City Clerk

Salary: Depends on Qualifications
Location : Asheville, NC
Job Type: Full Time
Job Number: 2026-01851
Department: Administration Services
Division: City Clerk
Opening Date: 06/11/2026
Closing Date: 7/10/2026 5:00 PM Eastern


Summary


The City of Asheville is seeking highly qualified applicants for the City Clerk position. Serving in a Council-appointed, unclassified (exempt) capacity, this highly visible role is responsible for performing advanced analytical work to manage the daily operations of the City Clerk's Office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leadership responsibilities: Supervises, directs, and evaluates assigned staff: plans, directs and reviews work of individuals and the team; processes employee concerns and problems and counsels as appropriate; recommends discipline, disciplinary actions, or discharge; completes employee performance appraisals and salary increases; participates in interviews and makes hiring recommendations; acts as a liaison between employees and management; and trains staff in operations, policies, and procedures.
• Coordinates the preparation and distribution of Asheville City Council meeting agendas and supporting documentation packets. Ensures all relevant stakeholders, including Council members, City personnel, and the media, receive timely notification of meeting schedules. Oversees the creation and retention of formal municipal documentation, such as resolutions, public notices, and official correspondence.
• Attends all Asheville City Council meetings (including evening sessions), committee meetings, hearings, and workshops to compose comprehensive, strictly accurate minutes that serve as the sole legal record of all governing body actions.
• Manages the appointment process for more than 30 boards and commissions that are appointed by the Asheville City Council.
• Serves as a professional liaison facilitating communication between the City Council, municipal departments, the public, and news organizations. Responsibilities involve managing external messaging, addressing Citizen complaints, and fostering collaborative relations with elected leaders.
• Authenticates, notarizes, and certifies official legal documents on behalf of the City. Ensures all Asheville City Council operations, meetings, and departmental activities strictly comply with North Carolina General Statutes, Public Records and Meetings laws, local ordinances, and standard parliamentary procedures.
• Facilitates public access to municipal documents in strict compliance with state public records laws, and manages the intake, routing, and follow-up of citizen inquiries and complaints regarding City services.
• Manages complex calendar coordination for the Asheville City Council, overseeing all meeting and event logistics, including venue reservations, audio/visual equipment setup, material preparation, and catering arrangements.
• Maintains secure custody of the official City seal and manages the comprehensive retention lifecycle of all municipal archives, including meeting minutes, ordinance books, contracts, leases, agreements, and records of City-appointed boards and commissions.

Education and Experience

• Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in public administration, finance, business, legal, or a related field. Accreditation must be verifiable at the time of appointment.
• Five (5) years of experience in progressive administrative work
• Demonstrated experience leading complex administrative work.
• Current valid driver's license
• This position is the official, legally accountable Clerk to the Asheville City Council members and must be appointed and duly sworn into official public office.
• Certified notary public

Preferred at time of hire; Required to attain as soon as possible after hire:

• UNC School of Government Coursework: Must be willing to attend and successfully complete required educational courses through the UNC School of Government.
• IIMC Certification: Must use UNC coursework to actively pursue and achieve baseline certification from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) to gain entry into the Master Municipal Clerks Academy.
• Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) Designation: Must demonstrate continuous progression toward obtaining the Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation.

Data Utilization: Ability to obtain, interpret, evaluate, audit, and apply quantitative or qualitative data using established criteria while exercising discretion in determining implications, identifying patterns, and selecting appropriate actions or alternatives.

• Evaluates complex or multi-source data to identify trends, risks, or performance gaps.
• Determines analytical approaches when guidance is limited.
• Exercises discretion in interpreting ambiguous findings.
• Develops recommendations influencing operational decisions, programs, or resource allocation.
• May design or improve reporting methods or evaluation criteria.

Human Interaction: Ability to engage effectively with individuals or groups through communication, collaboration, persuasion, facilitation, and professional relationship-building to accomplish work objectives.

• Negotiates outcomes across departments or organizations.
• Represents organizational interests publicly or intergovernmentally.
• Shapes collaboration strategies and stakeholder relationships.

Equipment, Machinery, Tools, and Material Utilization: Ability to operate, apply, adapt, and evaluate tools, equipment, technology systems, or materials required to perform work functions safely and effectively.

• Ensures appropriate technology use across staff.
• Implements workflow or system changes.

Verbal Aptitude: Ability to understand, interpret, and communicate complex information using reference, descriptive, advisory, or policy-related materials.

• Develops organizational messaging, policy interpretation, or executive-level communications.

Mathematical Aptitude: Ability to apply mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning appropriate to job responsibilities.

Functional Reasoning: Ability to apply principles, policies, and professional knowledge to develop solutions and approaches using independent judgment.

• Aligns team activities with operational objectives.
• Resolves competing operational demands.

Situational Reasoning: Ability to exercise judgment and adaptability when responding to evolving or subjective circumstances.

• Independently evaluates ambiguous situations.
• Balances competing priorities and risks.
• Makes decisions with incomplete information.

Critical Thinking: Ability to analyze information, evaluate alternatives, anticipate consequences, and develop logical solutions.

• Synthesizes complex information from multiple sources.
• Challenges assumptions and evaluates competing perspectives.
• Anticipates downstream impacts of decisions.
• Develops innovative or preventative solutions.

Physical Ability Requirement:
Sedentary work involves lifting no more than 10 pounds at a time and occasionally lifting or carrying articles like docket files, ledgers, and small tools. Although a sedentary job is defined as one that involves sitting, a certain amount of walking and standing is often necessary in carrying out job duties. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.
Sensory Requirement:
Tasks require frequent or precise sensory discrimination. For example, distinguishing multiple colors/shades, interpreting detailed visual or auditory cues, or clear oral communication in group or noisy settings. Errors due to sensory limitations could impact work quality or safety.
Environmental Factors:
Essential functions are performed in standard office or controlled indoor environments. No exposure to adverse conditions is required.


Some positions may require a fingerprint-based SBI background check after a conditional offer and before your start date; HR will provide instructions if applicable.

For benefits-eligible positions, explore our full benefits at AshevilleBenefits.com .
About us:

The City of Asheville is dedicated to providing quality service for the residents and visitors of our beautiful city, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina. Asheville, NC is a thriving mountain city that has a culture enriched by its diversity.

The City's policy is to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment. Applicants will be assured of fair treatment in all aspects of recruitment and selection without regard to a person's age, race, color, national origin, religion, sex, genetic information,or disability, except where certain physical and mental requirements are Bona Fide Occupational Qualifications (BFOQ). The City of Asheville is proud to be a second chance employer.

The City of Asheville is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
To view our comprehensive benefits package, click
01


Select your highest level of education in public administration, finance, business, legal, or a related field:

• I do not possess a High School Diploma/GED.
• High School/GED
• Associates Degree
• Bachelors Degree
• Masters Degree
• Doctorate

02


How many years of relevant experience do you have in public administration, finance, business, legal, or a related field?

• Less than 1 year
• 1 - 3 years
• 3 - 5 years
• 6 - 10 years
• 10 or more years

03


Do you have a valid driver's license?

• I do possess a current, valid driver's license (Standard License)
• I do NOT possess a current, valid driver's license (Standard License)

Required Question