Assistant City Manager

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Assistant City Manager

Salary

Depends on Qualifications

Location

City Hall, 605 East Main Street, Charlottesville (22902), VA

Job Type

Regular Full-Time

Job Number
260500005
Department

City Manager's Office

Opening Date

05/07/2026

Closing Date
5/28/2026 5:00 PM Eastern
Bargaining Unit

N/A

Description

Benefits

Questions

General Summary

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 (https://www.charlottesville.gov/1742/Parks-Recreation) - Public Works (https://www.charlottesville.gov/277/Public-Works)

Utilities (https://www.charlottesville.gov/458/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 refer to the "Benefits" tab within this posting or visit the City's Employee Benefits webpage (https://www.charlottesville.gov/1047/Employee-Benefits) .

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

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, Experience and Skills

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.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities And Other Characteristics

Job Knowledge

Comprehensive knowledge of general laws and administrative policies governing municipal financial practices and procedures.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of accounting and budgeting in government.

Comprehensive knowledge of the principles and practices of a municipal purchasing system and employee and general liability insurance administration.

Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of effective personnel management, interpersonal communication, human relations, budget management, and strategic planning.

A subject matter expert with whom other managers and professionals throughout the organization may consult in matters of management decisions, law, budget, operations, programs, or other areas of specialized knowledge and expertise.

Reading

Advanced: ability to read and understand complex written materials such as books, reviews, scientific or technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, and/or legal documents. Ability to effectively analyze facts and provide oversight and direction of information for assessments.

Writing

Advanced: ability to develop materials such as researched editorials, journals, speeches, manuals, or critiques. Ability to prepare detailed recommendations or reports from analyzed data, information, and assessments. Ability to tailor writing to specific audiences and explain complex thoughts and ideas in writing.

Math

Intermediate: ability to deal with number systems; simple formulas, practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios/proportions and measurement.

Communication Skills

Advanced: Ability to foster, establish, and maintain good working relationships with City Officials, city staff, external/internal stakeholders, and the general public. Excellent oral and written communication. Requires competent public speaking and presentation skills and ability to present facts and recommendations effectively. Makes recommendations regarding policy and process development and implementation. Contact may involve support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. Evaluates customer satisfaction, develops cooperative associations, and utilizes resources to continuously improve customer satisfaction. Analyzes complex or difficult communication situations and formulates effective responses.

Promotes positive solution-oriented communication while encouraging staff to view feedback as learning, not criticism, and creating conditions for psychological safety.

Encourages feedback as a growth tool, not a threat, and builds a culture of curiosity-driven dialogue.

Independence and Decision-Making

Requires Administrative Direction: normally completes work with substantial discretion and within broad parameters defined by general organizational requirements and accepted practices. Uses a wide variety of inter- and intra-departmental resources to address problems and to carry out decisions. Resolves issues using discretionary judgment in the absence of any explicit protocol. Overall results determine job performance.

Anticipates and identifies potential problem situations and develops strategies or policy for resolution. Makes final decisions on conflicting priorities and resource needs, communicating reasoning behind decisions openly to foster clarity and trust.

Identifies and addresses gaps in the organization's current state of performance and the desired future state of performance needed to meet the changing demands of the customer and the business environment.

Heads or directs efforts to improve processes, procedures, methods, technologies, tools, equipment, terminology, standards, performance measures, and outcomes of work teams, units, and specialty areas on an organizational level.

Technical Skills

Skilled: comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the assigned and apparent job responsibilities. Intermediate computer skills using Microsoft Office applications and organization systems/software.

Fiscal Responsibilities

Oversees budget preparation of assigned division or department budget. Reviews and approves expenditures of significant budgeted funds assigned areas or does research and prepares recommendations for organization-wide budget expenditures.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Manages, monitors, and directs the work performance of assigned departments and staff. Oversees distribution of responsibility for program and work processes and evaluates program/work objectives and effectiveness, establishes organizational goals and realigns work and staffing assignments in one or more departments.

Equitably and effectively assigns responsibilities to others to accomplish projects and meet service demands, ensuring projects are guided by clearly defined roles.

Other Characteristics

Disciplined, empathetic, strategic advocate, and empowering leader who models the organizational excellence performance standard.

Models transparency and trust-building in decision making. Highlights listening, psychological safety, and feedback culture.

Clarifies when to guide/decide/contribute in performance management.

Effectively coach, mentor, and inspire colleagues by modeling self-awareness and openness to feedback and practicing curiosity-driven dialogue to uncover blind sports and strengthen relationships.

Ability to engage with a diverse set of stakeholders and be committed to working collaboratively with other senior colleagues to craft a common vision and direction.

Effective teamwork skills and reinforcement of curiosity-driven leadership practices, with the ability to equip staff and the community with tools and independence, fostering a space for feedback, reflection, and dialogue.

Ability to connect advocacy and representation to long-term outcomes.

Ability to set strategic objectives for the achievement of multi-functional, department-wide, or organization-wide priorities.

Ability to assess multiple, complex, tasks or projects and service demands and develops processes to address them.

Effective time management and organizational skills, sometimes under strict time constraints.

Independently perform multiple tasks simultaneously.

Works effectively with sensitive and confidential issues and information.

Tact, diplomacy, and resourcefulness in resolving problems and managing stressful situations.

May require dealing with angry, frustrated and/or upset individuals.

May require additional hours outside of normal schedule, which may include evenings, nights, holidays, and/or weekends.

Physical Conditions & Additional Information

Physical Demands:

Light Work: exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to lift, lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects.

Must constantly operate a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine and computer printer. Must be able to move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.

Must be able to communicate information and ideas so others will understand. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

Ability to observe details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Machines, Tools, Equipment, Software and Hardware:

Typically requires use of standard office equipment and telephone, and related software and hardware; and any other equipment as appropriate or as assigned.

Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office environment where there may be exposure to computer screen for extended periods of time, monitor glare and dust.

The noise level is usually moderate.

The City of Charlottesville is an Equal Opportunity Employer and supports workforce diversity at all levels of the organization. The City prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. The City is dedicated to this with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs, and general treatment during employment.

Requests for reasonable accommodation by individuals with disabilities may be requested by contacting Human Resources at (434) 970-3490 or hr@charlottesville.gov.

The City of Charlottesville conducts job related background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug tests, in accordance with federal, state, and local law, of applicants who reach the final stages of the employment selection process. The City's policy has not changed because of the decriminalization of marijuana in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Marijuana remains an illegal drug under federal law, and it continues to be a violation of the US Department of Transportation regulations and the City's policy prohibiting employees from testing positive for marijuana.

Benefits cited represent those for Department Head Level position and may differ for regular Full-Time, Part-Time, and/or Library positions. Long-term temporary employees are eligible for all benefits except retirement. Interns, temporary, seasonal, substitute, and relief employees are not eligible for benefits.

LEAVE:

Vacation: Need some time off Use it, you earned it:

Years Worked

0 - <3
3 - <5

5 - <10

10 - <15

15 - <20

20 - <25

25
Hours Accrued Biweekly

4.62

4.62

4.62

5.4

6.16

6.93

7.7
Discretionary Leave: Department Director level positions are entitled to receive up to eighty (80) hours of discretionary (paid administrative) leave hours for usage per calendar year. Discretionary leave does not accrue or carry over into the next calendar year and is not eligible for cash out upon separation for service.

Sick: Under the weather Earn 4.62 hours biweekly, approximately 120 hours a year, with no limit on accumulation to be used to care for yourself and qualifying family members.

Holidays: Enjoy 13 paid holidays per year. Including 1 Floating Holiday, which must be taken during the Fiscal Year (July 1 - June 30):

OBSERVED CITY HOLIDAYS

New Years Day

Dr. Martin Luther King Day

Presidents' Day

Liberation & Freedom Day

Memorial Day

Juneteenth Day

Independence Day

Labor Day

Veterans Day

Thanksgiving Day

Friday after Thanksgiving

Christmas Eve

Christmas Day
1 Floating Holiday
Volunteer Leave: Paid leave for participating in an authorized event as a volunteer, subject to Section 9-3, Code of Ethics & Conflicts of Interest. Regular full-time employees receive up to 8 hours and all regular part-time employees are eligible to receive pro-rated leave each available each calendar year.

INSURANCE:

Aetna Medical Plans: Coverage is effective on the first of the month following date of hire.

Choose from two options:

Select HMO with City-funded HRA ($0 premium for employee-only coverage)

Choice POS ($13.02 biweekly premium for employee-only coverage)

Prescription Card: ($10 generic, $30 lower cost name brand,$55 higher cost name brand, 20% up to $150 for specialty drugs)

Mail Order Maintenance Prescription Drug Program ($20 generic, $60lower cost name brand, $110 higher cost brand) not available for specialty drugs)

Delta Dental Plan:

Diagnostic and Preventative-100% of allowable charge; Basic Dental Care-80%; Major Dental Care- 50%

Primary - $50 deductible, 80/20; Prosthetic and Complex Restorative -$50, 50/50

$1,500 Annual benefit maximum

$1,000 Orthodontic benefit (children to age 19)

MetLife Vision Plan: (Optional)

$2.50 premium paid bi-weekly for employee-only coverage. Dependent care coverage also available.

Eye health exam, dilatation, prescription and refraction of glasses covered after $10 co-pay

$130 allowance for frames, after co-pay, plus additional discounts where accepted.

Life Insurance : In the event of your death, your beneficiary will receive twice your annual salary. Supplementary policies for you and your dependents are available.

Long-Term Disability : U pon approval for along-term illness or injury, you can receive up to 60% of your earnings after a 90-day wait period.

Voluntary Benefits: Accident, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity insurance; Short-Term Disability; Identity Theft Protection

RETIREMENT: The City of Charlottesville manages its own retirement system and does not participate in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS). The City has a reciprocal Portability Agreement with VRS allowing the transfer of service credit for employees who elect the Defined Benefit Retirement Plan. The portability option does not apply to VRS members who were enrolled in the Hybrid Plan. To transfer service credits, employees must be vested in the City's plan (five YOS) and initiate the transfer within 18 months of vesting.

The City offers two retirement plan options - a Defined Benefit Pension Plan and a Defined Contribution 401(a) Plan. You may choose one of the two retirement plans:

The Defined Benefit Plan pays a monthly benefit at retirement based on your years of credited service and your average compensation while you are working at the City. This plan requires a 5% pre-tax employee contribution.

The Defined Contribution Plan does not require an employee contribution. With the Defined Contribution Plan, an account is established on your behalf and your account grows through contributions from the City and earnings from investments you select. Each has its own vesting requirements. The contribution rate to the Defined Contribution plan for executives is currently 19.50%.

Supplement: Deferred Compensation 457 available for you to invest your own money for additional retirement savings.

VOLUNTARY:

Wellness:

Gym Membership Reimbursement Program (up to $34.00 per month)

Bicycle Commuter Program: Reimbursement up to $20 per month for reasonable bicycle commuting expenses

Online wellness resources and Lunch-and-Learn Sessions

Employee Assistance Program:

A variety of confidential, personal professional services for you and your family available 24 hours a day.

Tuition Reimbursement:

Up to $1,500 for job-related certificates, trade programs, undergraduate coursework or up to $3,000 for graduate level courses per fiscal year for career-related courses.

Flexible Spending Accounts:

Expense accounts available for healthcare, dependent care and parking/mass transit.
01

Please indicate your highest level of education below: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Education History section of your online application.)

A Master's Degree in a related field.

A Bachelor's Degree in public administration, accounting, economics, business, or other related field.

A combination of education and work experience equivalent to a Bachelor's Degree in public administration, accounting, economics, business, or other related field.

None of the above.
02

Please indicate your level of work experience in a director-level, or equivalent or higher-level, position: (Must be verifiable in reference to the Work History section of your online application.)

Less than four (4) years.

Four (4) to less than six (6) years.

Six (6) to less than eight (8) years.

Eight (8) to less than ten (10) years.

Ten (10) years or greater.
03

To be considered, qualifying education and experience, including City of Charlottesville employment, must be clearly documented in the education, work history, and additional information sections of the employment application. Resumes can be attached but should not be used as a substitute for the required information on the application. I understand that an attached resume may not be accepted in place of a completed employment application and that my qualifications should be stated on the employment application itself.

Yes

No
04

I certify that the information above is true and correct, and I certify that it can be verified with reference to the information in my basic application. I understand that my application may be rejected if the responses to supplemental questions do not match my basic application.

Yes

No

Required Question

Employer

City of Charlottesville

Address

P. O. Box 911 605 East Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia, 22902

Phone

(434) 970-3490

Website

http://www.charlottesville.gov/jobs

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Assistant City Manager