Assistant to the Council

Assistant To The Council

The Assistant to the Council provides a wide variety of professional support to the Council. In addition, this position represents the Council at meetings when required and appropriate. The position provides extensive professional assistance, project management, and recommendations on City issues and performs highly responsible administrative work covering a broad range of municipal activities. The Assistant to the Council will serve as the liaison to the Goodyear Youth Commission and will assist in developing and organizing meetings, educational experiences and leadership opportunities. This is a professional position requiring exceptional analytical and communication skills.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate exceptional written and verbal communication skills, along with strong time management and organizational abilities. They should have prior experience working with or supporting elected officials and possess a solid understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in addressing sensitive subject matter with civic leaders. This individual will be comfortable exploring, organizing, and executing complex projects and topics. They will consistently exhibit a positive, professional demeanor and approach their work with tact, respect, flexibility, and efficiency. Above all, they will effectively represent the City of Goodyear Mayor and Council Office in all interactions and responsibilities. At the City of Goodyear, you will be a part of an organization that values its employees as its greatest asset. You will become part of a dedicated team of professionals that are committed to build and maintain a highly engaged workforce. You will be challenged to learn and grow in an environment that values employee development and career-building. You will thrive in a culture of innovation. We believe that successful employees are those that possess these six core values: Adaptability - Integrity - Initiative - Empathy - Optimism Innovation Only a limited number of the most qualified applicants meeting the City's requirements will be invited for an interview. The examination process for this position will consist of a panel interview. All communication regarding application status and interview notifications will be sent via email- please monitor your junk/spam email for communication as it will come from a system generated source.

Essential Functions

This information is intended to be descriptive of the key responsibilities of the position. The following functions do not identify all duties performed by the incumbent. Other duties and responsibilities will be performed as assigned.

• Prepares reports and verbal and written correspondence on behalf of the Council. Assists in setting the Council's schedules.
• Conducts research and special projects and assures implementation of programs developed and initiated by the Council. Coordinates the response to issues raised by citizens of Goodyear by coordinating with Departments or other appropriate parties to respond. Advises the Council on unresolved issues that must be addressed.
• Provides a visible link between elected officials and the public, acting as a representative in dealings with constituents (both individually and in groups), and city departments and committees, including the Goodyear Youth Commission.
• Responds to Citizen Inquiries and complaints with the utmost tact and resourcefulness in seeking solutions to the problems presented from within Goodyear and other agencies. Communicates with citizens, management, public officials, general public, and other City employees in order to resolve complaints and inquiries and provide requested information or referral.
• Composes correspondence dealing with city-related issues and subject matter in ways that sometimes requires considerable sensitivity, discretion, judgment, or negotiation in replying to inquiries, and/or presenting or requesting information.
• Attends City Council meetings and work sessions; researches, responds to and prepares correspondence; sets up meetings and conferences; responds to the telephone inquiries and performs necessary follow up, and communicates with City management on sensitive and/or confidential issues received by the Council.
• Drafts information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.
• Ensures Councilmembers are prepared for city-related meetings including providing research, coordinating logistics, and preparing materials.
• Knowledgeable about a variety of City issues and able to state the Council's position on such issues. This includes supporting Council's involvement in regional and national activities as directed by intergovernmental affairs staff. Incumbent must exercise considerable judgment in their capacity with the responsibility for analyzing policy issues, identifying city-wide impacts, and coordinating responses on strategies and alternatives for dealing with the issues.

Requirements

• Formal Education/Knowledge: Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field. Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Experience: Minimum of three year experience in a related field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements: Valid Driver's License.
• Reading: Work requires the ability to read and comprehend city regulation agreements, council action reports, and trade journals.
• Math: Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Writing: Work requires a high-level command of the English language with the ability to write memoranda, correspondence, reports and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Managerial: Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others but may provide advice/direction to an employee with less experience/skill or tenure.
• Budget Responsibility: Has no budget responsibility
• Policy/Decision Making: Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignment after receiving general instructions as to methods, procedures, and desired end results. There is some opportunity for discretion when making selections among a few, easily identifiable choices. Work involving discretion is typically reviewed before finalized.
• Technical Skills: Comprehensive Application - Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization. This includes the ability to understand and navigate complex governmental processes.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills: High - Interactions at this level usually impact the implementation of policies. Contacts may involve interpretation of how policies are implemented and may require discussion and the support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations. During interactions on policy implementation, contacts may also involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond appropriately to aggressive interpersonal interactions.

12 Month Objectives

• Meet individually with each assigned Councilmember and appropriate department directors to become acquainted, discuss expectations and processes, and establish the best form of communication.
• Manage City Council and constituent requests by working with other departments to research and analyze issues, and provide updated information in a timely manner.
• Begin attending various city-related meetings with or on behalf of Council. Compile the necessary background information and/or materials for each meeting, provide feedback of the meeting, and follow up on the issues discussed.
• Attend meetings and familiarize self with Youth Commission, including its structure, goals and mission.
• Research and manage projects as assigned. Track all issues from conceptualization to finalization and inform manager of results.
• Plan, coordinate, and monitor special programs or events initiated by Council such as Council Conversations.
• Actively seek out methods to enhance communications, streamline work processes, decrease turnaround times, and provide quality customer service to Council and Goodyear residents.
• Begin assisting Council by developing information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.
• Prepare recommendations and reports for Council about projects, programs, disputes, and other issues that arise.
• Utilize already-existing or new communication tools (Council Activity Reports, etc.) to ensure timely dissemination of information to all members of Council.

The City of Goodyear offers a highly competitive benefits package including:

• Vacation Leave: 14 days per year, increasing with longevity. Goodyear offers an enhanced vacation benefit of recognizing total years of service under all Arizona public retirement systems for accruing vacation.
• Sick Leave: 12 days per year
• Holidays: 12 paid holidays per year, including one floating holiday the first full pay period of January
• Flexible Holiday: 24 hours per calendar year (prorated based on hire date)
• Health Insurance: Three health plans available to select from at a group rate
• Dental Insurance: Two dental plans available to select from at a group rate
• Vision Insurance: Available at a group rate
• Flexible Spending Accounts: Health Care and Dependent Care accounts available
• Short Term Disability Insurance: City-paid coverage
• Cancer Benefit: City-paid coverage
• Life Insurance: City-paid insurance valued at twice the annual salary ($400,000 maximum); additional life insurance for self and/or dependent is available at employee's cost
• Longevity pay beginning at year six
• Tuition Assistance: $5