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Assistant City Manager (Virginia)
Assistant City Manager (Virginia)
Application Deadline: Thursday, May 28, 2026 by 5:00 PM EST.
To Apply: To view the complete job information and to apply, visit our employment website listed. Applications are only accepted online through the City of Charlottesville employment page, www.charlottesville.gov/jobs, and must be submitted prior to the listed closing date and time. USE THE FOLLOWING URL TO APPLY ONLINE:
The Assistant City Manager is an executive staff management position and a member of the City Manager’s Cabinet. Assists the City Manager in a variety of assignments relating to organizational goals and objectives, strategic planning and priorities, capital improvement planning, city wide initiatives, special projects, operational efficiencies, fiscal affairs, and administrative operations. Assignments may include the oversight of specific departments and responsibility for executing certain community engagement initiatives. The Assistant responds to inquiries from the City Council and the public and oversees and participates in the planning and administration of major projects and programs.
This position works collaboratively with Deputy and Assistant City Managers, Department Directors, Assistant/Deputy Directors, and other senior leadership within the organization to support the City Manager. This is accomplished by serving as a trusted advisor and analyst to the City Manager, overseeing internal and external commitments, ensuring priorities are strategically managed and results measured, and service delivery meets and aligns with established organizational performance standards. The City Manager has direct supervision of the City's departments; however, the Assistant City Manager will have oversight of a specific portfolio of City departments and/or offices, the City's community engagement initiatives, responding to inquiries from the City Council and the public, and overseeing and participating in the planning and administration of major projects and programs.
The Assistant City Manager must demonstrate transparency, accountability, and trust-building in supporting the City Manager’s vision while ensuring staff feel equipped and empowered to deliver. The Assistant City Manager will be an openly disciplined, empathetic, strategic advocate, and empowering leader who models the organizational excellence performance standard. Reports to the City Manager.
Portfolio assignments are determined by the City Manager and may change based on organizational needs. Current areas of oversight for this Assistant City Manager position will include:
• Information Technology
• Parks and Recreation
• Public Works
• Utilities
The preferred hiring amount for this position is not to exceed $205,000.00 annually. Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. As a Department Head this position is also eligible for the following benefits:
- Vacation leave accrual rate of 4.62 hours per bi-weekly pay period, increasing with years of service
- Up to 80 hours of discretionary administrative leave per calendar year
- Choice of retirement plan:
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan (5% employee contribution)
- Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan (19.50% City contribution for executive-level positions)
- Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan
The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
- Plans, organizes, and coordinates the operational and administrative functions of key city departments and/or management support divisions, as assigned by the City Manager.
- Leads and directs department directors, facilitates a congruent administrative services team within the organization and ensures continuous improvements across organizational-wide programs and special projects by fostering psychological safety, active listening, and collaboration across portfolios, ensuring diverse perspectives are valued in decision-making.
- Manages the development, analysis, and administration of budgets for reporting departments, evaluates policies and procedures, presents recommendations for revisions to the City Manager, administers assigned projects and monitors progress.
- Coordinates staff and consultant presentations, ensuring timely preparation and delivery of agenda materials to the City Council, coordinating, and facilitating briefings to Council Committees and monitoring completions of assigned tasks with clarity about roles and responsibilities to prevent assumptions about expectations or authority.
- Participates in annual planning retreat, Councilor orientation, onboarding new employee program and office staffing.
- Recruits and manages staff leadership to execute programs, policies and systems and provides broad policy oversight of administrative support services including budgetary and human resources needs.
- Consults and collaborates with executive staff and senior departmental leadership and provides advice and counsel on complex management issues, organizational structure, feasibility and the potential impact of varying courses of action; coordinates interdepartmental program elements with City-wide goals.
- Works as a strategic partner with executive management team to assist with defining action plans and developing ideas/strategies to fill business process gaps that impact the organization's mission and strategic plan.
- Manages and monitors annual action plans of assigned department in support of Council's strategic priorities. Ensures that departmental goals are incorporated into performance objectives and provides direction and oversight for monthly progress reporting.
- In collaboration with the City Manager, provides leadership and management direction to planning and executing team building, professional development and annual retreats for executive and senior level staff while equipping staff with independence and tools to lead, not just participate.
- Represents the City Manager at various internal and external events to further the City's employee and community engagement initiatives and uses these opportunities to serve as a strategic advocate, aligning messaging with long-term community outcomes.
- Collaborates across City departments to determine quality and adherence of work, manages workflow and the exchange of information and ensures compliance with established policies and procedure.
- Reviews and analyzes major City studies and reports for impacts upon the community and organization.
- Assists in community engagement events that showcase City departments and priorities and produces and records meaningful community dialogue and conversations and ensures curiosity-driven dialogue that incorporates community voices into decision-making.
- Supports the facilitation and implementation of City Council's Strategic Plan and monitors organizational and stakeholder performance toward strategic plan goals and priorities.
- Recommends and develops policy changes to the City Manager.
- Embeds transparency and clarity in role expectations.
- Fosters active listening, curiosity, and psychological safety.
- Aligns advocacy with long-term community outcomes.
- Equips staff with independence and tools, not just oversight.
- Models feedback as growth opportunities, not as a threat.
- Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties
- May serve as Acting City Manager in their absence.
- Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.
Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
- Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in public administration, accounting, economics, business, or other related field. AND at least 4 years of experience in a director-level, or equivalent or higher-level, position.
OR
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
- Demonstrated experience as a senior member of a management team.
- Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree.
- Preference for experience with collective bargaining and finance.
- 5 or more years in a director-level or equivalent position.
The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce.
Images
Additional Info
Job Type : Full-Time
Education Level : Bachelors Degree
Experience Level : Executive
Job Function : Administrative
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Assistant City Manager (Virginia)
Application Deadline: Thursday, May 28, 2026 by 5:00 PM EST.
To Apply: To view the complete job information and to apply, visit our employment website listed. Applications are only accepted online through the City of Charlottesville employment page, www.charlottesville.gov/jobs, and must be submitted prior to the listed closing date and time. USE THE FOLLOWING URL TO APPLY ONLINE:
The Assistant City Manager is an executive staff management position and a member of the City Manager’s Cabinet. Assists the City Manager in a variety of assignments relating to organizational goals and objectives, strategic planning and priorities, capital improvement planning, city wide initiatives, special projects, operational efficiencies, fiscal affairs, and administrative operations. Assignments may include the oversight of specific departments and responsibility for executing certain community engagement initiatives. The Assistant responds to inquiries from the City Council and the public and oversees and participates in the planning and administration of major projects and programs.
This position works collaboratively with Deputy and Assistant City Managers, Department Directors, Assistant/Deputy Directors, and other senior leadership within the organization to support the City Manager. This is accomplished by serving as a trusted advisor and analyst to the City Manager, overseeing internal and external commitments, ensuring priorities are strategically managed and results measured, and service delivery meets and aligns with established organizational performance standards. The City Manager has direct supervision of the City's departments; however, the Assistant City Manager will have oversight of a specific portfolio of City departments and/or offices, the City's community engagement initiatives, responding to inquiries from the City Council and the public, and overseeing and participating in the planning and administration of major projects and programs.
The Assistant City Manager must demonstrate transparency, accountability, and trust-building in supporting the City Manager’s vision while ensuring staff feel equipped and empowered to deliver. The Assistant City Manager will be an openly disciplined, empathetic, strategic advocate, and empowering leader who models the organizational excellence performance standard. Reports to the City Manager.
Portfolio assignments are determined by the City Manager and may change based on organizational needs. Current areas of oversight for this Assistant City Manager position will include:
• Information Technology
• Parks and Recreation
• Public Works
• Utilities
The preferred hiring amount for this position is not to exceed $205,000.00 annually. Starting offer is based on applicable education, experience, and internal equity. This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package, including 13 paid holidays plus one floating holiday, vacation and sick leave, health insurance with employer contribution, employer-paid life insurance, gym membership reimbursement, tuition assistance, and professional development opportunities. As a Department Head this position is also eligible for the following benefits:
- Vacation leave accrual rate of 4.62 hours per bi-weekly pay period, increasing with years of service
- Up to 80 hours of discretionary administrative leave per calendar year
- Choice of retirement plan:
- Defined Benefit Pension Plan (5% employee contribution)
- Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan (19.50% City contribution for executive-level positions)
- Voluntary 457 Deferred Compensation Plan
- Eligibility to purchase prior service credit under the Defined Benefit Plan
The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in VRS; however, a Portability Agreement is available for eligible employees. For additional details, please visit the City’s Employee Benefits webpage.
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations will be considered to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The essential functions of the job are not limited to those listed in the job description. The City retains the discretion to add to or change the duties of the position at any time.
- Plans, organizes, and coordinates the operational and administrative functions of key city departments and/or management support divisions, as assigned by the City Manager.
- Leads and directs department directors, facilitates a congruent administrative services team within the organization and ensures continuous improvements across organizational-wide programs and special projects by fostering psychological safety, active listening, and collaboration across portfolios, ensuring diverse perspectives are valued in decision-making.
- Manages the development, analysis, and administration of budgets for reporting departments, evaluates policies and procedures, presents recommendations for revisions to the City Manager, administers assigned projects and monitors progress.
- Coordinates staff and consultant presentations, ensuring timely preparation and delivery of agenda materials to the City Council, coordinating, and facilitating briefings to Council Committees and monitoring completions of assigned tasks with clarity about roles and responsibilities to prevent assumptions about expectations or authority.
- Participates in annual planning retreat, Councilor orientation, onboarding new employee program and office staffing.
- Recruits and manages staff leadership to execute programs, policies and systems and provides broad policy oversight of administrative support services including budgetary and human resources needs.
- Consults and collaborates with executive staff and senior departmental leadership and provides advice and counsel on complex management issues, organizational structure, feasibility and the potential impact of varying courses of action; coordinates interdepartmental program elements with City-wide goals.
- Works as a strategic partner with executive management team to assist with defining action plans and developing ideas/strategies to fill business process gaps that impact the organization's mission and strategic plan.
- Manages and monitors annual action plans of assigned department in support of Council's strategic priorities. Ensures that departmental goals are incorporated into performance objectives and provides direction and oversight for monthly progress reporting.
- In collaboration with the City Manager, provides leadership and management direction to planning and executing team building, professional development and annual retreats for executive and senior level staff while equipping staff with independence and tools to lead, not just participate.
- Represents the City Manager at various internal and external events to further the City's employee and community engagement initiatives and uses these opportunities to serve as a strategic advocate, aligning messaging with long-term community outcomes.
- Collaborates across City departments to determine quality and adherence of work, manages workflow and the exchange of information and ensures compliance with established policies and procedure.
- Reviews and analyzes major City studies and reports for impacts upon the community and organization.
- Assists in community engagement events that showcase City departments and priorities and produces and records meaningful community dialogue and conversations and ensures curiosity-driven dialogue that incorporates community voices into decision-making.
- Supports the facilitation and implementation of City Council's Strategic Plan and monitors organizational and stakeholder performance toward strategic plan goals and priorities.
- Recommends and develops policy changes to the City Manager.
- Embeds transparency and clarity in role expectations.
- Fosters active listening, curiosity, and psychological safety.
- Aligns advocacy with long-term community outcomes.
- Equips staff with independence and tools, not just oversight.
- Models feedback as growth opportunities, not as a threat.
- Responsible for appropriate use and maintenance of City equipment, tools and other resources, including work time.
- Regular and reliable attendance.
Other Duties
- May serve as Acting City Manager in their absence.
- Performs additional duties to support operational requirements as apparent or assigned.
Education and Experience: Candidates may qualify by demonstrating the required knowledge and skills outlined for the job through experience(s) other than formal education.
- Any combination of education and experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in public administration, accounting, economics, business, or other related field. AND at least 4 years of experience in a director-level, or equivalent or higher-level, position.
OR
- An equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered in lieu of the specific requirements listed above.
Certifications/Licenses/Other Requirements:
- Demonstrated experience as a senior member of a management team.
- Required to successfully pass a pre-employment background check and pre-employment drug screen.
Preferred:
- Master’s degree.
- Preference for experience with collective bargaining and finance.
- 5 or more years in a director-level or equivalent position.
The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity at all levels of its workforce.
Images
Additional Info
Job Type : Full-Time
Education Level : Bachelors Degree
Experience Level : Executive
Job Function : Administrative