- Google Docs — one-click copy to your Drive
- 12 months of updates to this document
- Commercial-use licence for internal and client work
The work, not the title.
- Implement policies and directives approved by the city council or governing board
- Oversee daily operations of municipal departments, including public works and public safety
- Prepare and manage the annual municipal budget and capital improvement plans
- Hire, supervise, and evaluate department heads and senior staff
- Advise the council on operational, financial, and policy matters
- Represent the city in dealings with residents, businesses, and other government agencies
- Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations
- Respond to community concerns and emergency situations affecting city operations
Required — and what would make a candidate excellent.
- Bachelor's degree in public administration, business administration, or related field
- 5+ years of progressive experience in municipal or public sector management
- Strong understanding of municipal budgeting and government operations
- Excellent communication skills for working with elected officials and the public
- Master's degree in public administration (MPA) or related field
- ICMA Credentialed Manager designation
- Prior experience as an assistant city manager or department director
Eight steps from download to publish.
- 01Open the City Manager job description in Word or your one-click Google Docs copy.
- 02Replace placeholders for company name, reporting line, and location with your specifics.
- 03Tighten the summary to one paragraph that names the team's outcome, not just the role.
- 04Edit the responsibilities to match the actual scope of the seat — aim for 6 to 8 items, not 12.
- 05Separate required qualifications from preferred. Required is what a candidate must have to do the work on day 30; preferred is what would make them excellent in year two.
- 06Add salary range guidance using BLS, Payscale, or your own band data — do not copy generic figures.
- 07Have the hiring manager and one peer read it. Cut anything that wouldn't survive a candidate question.
- 08Publish to your ATS, intranet, and external careers page.
The right document at the right moment.
Use this City Manager job description any time you are opening or reopening a seat at this level. The executive band sets the calibration — copy the document, tighten it to your specific scope, and circulate to the hiring panel before the first interview.
The reporting line (City Council or Mayor) and skills list are starting points. Override either if your org structure or stack differs from the norm — the template is a draft, not a contract.
Honest answers before you download.
- How does a city manager differ from a mayor?
- A mayor is typically an elected political leader who sets policy direction, while a city manager is an appointed professional administrator who runs day-to-day operations and implements council decisions.
- What background is typical for a city manager hire?
- Most candidates come from public administration or municipal government backgrounds, often having worked their way up through department leadership or assistant city manager roles.
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This City Manager job description is a professionally drafted starting point for your hiring process and is not legal advice. Hiring practice varies by jurisdiction (e.g. pay-transparency laws differ across US states and AU jurisdictions). Adapt this document for your specific location and have employment counsel review any clauses you add before publishing. Salary varies by region, employer type, and experience. Reference BLS or current industry surveys for ranges. Full disclaimer.