City Manager

Salary : $136,937.00 - $231,741.00 Annually
Location : City of Washington, NC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number: 1900405
Department: City Manager
Opening Date: 07/28/2026
Closing Date: 9/1/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
FLSA: Exempt


Job Description

Summary
Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Washington. Responsible for administering the day-to-day management of the City with policies established by City Council and in accordance with various municipal, state and federal laws, regulations and guidelines. Overall responsibility for all municipal departments including; General Administration, Planning & Development, Public Safety, Public Works, Washington Utilities (electric distribution fund) and Parks and Recreation. The City Manager provides guidance and direction with visionary and innovative leadership, supervision and management of employees and direction of the City's management team to coordinate their efforts toward achieving their departmental objectives.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities
NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employees may perform other related duties as needed to meet the needs of the organization.

• Responsible for all City operations; assess operational needs through department heads and determine best organizational structure to meet goals and objectives; develop, recommend and administer policies and procedures.
• Development and administration of the City budget and capital programs; approve the forecast of funds needed for staffing, equipment, materials and supplies; approve expenditure and budgetary adjustments as necessary.
• Assesses community and citizen needs to ensure objectives and priorities are focused on meeting those needs effectively, efficiently and with high-quality municipal services.
• Provides day-to-day leadership and works with the City's management team to ensure a high-performance, service-oriented work environment consistent with sound management principles.
• Establishes performance requirements and personal development targets; monitors performance and provides coaching for performance improvement and development; takes disciplinary action to address performance deficiencies in accordance with the City's personnel rules and policies.
• Attends Council meetings and presents information and recommendations deemed necessary or as requested by members of the Board; meets with and advises the City Council on matters related to municipal operations and policies; makes recommendations to the Council on personnel policies and assignments for efficient operation of the City government.
• Responds to customers, the press, the public, civic groups and elected officials to resolve concerns and problems and answer questions.
• Directs and oversees the preparation of a wide variety of reports and presentations for the City Council, citizen committees and outside agencies; oversees the preparation of press releases and materials for dissemination to the media and the public; maintains effective relationships with the media; attends and participates in professional groups and committees.
• Administers and enforces the City Charter and is responsible for the operations of the City.
• Plans, coordinates and directs the operation of departments and programs; evaluates organizational issues and problems and facilitates strategies to resolve issues.
• Maintains responsibility for intergovernmental relations with other local governments, public and private organizations.
• Responds to and resolves difficult and sensitive employee inquiries and complaints; ensures City work places are free of discrimination.

Required Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university with a degree in public administration, business administration, economics or related field or five (5) or more years of progressive experience in managing a municipal government as a City Manager, Assistant City Manager or Senior Executive; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.


Special Requirements

• Valid N.C. driver's license and acceptable driving record

Preferred Requirements

• Master's Degree in a related field
• Professional certification from the International City Management Association (ICMA) or other leading professional certification bodies
• Completion of the Municipal/County Administration Course from the School of Government, UNC Chapel Hill

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
Knowledge of:

• Operations, services and activities of a municipality.
• Advanced principles and practices of public administration and local government administration.
• Principles and practices of policy and program development, implementation and administration.
• Government, council, local and state legislative processes.
• Organizational and management practices as applied to the analysis and evaluation of City programs, policies and operational needs.
• Principles and practices of fiscal and strategic planning.
• Methods of analyzing, evaluating and modifying administrative procedures.
• Principles and practices of municipal finance, budget preparation and administration.
• Pertinent federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.

Ability to:

• Plan, integrate and direct a broad range of complex municipal services and programs
• Define complex public policy, management and operational issues
• Perform complex analyses and research, evaluate alternatives and develop sound conclusions and recommendations; present proposals and recommendations clearly and logically in public meetings
• Interpret, explain and apply city, state and federal laws and regulations governing the conduct of City operations
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with the City Council, all levels of City management, other governmental officials, community and civic organizations, employee organizations, employees, the media and the public.
• Exercise tact and diplomacy in dealing with highly sensitive political, public policy, community and employee issues and situations.
• Develop and administer City-wide goals, objectives, policies, procedures, work standards and internal controls.
• Analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions and implement recommendations in support of goals.
• Respond to inquiries or complaints and explain regulations and procedures to the general public, members of the business community and representatives of other agencies and organizations.
• Effectively present information to top management, public groups and/or boards of directors.
• Communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing.

Physical Requirements
Most work is performed in an office setting. Must be able to physically perform the basic life operational functions of stooping, kneeling, reaching, standing, walking, pushing, pulling, lifting, feeling, grasping, talking, hearing and repetitive motions. Must have visual acuity to perform tasks requiring color and depth perception, and field of vision sufficient to perform tasks associated with the preparation and analysis of figures and data, operation of a computer, extensive reading and writing and operation of a motor vehicle. Vocal communication required for expressing or exchanging ideas. Hearing is required to listen and comprehend the spoken word from others.

Working Conditions
Work is performed in an office with a controlled environment without exposure to harmful conditions. Position may include travel to facilities, working after hours and on weekends.
Health, Dental and Vision Insurance:

The City of Washington provides, at no cost , employee only coverage for Medical (High-Deductible with H.S.A), Vision and Dental insurance. Coverage is available for all regular status full-time employees scheduled to work 40 hours. Employees may also choose to cover eligible dependents. Benefits begin on the 1st day of the month following 30 days of employment.

Paid Life Insurance

The City provides $15,000 of term life insurance and $15,000 of accident death insurance to all full-time employees at no cost. Employees may elect additional coverage, including dependent coverage, at their own cost.

Employer Paid Leave:

Paid Vacation: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of vacation leave per month. Leave accruals increase based on the number of years of City service. (Ex: at 5 years increases to 10 hours per month)

Paid Holidays: The City of Washington observes 13 paid holidays per calendar year. The approved holidays are New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, 2 days at Thanksgiving and 3 days at Christmas.

Sick: Full-Time employees earn 8 hours of sick leave per month (Fire Personnel earn 14.15 hours). Sick leave hours accumulate without limits and may be used toward credible service upon retirement from the NC Local Government Retirement System.

Retirement:

The City assists our employees in securing their financial future during retirement by participating in the Local Governmental Employees' Retirement System, administered by the State of North Carolina. Regular status employees, scheduled to work 20 hours or more per week, become members in the retirement system upon employment. As a member of this system, employees are required to contribute 6 percent of their gross salary on a tax-deferred basis.

Deferred Compensation Plans:

To further assist employees in saving for retirement, the City offers two supplemental retirement savings programs. These programs offer employees an opportunity to save a portion of their salary on a tax-deferred basis to supplement their retirement benefit. The programs offered are 401(k) Supplemental Retirement Income Plan and the 457 Plan through Prudential.

Cafeteria Plan / Supplemental Benefits:

Realizing that each employee may have different insurance needs, the City offers its employees the opportunity to supplement City-provided benefits by selecting from the benefits listed below. These benefits are offered at employee's expense through payroll deduction:
• Supplemental Term Life Insurance
• Cancer Insurance
• Accident Insurance
• Critical Illness Insurance
• Whole Life Insurance
• Disability Insurance
• Healthcare and Dependent Care Reimbursement Account (Pre-tax basis)

Death Benefit:

After one year as a contributing member of the Retirement System, a death benefit is provided that is equal to the highest 12 months' salary in a row during the 24 months before death, no less than $25,000 and no more than $50,000. There is no cost to the employee for these benefits.

Pay Periods/Direct Deposit:

City employees are paid bi-weekly, every other Friday through direct deposit.

Full benefit details may be viewed here: