Assistant to the City Manager

ICMA; Bell (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Medical coverage

Professional development

Paid holidays

Job summary

City of Bell is seeking an exceptional Assistant to the City Manager to work with executive leadership on city-wide policies, budgets, and operations. You will analyze programs, coordinate initiatives, and present reports to support informed decision-making for the community.

This role requires a bachelor’s in public administration and 3–5 years of professional experience, with a master’s degree being desirable. Leadership, communication, and collaboration across departments are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public administration or related field; 3–5 years of professional administrative experience.
• A master’s degree is desirable.
• Ability to prepare reports, summaries, and legislative materials.

Responsibilities

• Under general direction, provides highly responsible staff assistance to the City Manager on major city-wide policies, programs, activities, and operations.
• Conducts analyses of practices and procedures and recommends improvements; prepares evaluations and special studies.
• Administers program activities such as facilities maintenance, grants, and contract administration.
• Oversees budget development and administration; monitors accounts and prepares financial reports.
• Coordinates activities with staff, other agencies, and the public; liaises with departments on projects.
• Represents the City Manager on citizen committees and commissions; supports public information efforts.

Skills

Public administration

Budget development

Policy analysis

Supervision

Executive support

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public administration

Master’s degree desirable

Job description

Shape the Future. Be Part of Bell on the RISE. Some careers are about doing the work. Others are about leaving a legacy. The City of Bell is on the RISE and we're looking for an exceptional leader to help us continue that momentum. As the Assistant to the City Manager, you’ll work alongside executive leadership to tackle complex challenges, drive innovation, influence policy, and deliver meaningful results for our community. This is more than a job it's an opportunity to help shape the future of an organization and community that is transforming, evolving, and committed to excellence. If you’re passionate about public service, inspired by meaningful work, and ready to make a lasting impact, we invite you to bring your vision, expertise, and leadership to Team Bell. The future is being built today.

Examples of Duties

Under general direction, provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the City Manager on major City-wide policies, programs, activities, and operations; analyzes practices and procedures and makes recommendations for organizational, operational, policy and procedural improvements, conducts special studies, needs analyses, feasibility studies and prepares evaluations of assigned programs and special projects as assigned; administers specific programme activities such as facilities maintenance and improvement projects, grants, and contract administration; and other related duties as assigned.

• Provides highly responsible research, conducts a variety of analytical and operational studies and surveys regarding City-wide departmental and programmatic activities, including complex financial, budget, personnel, operational, or administrative issues; evaluates alternatives, makes recommendations, and assists with the implementation of procedural, administrative, and/or operational changes after approval; prepares comprehensive technical records and reports; identifies alternatives, and makes and justifies recommendations.
• Assist with oversight of all Economic Development programs and project initiatives
• Prepares, and may present, outlines, comprehensive reports, agenda staff reports, contracts, ordinances, resolutions, requests for proposals, bids, policies and procedures.
• Review and monitor legislative activities and provide summary reports on issues that may impact or affect the City and prepare legislative platforms and coordinates with city lobbyist
• Respond to inquiries and provides information regarding City operations, policies, and procedures, or refers to an appropriate authority.
• Prepares and participates in the development and presentation of the department budgets; analyzes and prepares recommendations on budget requests; monitors appropriate budget accounts.
• Coordinates assigned City activities with staff, representatives of other public or private agencies, and members of the general public.
• Serves as liaison with departments on administrative and special projects and operations.
• Provides staff assistance and represents the City Manager on a wide variety of citizen committees and commissions appointed by the City Council.
• Assist in overseeing the City's Public Information Office functions, including strategic communications, media relations, social media, and website content.
• Supervise professional staff, including the Management Analyst, Economic Development Specialist, and Senior Economic Development Specialist.
• Oversee the administration of City-wide grant programs, including identifying funding opportunities, coordinating grant applications, ensuring compliance with grant requirements, monitoring performance, and preparing required reports.
• Perform other related duties and special assignments as directed by the City Manager.

Typical Qualifications

To qualify for this position, an individual must possess a combination of experience, education, and/or training that would produce the knowledge and abilities required to perform the work. A desirable combination of qualifications is described as follows.

Education/Experience:

A bachelor’s degree in public administration or a closely related field, and three to five years of progressively responsible full-time professional administrative experience in a municipal, county, or state agency. A masters’ degree is desirable.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

Advanced principles, practices and techniques of public program administration; organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of programs, policies and operational needs; principles and techniques of budget development and administration; principles and practices of organization, administration, and personnel management, including principles of supervision, training, and performance evaluation; research methods and sources of information related to a broad range of municipal programs, services, and administration; technical, legal, financial, and public relations issues associated with the management of City programs; methods and techniques for the development of presentations, contract negotiations, business correspondence, and information distribution; and techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with governmental agencies, community groups, various business, professional, educational, regulatory organizations, vendors, contractors, and the public.

Ability to:

Develop and implement goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards, and internal controls for assigned programs; Conduct effective project and program management; Conduct needs analyses, cost-benefit studies, and feasibility studies; Effectively communicate with individuals or groups utilizing a broad base of verbal skills; Comprehend and correctly use a variety of informational documents, including federal, state, and local laws, codes, and regulations. Prepare performance appraisals, staff reports, financial statements, and government reports, using prescribed format and conformance to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction, and style. Communicate effectively with staff, City Council, vendors, community/civic groups, administration, department heads and residents verbally and in writing. Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.

Prepare and administer a highly complex budget. Effectively and fairly negotiate appropriate solutions and contracts. Supervise, train, and evaluate personnel. Establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.

Physical Demands:

Long periods of sitting, dexterity and coordination in handling files and single sheets of paper. Reading and comprehending large reports. Occasional lifting of items weighing up to 25 pounds, such as files, file boxes, stacks of paper. Moving from place to place within the office and City. Reaching for items above and below desk level. Strength, dexterity, coordination and vision to use keyboard and video display terminal.

Working Conditions

Generally clean work environment with limited exposure to conditions such as dust, fumes, odors or noise. Requires attending night meetings, weekends, and travelling throughout the City and adjacent areas.

Supplemental Information

We offer a competitive executive benefits package, including:

• Competitive Salary with future cost-of-living adjustments and salary review opportunities.
• City-Paid Medical Coverage for employee and family
• Professional Development opportunities and executive leadership experience.
• Work alongside an engaged executive team dedicated to innovation, collaboration, and excellence.
• Generous Vacation, Sick Leave, and Paid Holidays.

Bell on the RISE isn't just our slogan—it's our commitment.

We're building a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. If you're ready to help shape the future of local government while making a meaningful impact in the community, we invite you to join Team Bell.

6330 Pine Ave
Bell , CA 90201-1221
United States