Town Manager Job Description

The town council represents the voters, but the manager runs the town.

Although cities and towns may adjust the job to suit their own needs, the town manager serves as chief executive officer to his municipality. Unlike the elected mayor and council members, he is a professional manager. Whether the position is called town manager, town administrator or city manager, he directs the town's multiple departments and sets the tone to how the town operates. In a sense, he is hired to run a multimillion-dollar business.

The Manager's Power

Many cities and towns use the council-manager governance system, which makes the manager the actual chief of city operations. In addition to running the departments, the manager and staff often have the power to propose and recommend council actions. The manager and staff usually prepare reports to council members on pending council actions. In addition, the manager may have the power to spend money in an emergency, though he may need to go to the council with a full report after.

Oversees Everything

A town manager knows sewer work as well as he knows finance.

The town manager oversees all departments, from police and fire to public works and finance. The nature of the job requires him to know all aspects of a town's operation. He needs decision making and personnel skills, must know his way around sewers and building codes, and should know how to build a multimillion-dollar budget. He may hire administrators to run the departments, though his decisions are subject to council approval.

Becoming a Manager

A town manager normally has a strong background in municipal operations, including a college degree in public administration or political science. He tends to work his way up the ranks, spending time as a town department head before becoming a manager. While a town council may appoint one of its own department heads as an interim manager should the top spot become vacant, the council is likely to look elsewhere and go for experience when choosing a permanent manager. Because of this, the town manager is likely to be an outsider. It is rare that a town chooses a longtime resident as a town manager.

Pay and Working Conditions

The town manager negotiates his contract with the town council before he is hired, and can command a six-figure salary with full benefits. He may also be issued a town vehicle. Some cities and towns may require the manager to live in town, but that is not always required. The job is physically and mentally demanding, and a successful manager needs to be able to juggle several crises and keep the town council happy at the same time.

Serves at Council's Pleasure

The town manager answers to the mayor and council, which sometimes creates tension. The council, elected by town citizens, has the power to fire a manager and sometimes will if the manager proposes changes that go against the council's own agenda.

References

• Town of Norwich, Vermont: Town Manager Job Description
• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Top Executives