Deputy City Manager

Please review our brochure for more information about the City.

Under a City Manager form of government, assists the City Manager in day-to-day City operations and in implementing City Council goals, objectives, policies and directives. The incumbent serves as an integral member of the executive leadership team, helping to ensure that leadership and strategic efforts are aligned and integrated throughout the organization in support of the City Council/City Manager's goals and objectives.  The Deputy City Manager serves as the #3 in authority in the organization, acts as a chief advisor to the City Manager and as a liaison between the City Manager and the following City departments: Water, Public Works, Operations and Engineering Services, and the Parks and Recreation department.

This list may not include all tasks and/or knowledge which may be expected of the employee, nor does it cover all specific duties which may be required. Other duties may be assigned.

• Provides oversight, plans, directs and coordinates the overall activities of City Departments and projects and acts in the capacity of the City Manager in his/her absence. 
• Assists the City Manager in day-to-day City operations and in implementing City Council strategic goals, objectives, policies and directives.
• Works with a wide variety of stakeholders in anticipating changes occurring in the City and the region, and based on those changes, makes recommendations for goals, actions and policies to benefit the City of Bloomington. 
• Develops standards and reviews the performance of departments, analyzes the City’s overall performance and departmental organization and makes recommendations to improve performance as required.  
• Provides assistance in planning and developing the City’s annual budget.  Reviews budget proposals from departments to ensure that budget requests comply with approved parameters and procedures and are aligned with the City’s strategic direction.
• Meets regularly with the City Manager to discuss issues and objectives, to determine strategies and approaches, and to notify and brief the City Manager of current activities and challenges, unusual requests and complaints.  Compiles detailed narrative/statistical reports of matters requiring City Manager's review and approval.
• Serves as liaison to elected officials, other governmental agencies, businesses, neighborhoods, and community groups on behalf of the City Manager.
• Receives, investigates and resolves citizen and employee concerns.
• Reviews proposed programs submitted by department directors to determine need, cost and feasibility.
• Prepares reports on proposed programs, including recommendations for review by the City Manager.
• Attends City Council meetings to provide information regarding proposed programs and as an informational resource. Makes presentations on a variety of municipal subjects to the City Council, and to other boards and commissions as required. 
• Provides leadership in the professional development of staff; works to retain highly competent public service-oriented staff through selection, mentoring, training and day -to-day management practices that support the City’s mission and values.
• Handles special projects assignments by the City Manager.

General Skill Levels
 
Knowledge of:

• Municipal government structure, management and operations.
• Strategic leadership planning and practices.
• Public entity finance and accounting approaches, methods and practices.
• Collective bargaining agreements and managing a highly unionized workforce.
• Governmental regulations, laws and ordinances pertinent to Illinois municipal government.

 
Skill in: 

• Working collaboratively with elected officials, across departments and with external stakeholders.
• Providing strong, open, professional administrative leadership. 
• Communicating clearly, effectively and professionally both orally and in writing. 
• Organizing work, setting priorities, meeting critical deadlines and following up on assignments with minimum direction.
• Relating to others in a highly professional manner. Use tact, discretion, initiative and independent judgment.

 
Ability to:

• Be proactive, flexible, and responsive to the needs of City departments and the entire Bloomington community. 
• Develop consensus among various individuals and groups; provide leadership focused on team and community building.
• Exercise independent judgment consistent with applicable laws, City ordinances and administrative policies. 
• Share responsibility with others and delegate responsibilities as appropriate.
• Coach and mentor direct reports to develop their supervisory and technical skills.  
• Direct, appraise and discipline staff in a respectful and constructive manner.
• Read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures and governmental regulations.  
• Write reports and prepare other communication for City Council, internal staff and the public.  
• Effectively present information and respond to questions from the general public, elected officials and other City staff.  
• Apply mathematical and basic statistical concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to general management issues.  
• Define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• Use telephone/mobile phone, word processing, spreadsheet, Internet, and e-mail software.    
• Travel throughout the City to its offices and work sites.  Travel for meetings and conferences throughout the region, state and occasionally outside Illinois.

Education/Experience:

• This position requires a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration or a closely related field. A master’s degree in public administration or business management is preferred; however completion of some graduate level coursework with the intention of completion would be acceptable at the time of hire. ICMA City Manager credentialing preferred.
• Competitive candidates should have a minimum of seven years of senior public sector management experience in a city, county or other applicable public sector agency of similar or greater complexity and size. 
• Past experience should demonstrate a high level of successful performance in areas that include development and implementation of strategic plans and communication at all levels of government. 
• Previous experience as a City Manager, Deputy City Manager or Assistant City Manager highly desired.  Any combination of experience and education which provides the applicant with the level of required knowledge and abilities may be considered.
  

Certificates and Licenses: 

• Preferred: ICMA Credentialed Manager or working towards credentialing.

Physical Requirements/Working Conditions: Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

• Work is performed in an office environment. Work requires travel throughout the City to its various locations and work sites which may be outdoors and could involve traversing unfinished surfaces and experiencing extreme weather conditions (rarely). Work regularly includes attending meetings outside of normal work hours. There are no extraordinary physical demands on this position.

Residency: As the #2 of a large organization, it is the preference of the City Manager that the Deputy City Manager reside in the City of Bloomington within a year of starting the position.