Assistant to the City Manager

$95,451 to $116,022 Annually with a 5% COLA on 7/1/25

This is a one-year, limited-term benefited position.  This role is an in-person position in Morro Bay, California.

The City of Morro Bay is seeking an Assistant to the City Manager. This new role is an exciting career opportunity to assist and support the City Manager in enhancing City-wide communication strategies, planning, and reviewing the activities and operations of the City of Morro Bay! The ideal candidate will have expertise in establishing and maintaining highly effective working relationships with elected officials, City departments, business and community leaders, and the public. The position requires the ability to perform complex professional work on various communication projects and other management and municipal managerial functions. A candidate with prior governmental experience, including understanding the methods, techniques, and procedures of a City Council or other political subdivisions, is highly desirable. This role acts as a team leader and/or City Manager’s designee for various inter-division teams and community advisory groups. If you’re ready to take on this exciting career opportunity, then we encourage you to apply!

DEFINITION

Reporting directly to the City Manager, the Assistant to the City Manager at Morro Bay engages in diverse responsibilities within the City Manager’s office. This role will initially focus on enhancing community public outreach and communication efforts. It involves strategic analysis, research, effective communication, project oversight, and emphasizing collaboration within departments and within the community. The ideal candidate demonstrates excellent teamwork qualities alongside exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, has a strong background in social media and analytics, and can strategically and thoughtfully navigate crisis communications. This is an exempt full-time position and within the unrepresented management classification. The position is expected to attend evening meetings and occasionally work on weekends and holidays when necessary.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

•Under limited supervision, this position provides various strategic support to the City Manager.
•Communication: Drafts written correspondence for the City Manager and City Council, coordinating the dissemination of public information through various channels, including the City’s website and social media accounts, press releases, media outlets, and newsletters. Acts as the City’s Public Information Officer when assigned. In an emergency, this position is expected to help disseminate and coordinate vital information to ensure public safety.
•Community Engagement and outreach: Guided by established City priorities, plans, organizes, and implements public outreach initiatives, effectively utilizing social media and web-based tools to enhance citywide communication and engagement. This position focuses on increasing public awareness of City programs, explaining City processes and how tax dollars are spent.
•Issue Resolution: Responds to public inquiries and resolves complaints as assigned and on behalf of the City Manager and City Council, fostering positive community relations.
•External Representation: Effectively represents the City Manager in meetings with neighboring cities, community agencies, and governmental bodies to build partnerships with businesses, organizations, and regional stakeholders. Provides quality reports to the City Manager, the Executive Team, or the boards/committees.
•Manages sensitive or confidential issues, answers questions where judgment and knowledge of City policies and regulations are necessary, and acts to support Council collective goals and objectives.
•Strategic Planning: Manages the citywide goal-setting process and assists in the management. Develops and reviews City’s communication plan, manages interdepartmental coordination as needed, independently leads complex research, and develops recommendations related to a variety of operational issues with citywide impacts.
•Project Management: Carries out special projects of the City Manager, spearheads complex project studies when assigned, conducts comprehensive analysis, and prepares reports for the City Manager. Effectively manages a wide range of assigned projects from start to finish with minimal supervision while ensuring appropriate check-ins to report on progress.
•Serves as a liaison for the Executive Team by providing management direction, expediting workflow City wide, and facilitating the achievement of departmental programs when assigned.
•Policy Development: Contributes to formulating, recommending, and administrating policies and procedures aligned with organizational goals.
• Legislative Monitoring: This position supports the City Manager in tracking state and federal legislation pertinent to Morro Bay’s interests.
•Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Knowledge of:

•Public Administration: An understanding of public administration principles, practices, and procedures. This includes knowledge of organizational structures, budgeting processes, and public policy formulation and implementation.
•Government Operations: Familiarity with local government agencies’ basic organization and functions, including knowledge of municipal services, regulatory frameworks, and the roles and responsibilities of different departments within the city government.
•Legislative Processes: A solid grasp of local, state, and federal legislative processes. This includes understanding how laws are enacted, amended, and enforced and the role of elected officials, legislative bodies, and administrative agencies in the policymaking process.
•Policy Analysis: Proficiency in conducting legislative policy analysis. This involves researching, evaluating, and recommending policy options to address emerging issues, achieving organizational goals, and aligning with community needs and priorities.
•Community Engagement: This includes knowledge of strategies for outreach, public participation, and stakeholder engagement to foster transparency, trust, and collaboration between the city government and its residents.
•Legal and Regulatory Compliance: Awareness of relevant laws, ordinances, regulations, and legal requirements affecting municipal operations. This includes knowledge of municipal codes, land use regulations, environmental laws, ethics rules, and public records laws.
•Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential for effective communication with diverse stakeholders, including elected officials, City staff, community members, and external partners. This includes preparing clear and concise reports, presentations, and correspondence.
•Technology and Data Management: Proficiency in using technology tools and systems for data analysis, project management, communication, and information dissemination is important. This includes familiarity with software applications, databases, social media platforms, and digital communication tools.
•Leadership and Management: Knowledge of leadership principles, management techniques, and organizational development is beneficial. This includes understanding how to motivate teams, foster collaboration, delegate tasks, manage conflicts, and promote a positive work culture within the City Manager’s office and across departments.

Ability to:

•Analytical Skills: Proficient in problem analysis and solution proposal, with the ability to negotiate and collaborate effectively.
•Communication: Strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to craft complex reports and engage effectively through social media platforms.
•Leadership: Demonstrates effective leadership, management, and strategic planning abilities.
•Interpersonal Skills: Capable of establishing and maintaining productive working relationships, both internally and externally.
•Adaptability: Exhibits initiative, independent judgment, and the capacity to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and streamline processes.
•Establish and maintain effective relationships with the City officials, employees, other governmental and community organizations, and the public.
•Demonstrate a high level of proficiency in various software applications, including spreadsheets, databases, and presentation software.

Education & Experience:

•Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Public Policy, Business Administration, or related fields with major course work in Public Relations, Communications, or Journalism, coupled with four years of progressively responsible community-based experience;

OR

•Master’s degree with two years of relevant experience. Prior experience in city government is advantageous.
•Applicants with any equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.
•Possession of, or ability to obtain, a valid California Driver’s License by time of appointment.

TOOLS & EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer including word processing, spreadsheet, and presentation software; telephone; copy machine.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer; to operate a motor vehicle; and to visit various City and meeting sites; vision to read printed materials and a computer screen; and hearing and speech to communicate in person, before groups, and over the telephone. This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in and walking between work areas may be required. Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment. Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push, and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information. Employees must be able to lift, carry, push, and pull materials and objects necessary to perform job functions. focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees work in an office environment with moderate noise levels, controlled temperature conditions, and no direct exposure to hazardous physical substances. Employees may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing departmental policies and procedures. This position is expected to attend evening meetings and occasionally work on weekends and holidays when necessary.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

Applications including a resume and cover letter must be submitted online at https://www.morro-bay.ca.us/832/Employment-Opportunities

APPLICATION DEADLINE:  First review of applications on October 1, 2024 

SELECTION GUIDELINES:

Formal application, rating of education and experience, oral interview, and reference check; job-related tests may be required.

The City of Morro Bay is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. It is the City’s policy to ensure equal employment opportunity for all persons seeking employment or promotion to assure equal employment opportunity based upon ability and fitness to all persons regardless of race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, childbirth, breast-feeding, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, gender expression, genetic characteristics or information, military or veteran’s status, and/or any other category protected by federal and/or state law.