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What does a city manager do?

Updated January 8, 2025
7 min read

A city manager is responsible for monitoring city operations and manage staff to advise programs and initiatives for the benefits of the citizens. City managers oversee community projects and allocate adequate resources to support functions and societal activities. They also serve as a liaison to clear political disputes and officer conflicts. A city manager attends community events and meetings to represent the city, provide progress updates, and coordinate with other local organizations for sponsorship and funding events.

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City manager responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real city manager resumes:

  • Manage debt issuance, debt service, redemptions and tax arbitrage calculations.
  • Interpret and apply GAAP and GASB and other applicable accounting guidelines.
  • Provide assistance in oversight and management of all city operations.
  • Deploy code enforcement oversight to counter deteriorating private properties as well as public infrastructure.
  • Complete major renovations and improvements to the city water plant and negotiate and purchase a new city police station building.
  • Save utility system from financial collapse while completing city wide meter installations with new water rate and tap fee schedules.
  • Facilitate staff payroll and incentives.
  • Oversee administrative and operations of borough.
  • Implement voluntary re-cycling program for borough.
  • Administrate and secure lease-purchase financing for sanitary sewer improvements project.
  • Guide organization to outsourcing of various functions including payroll saving an estimate 1MM.
  • Enforce safety and security measures and protect sensitive zones by working closely with the FAA and TSA.
  • Serve as city's TIF administrator.
  • Create city's first tax increment financing (TIF) district.
  • Handle basic accounting functions: A/P, A/R, and billing.

City manager skills and personality traits

We calculated that 9% of City Managers are proficient in Human Resources, Economic Development, and Oversight. They’re also known for soft skills such as Leadership skills, Management skills, and Problem-solving skills.

We break down the percentage of City Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • Human Resources, 9%

    Systematized processes in planning, finance, human resources and administration to eliminate unaccountable bureaucracy.

  • Economic Development, 8%

    Developed and implemented public policy, led economic development, and instated retention incentives for industrial parks and local businesses.

  • Oversight, 7%

    Provided administrative oversight of the Finance, Information Technology and Public Services departments.

  • Customer Service, 6%

    Supervised a staff of four distribution drivers - sales/marketing team consisting of 35 customer service representatives.

  • Public Works, 6%

    Facilitated the consolidation of Public Works and Environmental Management addressing weed abatement issues.

  • Payroll, 6%

    Guided organization to outsourcing of various functions including payroll saving an estimated 1MM.

Most city managers use their skills in "human resources," "economic development," and "oversight" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential city manager responsibilities here:

Leadership skills. The most essential soft skill for a city manager to carry out their responsibilities is leadership skills. This skill is important for the role because "top executives must be able to shape and direct an organization by coordinating policies, people, and resources." Additionally, a city manager resume shows how their duties depend on leadership skills: "provided oversight and leadership for the largest bond issuance (general government) in city's history. "

Problem-solving skills. This is an important skill for city managers to perform their duties. For an example of how city manager responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "top executives need to identify and resolve issues within an organization." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a city manager: "responded to and effectively resolve customer complaints to optimize business satisfaction rates; present customized solutions. ".

Time-management skills. For certain city manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "time-management skills." The day-to-day duties of a city manager rely on this skill, as "top executives do many tasks concurrently to ensure that their work gets done and that the organization meets its goals." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what city managers do: "refinanced a tax increment finance district debt and placed on a sustainable path to retirement on time. "

Communication skills. Another crucial skill for a city manager to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what city managers relies on this skill, since "top executives must be able to convey information clearly and persuasively." How this skill relates to city manager duties can be seen in an example from a city manager resume snippet: "redesigned human resources processes, communications, training, and employee relations units. "

All city manager skills

The three companies that hire the most city managers are:

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Compare different city managers

City manager vs. Vice president

Vice presidents are usually considered the second-in-command in the organization, depending on the organization structure. They take over when the president is unavailable to fulfill duties. They may also represent the organization in external events and other official functions. They are important members of the boardroom, and their opinions are usually sought after as well. Vice presidents are usually poised to follow the president's footsteps in the organization, especially if the president is nearing retirement. They also make urgent and crucial decisions when the president is not available to do so. Vice presidents must have strong business acumen, decision-making skills, and professionalism.

If we compare the average city manager annual salary with that of a vice president, we find that vice presidents typically earn a $82,449 higher salary than city managers make annually.While the two careers have a salary gap, they share some of the same responsibilities. Employees in both city manager and vice president positions are skilled in human resources, oversight, and customer service.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a city manager are more likely to require skills like "economic development," "public works," "public safety," and "municipal government." On the other hand, a job as a vice president requires skills like "healthcare," "project management," "risk management," and "financial statements." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

Vice presidents earn the highest salaries when working in the manufacturing industry, with an average yearly salary of $159,773. On the other hand, city managers are paid more in the start-up industry with an average salary of $66,720.vice presidents tend to reach similar levels of education than city managers. In fact, vice presidents are 1.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.

City manager vs. President

Presidents are usually the highest-level executives in an organization. They oversee the whole company. They identify clear goals and provide strategic direction as the company works towards the achievement of their overall vision. Presidents are the decision-makers in the company. They make crucial decisions to ensure that the company continues to grow and survives challenges that come their way. They are expected to consider all stakeholders, from the board of directors and employees to the customers in their decision-making process. Presidents also represent the company in external functions, especially during high-level events. As such, they are expected to be professional, well-mannered, and good communicators.

A career as a president brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a city manager. In fact, presidents salary is $116,141 higher than the salary of city managers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both city managers and presidents have skills such as "human resources," "payroll," and "direct reports. "

In addition to the difference in salary, there are some other key differences worth noting. For example, city manager responsibilities are more likely to require skills like "economic development," "oversight," "customer service," and "public works." Meanwhile, a president has duties that require skills in areas such as "financial statements," "product development," "r," and "real estate." These differences highlight just how different the day-to-day in each role looks.

Average education levels between the two professions vary. Presidents tend to reach similar levels of education than city managers. In fact, they're 4.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

City manager vs. Executive director

Executive directors are top management employees who usually function as a chief executive officer. This role is usually seen in non-profit organizations. Executive directors provide strategic direction to the organization, and they ensure that the organization's goals are actualized. They provide guidance to the employees and ensure that the employees have the organization's advocacies at the center of every project or program. They oversee the policies of the organization and create strategies that will bring the organization's programs forward. Executive directors are also responsible for making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization.

On average, executive directors earn higher salaries than city managers, with a $51,768 difference per year.city managers and executive directors both have job responsibilities that require similar skill sets. These similarities include skills such as "human resources," "economic development," and "oversight," but they differ when it comes to other required skills.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a city manager is likely to be skilled in "public works," "public safety," "municipal government," and "c++," while a typical executive director is skilled in "patients," "financial management," "home health," and "state regulations."

Executive directors earn the highest salary when working in the finance industry, where they receive an average salary of $153,889. Comparatively, city managers have the highest earning potential in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $66,720.When it comes to education, executive directors tend to earn higher degree levels compared to city managers. In fact, they're 5.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 2.4% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

City manager vs. Chief of staff

A chief of staff primarily supports an executive through performing various administrative tasks. Most of their responsibilities revolve around collaborating with other executive support personnel to devise strategies that will help the company, responding to inquiries and correspondence, approving communications letters, managing schedules, setting appointments, and serving as an advisor to the executive. Furthermore, when it comes to issues and disputes, the chief of staff must be quick to conduct research and perform damage control to help the executive and the company rise from the occasion.

Chiefs of staff average a higher salary than the annual salary of city managers. The difference is about $54,647 per year.While their salaries may vary, city managers and chiefs of staff both use similar skills to perform their duties. Resumes from both professions include skills like "human resources," "economic development," and "oversight. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "customer service," "public works," "payroll," and "public safety" are skills that commonly show up on city manager resumes. On the other hand, chiefs of staff use skills like pet, team support, good judgment, and project management on their resumes.chiefs of staff enjoy the best pay in the start-up industry, with an average salary of $135,040. For comparison, city managers earn the highest salary in the start-up industry.The average resume of chiefs of staff showed that they earn similar levels of education compared to city managers. So much so that theyacirc;euro;trade;re 3.6% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree by 4.7%.

Types of city manager

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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