ASSISTANT TO CITY MANAGER/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Bargaining Unit: N/A
FLSA Exempt
Established Date: June 27, 2023
This position is FLSA exempt, non-represented, and serves in an "at will" capacity. Salary and benefits are established by City Council Resolution for classifications designated as Executive, Mid-Management, Confidential/Exempt.
CENTRAL PURPOSE OF JOB:
Under general administrative direction, provides support to the City Manager through various City services and programs. This position provides highly responsible administrative assistance to the City Manager and City Clerk’s office in the internal control and coordination of existing City programs. The position provides general support to the City Manager and City Clerk’s office and may be assigned to assist other departments with special projects on an as-needed basis. Other general day-to-day duties of this position include preparing the City Council agenda, the annual budget, and providing support to the City Council and City Clerk’s Division through preparing and publishing public meeting agendas; preparing and editing of agenda reports; preparing meeting minutes; and reviewing and responding to Public Records Act (PRA) requests for information. The position also organizes and manages a variety of redevelopment projects in the areas of housing, economic development and redevelopment; performs responsible and technical administrative and analytical work; manages the City's real property; coordinates development activities as assigned; coordinates entrepreneurship programs; creates business development programs, manages the City’s business retention and attraction program, and performs other related duties as required.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS
The Assistant to the City Manager/Economic Development Manager is a management level class which performs the full range, more complex and sensitive duties requiring a broader knowledge of City operations and statutory duties; providing highly responsible and complex administrative support to the City Council and Administration Department requiring high degree of interpersonal skill and diplomacy. This position is also responsible for the City's economic development program. The incumbent meets and confers with developers, retailers, property owners, and community groups regarding development and redevelopment programs. This classification is distinguished from the lower classification of Senior Management Analyst as incumbents of this class are responsible for fulfilling more complex responsibilities, higher level analysis and project management.
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ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include, but are not limited to the following characteristic duties, responsibilities, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The following duties are typical for this classification. Incumbents may not perform all of the listed duties and/or may be required to perform additional or different duties from those set forth below to address business needs and changing business practices.
The position performs highly responsible research, analyses and studies on a wide range of management, administrative, financial, policy and other organization issues in support of the planning and execution of City goals and objectives.
Participates in establishing operational plans and initiatives to meet goals and objectives of the Administrative Services Department; implements work programs, processes, procedures, and policies required to achieve overall Office performance results; participates in development of the City Council Agenda, provides general administrative support to the City Council and City Clerk’s Division, prepares the Department's budget and budget process, coordinates the City's legislative advocacy efforts, prepares grant applications and assists departments with grant opportunities; Provides support to other City Departments, working on special assignments, as directed by the City Manager.
Prepares and publishes public meeting agendas for City Council and Diversity Coalition Committee; prepares and edits agenda reports; prepares meeting minutes.
Reviews and responds to Public Records Act (PRA) requests for information.
Plans, coordinates, organizes and conducts complex and highly responsible administrative and management analysis relating to assigned issues and/or programs; identifies problems, determines analytical techniques, and statistical and information-gathering processes and obtains necessary information and data for analysis; analyzes alternatives and makes recommendations; prepares revenue and cost analyses; develops and presents reports making conclusions and recommendations; develops implementation plans and assists to implement policies and procedures; prepares agenda reports, staff memos, and presentation materials for the City Manager and Deputy City Manager.
As assigned, represents the City and works closely with appointed boards and committees and public and private officials to implement planned programs and recommendations and provide technical assistance in resolving problems.
Attends City Council meetings and work sessions as assigned; researches, responds to and prepares correspondence; performs necessary follow up and communicates with City management on sensitive and confidential issues.
Represents the City in meetings with civic, community, and industry groups and with representatives of other governmental agencies as assigned.
Supervises, trains, and evaluates professional, para-professional, technical, and clerical personnel.
Administer, coordinate, monitor and evaluate redevelopment, economic development, affordable residential housing and first-time homebuyer programs.
Oversee and participate in the development of redevelopment/economic development/housing work plans.
Participate in the selection of and manage consultants engage to perform a variety of special studies related to redevelopment and housing activities, including acquisition appraisals, preparation of EIRs, financial analyses and environmental reports.
Prepare, coordinate and monitor the Successor Agency work plan, funding obligations and expenditures to ensure compliance with applicable State and Federal laws.
Prepare analyses relating to acquisition and disposition agreements. negotiate and administer redevelopment proposals, agreements, and disposition and development agreements.
Develop, negotiate and monitor contracts, loan documents and agreements with developers, appraisers, market analysts, title companies, other City departments, agencies and third-party contractors.
Develop, evaluate and review applications for State and Federal funding.
Prepare required reporting documents to the State and other agencies.
Develop, maintain and disseminate information on housing funding, financing and availability to individuals, families, builders, developers and others.
Confer with developers, City personnel, businesses and the general public to discuss redevelopment and affordable housing programs and projects. coordinate activities with other City departments and the City Manager.
Coordinate and negotiate property acquisitions and disposals in full conformance with applicable rules and laws.
Coordinate the relocation of tenants and property owners.
Manage Successor Agency redevelopment projects from inception through issuance of Certification of Occupancy.
Prepare and administer the Successor Agency budget and make tax increment projections.
Professionally prepare and deliver oral and written presentations to internal and external audiences in a variety of public and private settings.
Administer the division budget.
Conducts special studies and projects as assigned by the City Manager regarding the efficiency and effectiveness of various City operations and activities.
Perform other related duties as assigned.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Any combination of experience and training that would likely provide the required knowledge and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the knowledge and abilities would be:
Experience:
At least three (3) years of full-time increasingly responsible professional experience within the redevelopment, economic development, housing and/or planning field, preferably in the public sector, including at least one year of full-time program or project management experience; or three years’ experience in an administrative, management or operations capacity in a municipal government setting including administrative analysis, budget preparation and control, and project and program administration; or any combination of experience and education that would provide the required knowledge and abilities.
Education/Training:
Equivalent to a Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Business Administration, Public Administration, Economics, Urban Planning, Urban Studies or a closely related field.
A Master's Degree in Public Administration or other closely related field is desirable.
Licenses and Certificates:
Possession of a valid Class C California Driver’s License with acceptable driving record.
KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES REQUIRED TO PERFORM ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
Knowledge of:
Modern public administration and management principles, practices, procedures, program management, and organizational development; applicable federal, state, and local laws regulations; research techniques and statistical analysis; principles, practices, and methods of municipal budgeting; record keeping principles and practices; effective techniques and methods of leadership and supervision; methods of report preparation and presentation; principles of community and public relations and effective public speaking techniques; operation of personal computers and software applications..
California redevelopment, real estate, planning law, real estate finance, and analyses of financial pro formas; principles, practices and methods of public administration, including budgeting, purchasing, real estate, and property management; financial procedures and regulations pertaining to real estate, loan management, property improvements; acquisition appraisal, property acquisition and relocation procedures; Program of Affordable Housing Development and Assistance.
Ability to:
Independently perform a wide variety of administrative duties; analyze complex and sensitive administrative, operational, economic and organizational issues and evaluate alternatives in order to reach sound conclusions; collect, evaluate and interpret varied information and data; interpret and apply laws, regulations, policies and procedures; coordinate a variety of complex assignments simultaneously and meet critical deadlines; prepare concise and effective reports and other written documents; evaluate and develop effective procedures, policies, methods, and operations; effectively administer assigned program responsibilities; supervise, train and evaluate personnel; communicate clearly, concisely, and effectively both orally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work; operate appropriate office and computer equipment and applications; effectively represent the City Manager's Office demonstrating excellent customer service; exercise sound judgment, initiative and creativity in making difficult decisions; maintain and exhibit discretion and integrity when handling sensitive situations; learn and work with political sensitivities of outside agencies, internal committees and commissions; exemplify an enthusiastic, resourceful and effective service attitude with the public, co-workers and others who are contacted in the course of work.
Plan, organize and manage a variety of redevelopment/economic development/housing projects, programs and activities; successfully adhere to multiple deadlines and handle multiple projects concurrently; organize and conduct independent research and analysis with minimal supervision; prepare clear, concise, and informative correspondence and reports, including City Council reports, technical reports, and contract documents; work in a team with the City Manager, City Attorney and City staff; make oral presentations on programs, activities and budgets to the Successor Agency and the City Council; communicate professionally and effectively to internal and external customers in a variety of settings, both orally and in writing; outreach to development community, understand community needs and proactively work to address these needs in conjunction with the strategic plan's goals; establish, maintain and enhance effective working relationships with those encountered in the performance of required duties, including staff, clients, contractors, property owners, and elected and appointed officials
Physical Requirements:
Ability to operate a variety of automated office machines, including a calculator, copier, personal computer and applicable software programs; coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing slightly skilled movements, such as data entry; exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work, typically involving lifting, carrying, pushing and pulling, sitting, and/or walking; maneuver and steer equipment and machinery requiring simple, but continuous adjustments, such as the operation of an automobile.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability:
Ability to exercise independent judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving directions, control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs; ability to decide time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, as well as the ability to oversee their execution; ability to analyze and categorize data and information using established criteria, in order to determine consequences and to identify and select alternatives.
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication:
Ability to utilize consulting data and information, such as legal briefs, economic analysis; ability to communicate effectively with coworkers, businesses, residents, elected and appointed officials, and the general public, both verbally and in writing; ability to effectively make presentations; ability to prepare development agreements and reports; ability to keep abreast of any changes in policy, methods, operations, state and federal laws as they pertain to City operations and activities; ability to advise and provide interpretation to others how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
Environmental Adaptability:
Ability to work in an office environment.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
Willingness and ability to work the hours necessary to accomplish the assigned duties; attend evening meetings; travel out of town and attend workshops, conferences, seminars during working and non-working hours.
Class specifications are only intended to present a descriptive summary of the range of duties and responsibilities associated with specified positions. Therefore, specifications may not include all duties performed by individuals within a classification. In addition, specifications are intended to outline the minimum qualifications necessary for entry into the class and do not necessarily convey the final qualifications of incumbents within the position.
Pursuant to California Government Code Section 3100, all public employees are required to serve as disaster service workers subject to such disaster service activities as may be assigned to them by their supervisor or by law.
City of Signal Hill