Assistant City Manager

City-of-Fayetteville,-N; Fayetteville (NC); On-site; USD 137,000 - 213,000; Full time

Job summary

The City of Fayetteville, NC seeks two Assistant City Managers to oversee Operations and Community Investment portfolios as part of the executive team supporting the City Manager. These roles emphasize collaboration, problem-solving, and strategic leadership across departments to advance the city’s priorities.

Qualified candidates will have a bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field, at least ten years of progressive leadership experience including senior management in local

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, finance, accounting, planning, or other related fields.
• Ten years of progressively responsible experience, including senior management/local government.
• Master’s degree preferred; strong management experience is expected.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Operations Portfolio and Community Investment Portfolio.
• Lead collaboration across departments to support the City Manager and executive team.

Skills

Engineering

Public Works

Project Management

Grant Management

Interlocal Agreements

Municipal Operations

Technology/Data Access

Innovation

Education

Bachelor's degree in public administration

Master's degree preferred

Ten years of progressively responsible experience

Tools

PE designation

PMP designation

Job description

The City of Fayetteville, NC, (pop. 208,675) seeks two highly skilled local government leaders for Assistant City Manager (ACM) positions. The two positions currently oversee Construction Management, Parks & Recreation and Public Services as part of the Operations Portfolio, and Economic & Community Development, Development Services, Fayetteville Regional Airport and Transit as part of the Community Investment Portfolio. It is the intent to have portfolio assignments made based on the skills and talents of the selected candidates.

This is an opportunity to bring your passion and energy to cultivate constructive collaboration among departments within each group to facilitate collaboration across the organization. We are looking for problem-solvers, advocates, and consensus builders who will enable their respective teams to focus on the mission. Alongside the other two Assistant City Managers and other senior administrative staff, these positions are part of a talented executive team that supports the City Manager in implementing the city’s strategic priorities.

Fayetteville, NC, is one of the most family-friendly, patriotic, and diverse communities in America. As the home to Fort Bragg, the Army’s headquarters for Airborne and Special Operations, Pope Airfield and the Army Special Forces Command, Fayetteville proudly serves the 57,000 military, 11,000 civilian employees, and 23,000 family members, making it one of the largest military installations in the world.

Fayetteville has an FY 2026 approved operating budget of over $315.2 million, a capital improvement plan of $94.1 million, and approximately 1,735 full-time (FTE) positions.

The successful candidates for each role will demonstrate political astuteness, innovation, and the ability to effectively lead subject‑matter experts. They will be clear and effective communicators with a commitment to working cooperatively with their fellow ACMs in support of the City Manager. The City is continually challenging itself to break through convention while building forward for the future, and these positions are key contributors to this goal.

Qualifications & Experience - Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, finance, accounting, planning, or other related areas. Ten years of progressively responsible experience, of which three years must include senior management/senior administrative local government experience. Master’s degree preferred. Below are specific knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform the Assistant City Manager roles for the City of Fayetteville. The two roles are currently assigned to the operations portfolio and the community investment portfolio. It is the desire of the City Manager to assign portfolios based upon the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the selected candidates.

Operations Portfolio

• A strong understanding of Engineering, Public Works, Project Management, and vertical construction management. Additionally, the successful candidate should have a broad understanding of grant management, interlocal government agreements and municipal operations. The ability to seek solutions that provide more effective access to information and services and improve process efficiencies through technology. This position will demonstrate the ability to embrace balanced innovation with an understanding of established practices.
• Specification qualifications for this position include preferred skills in engineering and/or project management. A Professional Engineer or Project Management Professional designation is highly preferred.

Community Investment

• A strong understanding of general government relations with specific emphasis on military operations as an economic driver in the community, and long‑range planning of the city’s neighborhoods and land management needs. This role will be expected to assess the current organization and resources of the operations in this portfolio to address service gaps and rally departments around a unifying vision.
• Preferred experience with Federal Housing programs through Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as well as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Experience with community revitalization and redevelopment is preferred.

The anticipated hiring salary range for the position is $136,553 - $213,022 + DOQ/E with an excellent benefit package. If needed, a relocation allowance is negotiable. The application deadline is September 11, 2026.

The City of Fayetteville is committed to compliance with the American Disabilities Act and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity and inclusion are critical to their success. No applicant or employee shall be deprived of employment opportunities because of such individual’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability, natural hair, hairstyle, or genetic information.