Senior Management Analyst

Gila, County of (AZ); Globe, Payson (AZ, AZ); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Gila County is seeking a senior professional to lead complex, high-priority projects for the Deputy County Manager. You will independently research, analyze, and develop recommendations across departments and partners, coordinating resources and deadlines to drive executive decisions.

You will serve as a primary liaison, manage cross‑department initiatives, and produce executive‑level written work. A strong background in public administration, project management, and governance is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in public or business administration, finance, economics, political science, urban or regional planning, organizational management, or a related field.
• Five years of progressively responsible experience in government operations, management or program analysis, project management, organizational development, grants, economic or community development, or a related field.

Responsibilities

• Independently leads complex executive projects, special assignments, and organizational initiatives from problem definition through completion.
• Develops project objectives, scopes, work plans, schedules, deliverables, performance measures, and implementation strategies.
• Coordinates required resources, monitors progress, resolves cross-departmental barriers, and presents results to executive leadership.
• Performs extensive research and management analysis on emerging, sensitive, or complex County issues; identifies trends and risks.
• Develops alternative solutions; considers options, risks and benefits; prepares recommendations for executive decision‑making.
• Serves as the Deputy County Manager's primary project liaison; coordinates with directors, offices, staff, agencies, and stakeholders.
• Coordinates development of concepts and recommendations; assists in advancing approved opportunities.
• Prepares executive-level written work products and translates complex information into actionable recommendations.
• Provides executive project and organizational support, including meetings, materials, and tracking commitments.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Critical thinking

Time management

Negotiation

Communication

Problem solving

Project planning and management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in public/business administration or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

GIS

Project management software

Job description

The purpose of this position is to lead complex, high-priority projects, special assignments, and organizational initiatives on behalf of the Deputy County Manager, often involving multiple departments and sensitive issues without established procedures or clear solutions. Independently researches issues, analyzes information, evaluates options, and develops recommendations for executive decisions. Under delegated authority, coordinates departments and external partners, establishes project requirements and deadlines, assigns work, monitors progress, resolves barriers, and refers issues requiring executive action. Provides administrative and organizational support to the Deputy County Manager’s Office.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Occasionally assigns activities to other employees.

Provides recommendations on employee training.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Independently leads complex executive projects, special assignments, and organizational initiatives from problem definition through completion. Develops project objectives, scopes, work plans, schedules, deliverables, performance measures, and implementation strategies; coordinates required resources; monitors progress; resolves cross-departmental barriers; and presents results and recommendations to executive leadership. Time spent: 25%
• Performs extensive research and comprehensive management analysis on emerging, sensitive, or complex County issues. Collects, validates, and synthesizes operational, financial, regulatory, legislative, property, programmatic, and community information; conducts original research when established guidance is incomplete; identifies trends and risks; develops alternative solutions; considers options, risks and benefits; and prepares recommendations for executive decision‑making. Time spent: 20%
• Serves as the Deputy County Manager's primary project liaison on assigned cross‑departmental initiatives. Coordinates with Department Directors, elected offices as appropriate, professional staff, municipalities, State and Federal agencies, consultants, contractors, community organizations, and other stakeholders; assigns and tracks project deliverables and deadlines; conducts meetings and group discussions; negotiates or persuades as necessary to achieve project objectives; and ensures follow‑through on executive direction. Time spent: 15%
• Develops and coordinates organizational development, process improvement, quality assurance, documentation, and management‑system projects across assigned departments. Evaluates systems and operations; identifies process gaps and risks; develops procedures, workflows, performance measures, tracking tools, and corrective action plans; and monitors implementation and outcomes. Time spent: 10%
• Researches and evaluates housing, economic development, intergovernmental policy, land/property, community development, and other strategic opportunities assigned by executive management. Assesses feasibility, funding sources, regulatory requirements, partnerships, implementation options, and organizational impacts; coordinates development of concepts and recommendations and assists in advancing approved opportunities. Time spent: 10%
• Prepares executive‑level written work products including Board of Supervisors agenda items, executive summaries, white papers, management reports, formal correspondence, presentations, policy and procedure recommendations, project reports, funding requests, grant materials, agreements, and briefing materials. Translates complex information into clear, actionable recommendations for County leadership. Time spent: 10%
• Provides executive project and organizational support to the Deputy County Manager, including coordinating meetings and schedules associated with executive priorities; preparing meeting materials; documenting decisions, commitments, and action items; maintaining executive project, deadline, and follow‑up systems; organizing records and information; and ensuring assigned commitments are tracked to completion. Time spent: 10%
• Performs other duties as assigned. Time spent: 10%

BUDGET RESPONSIBILITIES

This position provides research support on County‑wide, Department and project and team budgets.

PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES

Provides project resource allocation based on pre‑approved resources involving organizational planning projects.

ORAL COMMUNICATION DUTIES

This position trains colleagues, explains County procedures or processes, participates in meetings, gives presentations, moderates gatherings and negotiates or persuades.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION DUTIES

This position creates or edits documents, internal memos, emails, guidelines, contracts, proposals, reports, formal letters, and presentations.

INTERACTIONS WITH THE GENERAL PUBLIC

Interacts extensively with employees, customers, the general public, vendors, regulatory bodies, and other groups and/or individuals and Institutions over the telephone, by email, and/or in person.

INTERACTIONS SPECIFICALLY WITH CUSTOMERS

Regularly (More than 55% but less than 70% in a year).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in public or business administration, finance, economics, political science, urban or regional planning, organizational management, or a related field, and five years of progressively responsible experience in government operations, management or program analysis, project management, organizational development, grants, economic or community development, or a related field. Experience must include independently completing complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and developing recommendations for senior management.

An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience demonstrating the ability to perform the essential duties of the position may be considered.

Local government experience is preferred.

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS REQUIRED

Must possess and maintain a valid Driver's License.

Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Public Manager (CPM), grant management, economic development, planning, or other professional credential relevant to assigned work is preferred.

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

Administration and management; public administration and government operations; Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, and statutes; organizational planning and development; project management methodologies; process improvement and quality assurance; research methods and data analysis; governmental budgeting and finance; grant and alternative funding sources; contract and agreement concepts; economic and community development principles; housing and land/property research concepts; records and documentation practices; and County organizational structure, policies, and procedures.

SKILLS REQUIRED

Analytical thinking; critical thinking; analytical writing; active learning and listening; problem recognition; problem solving; developing alternative solutions; evaluating systems; analyzing systems and operations; communicating diplomatically; negotiating and persuading; research; project planning and management; time management; multi‑tasking; professional report writing; presentation and public speaking; relationship‑building; and proficiency with Microsoft Office and project, financial, records, GIS, or analytical systems relevant to assigned work.

ABILITIES REQUIRED

Make sense of multiple sources of information; consider options, risks and benefits; generate fluent and useful ideas; recognize problems; solve problems sensibly and swiftly using deductive and inductive reasoning; read and write at a professional level; express oneself clearly orally and in writing; independently organize and prioritize multiple complex assignments; exercise sound judgment where policies or precedents are incomplete; maintain confidentiality; coordinate and influence individuals who do not directly report to the position; and carry complex assignments from an executive objective to a completed work product with limited supervision.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Regularly sits to complete reports, research, data analysis, project planning, and computer work; occasionally stands and walks for meetings, presentations, and site visits.
• Regularly lifts up to 10 lbs.; occasionally lifts up to 25 lbs. of work‑related materials or equipment.
• Constantly requires dexterity and hand‑eye coordination for keyboard, mouse, and computer operation.
• May occasionally walk uneven terrain or visit County facilities, project locations, properties, or community sites relevant to assigned executive projects.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Primarily performs work in an office environment. Regularly attends meetings at County facilities and other governmental or community locations and may occasionally conduct field or site visits related to assigned projects.

SAFETY RISK EXPOSURE

Generally, not exposed to significant safety risks in the normal office environment. May occasionally encounter general field‑site hazards, distressed or upset members of the public, variable weather, or active work areas during project‑related site visits.

PROTECTIVE GEAR & SAFETY MANUALS

Follows written safety procedures and manuals relevant to the assigned work location or project. When visiting active field, construction, public works, or other regulated sites, may be required to wear appropriate personal protective equipment as directed.

CONSEQUENCES OF ERROR

Potential errors can have legal ramifications, loss of funding, loss of organization's credibility.