Assistant City Manager

Salary: $170,000.00 - $190,000.00 Annually
Location : El Centro, CA
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 202400233
Department: City Manager
Division: City Manager Administration
Opening Date: 07/23/2026
Closing Date: 8/13/2026 5:00 PM Pacific


Job Description
Summary:

Under the administrative direction of the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager provides executive-level leadership and operational support to advance City priorities. This position assists in planning, organizing, and directing municipal operations; develops and recommends organizational policies, procedures, and performance strategies; and performs a variety of complex, sensitive, and confidential administrative and analytical duties. The Assistant City Manager serves as a City Council advocate and manages City Council initiatives.

Distinguishing Characteristics:


The Assistant City Manager provides highly responsible and complex staff assistance to the City Manager on a wide range of administrative, operational, and policy matters. The incumbent exercises a high degree of independent judgment and discretion in addressing sensitive issues, coordinating City-wide initiatives, and representing the City in internal and external settings. This position regularly interacts with the City Manager, City Council and departmental representatives in obtaining and coordinating projects and information.

Essential Job Functions
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include tasks, knowledge, skills, and other characteristics. The following list is not a comprehensive list; it is intended to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities. Incumbent(s) may not be required to perform all duties listed and may be required to perform additional, position-specific tasks.

• Assist the City Manager in planning, organizing, directing, and evaluating City operations and services.
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of City-wide goals, objectives, policies, and strategic initiatives.
• Conduct complex organizational, operational, and management analyses; prepare reports and recommendations to support executive decision-making.
• Coordinate and manage special projects, programs, and cross-departmental initiatives, including economic development efforts and grant administration.
• Oversee or participate in the preparation and administration of the City budget; monitor financial performance and recommend adjustments as needed.
• Represent the City Manager in meetings with elected officials, community groups, regional agencies, and other stakeholders.
• Respond to and resolve sensitive community concerns, complaints, and inquiries.
• Assist in labor relations activities, including negotiations, policy development, and employee relations matters.
• Support the development and implementation of organizational performance measures and continuous improvement efforts.
• Prepare and present reports, agenda items, and correspondence for the City Council and executive leadership.
• Manage public relations and develops a citywide communications strategic plan.
• Oversee the City's Public Information Officer (PIO), media relations, public outreach, and social media management.
• Receive and respond to public inquiries and complaints.
• Independently compose a variety of technical reports, letters, memoranda, correspondence, and other written materials for the City Manager.
• Observe and comply with all City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Perform duties of a disaster services worker in event of an emergency.
• Act on behalf of the City Manager in their absence, as assigned.

The preceding activities have been provided as examples of the types of work performed by positions assigned to this job classification. The City reserves the right to add, modify, change, or rescind work assignments as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
Knowledge of:

• Principles and practices of public administration and municipal government operations.
• Organizational management, strategic planning, and performance measurement.
• Budgeting, financial management, and public sector accounting principles.
• Principles and practices of contract negotiation, preparation, and evaluation.
• Economic development, grant administration, and program management.
• Techniques for effectively representing the City in contacts with government agencies, community groups, and various business, professional, regulatory, and legislative organizations.
• City and mandated safety rules, regulations, and protocols.
• Modern equipment and communication tools used for business functions and program, project, and task coordination, including computers and software programs relevant to work performed.
• Applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and policies

Skill to:

• Manage multiple high-level projects simultaneously, including economic development initiatives and grant-funded programs.
• Support executive leadership in setting priorities, aligning resources, and advancing City-wide strategic goals.
• Communicate, by preparing reports, presentations, and correspondence for diverse audiences.
• Understand municipal governance and navigate sensitive political and organizational dynamics with professionalism and discretion.
• Make timely decisions and resolve complex issues in a fast-paced environment.
• Lead, mentor, and evaluate staff to promote organizational effectiveness.
• Respond to changing priorities, exercise independent judgment, and take initiative on critical assignments.
• Handle sensitive information with a high degree of professionalism and integrity.

Ability to:

• Analyze complex issues and develop effective, practical solutions.
• Plan and conduct effective management, administrative, and operational studies.
• Exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality in sensitive matters.
• Research and write grant proposals.
• Independently organize work, set priorities, meet critical deadlines, and follow-up on assignments.
• Communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Establish, maintain, and foster positive and effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Prepare clear and effective financial, statistical, narrative, informational, and educational reports, correspondence, procedures, and other written material.
• Build and maintain collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Manage multiple priorities and projects in a dynamic environment.
• Lead organizational initiatives and drive results.
• Understand, interpret, and apply all pertinent laws, codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and standards relevant to work performed.

Special Requirements
TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience performing administrative and management analysis on a broad range of organizational issues in a public agency setting.
EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field.

Desirable:

• Master's Degree in Public Administration (MPA) or a related field.

LICENSING/CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS;

• Current California C Driver's License and acceptable driving record must be maintained.

Environmental Factors and Conditions/Physical Requirements:

• Must possess mobility to work in a standard office setting and use standard office equipment, including a computer, to operate a motor vehicle, and to visit various City and meeting sites.
• This is primarily a sedentary office classification although standing in work areas and walking between work areas may be required.

• Employee may interact with upset staff and/or public and private representatives in interpreting and enforcing divisional policies and procedures.

• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard or calculator and to operate standard office equipment.
• Positions in this classification occasionally bend, stoop, kneel, reach, push and pull drawers open and closed to retrieve and file information.
• Employees must possess the ability to lift, carry, push and pull materials and objects weighing up to 25 pounds.

Special Requirements:

The incumbent is expected to work overtime, weekends, evenings, and holidays as required to accommodate the City's needs, in addition to responding as a Disaster Services Emergency Worker (California Government Code Section 3100-3109).

Compensation and Benefits:
Life Insurance: The City provides the employee with term life insurance in the amount of $200,000.
Car Allowance: The employee shall receive a car allowance in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500) per month.
Equipment and Tools Utilized:

• Personal computer, copier, fax and other office equipment; pens, pencils and other office tools.
• City Vehicles.
• Radios, cell phones and/or other communication devices.

If you have a disability that requires assistance at any point in the recruitment process (for example, filling out applications, testing, interviewing), please notify the Human Resources Department. The City of El Centro performs job-related medical/physical evaluations and pre-employment/promotional drug screening. EEO/ADA.
The City of El Centro offers a competitive compensation package which include medical, dental vision, life insurance, mental health counseling, short-term and long-term disability. Total compensation includes not only your salary, but also the benefits paid by the City on your behalf. These City provided benefits add significantly to the overall value of your compensation.

Benefits

• Health Insurance is available at a shared cost. The City will subsidize a percentage of the medical premium and employee is responsible for the rest. The percentage subsidized by the City depends on coverage plan chosen
• All plans include vision and dental insurance
• Basic life Insurance is fully subsidized by the City. (The coverage amount varies depending on the position classification and resolution with the City)
• Optional Supplemental Life and Dependent Insurance is available at the employee's expense.
• Worker's Compensation is paid by the City
• Deferred Compensation (457b Plan) is available at the employee's expense
• Tuition Reimbursement up to $1,000 per calendar year subject to pre-approval and availability of funds

Pay Practices
This position is paid on a biweekly basis.


Retirement
CalPERS - Employee/Employer contributions.


Holidays
15 paid holidays per year. The City recognizes the following holidays:

• New Year's Day
• Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
• President's Day
• ½ Good Friday
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Veteran's Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Friday after Thanksgiving
• ½ December 24th
• Christmas Day
• ½ December 31st
• Birthday Holiday

01


Do you have at least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in administrative and management analysis on a wide range of organizational issues within a public agency setting?

• Yes
• No

02


Do you have a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, majoring in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a related field?

• Yes
• No

Required Question