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Home My WebLink AboutCity ManagerUpdated: August 2025 (Admin Review) CITY OF IOWA CITY – JOB DESCRIPTION Position Title: City Manager Department: City Manager’s Oﬃce Division: City Manager ’s Oﬃce Supervisor: City Council FLSA: Exempt Civil Service: No Pay Grade: N/A Job Number: 7002 Job Summary This position is the highest level of management within the municipal organization; serves as the City’s Chief Administrative Oﬃcer; manages the City’s aﬀairs under broad policy direction from the City Council. Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities The following duties are normal for this position. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned. • Plans, directs, controls and evaluates City operations and services. • Manages and supervises all departments to achieve goals within available resources. • Coordinates the budget development process for the city; reviews departmental budget submissions and recommends the annual operating budget and three-year ﬁnancial plan for City Council approval. • Develops long-range ﬁscal management plans and strategies; implements the approved budget and monitors revenue and expenditure trends; directs the debt and cash management processes for the city; recommends a ﬁve-year capital improvements program. • Initiates policy recommendations for City Council consideration; prepares comprehensive reports to assist City Council in policy making decisions. • Responds to requests from the City Council and the public. • Reviews and oversees signiﬁcant projects and issues; works with Department Directors and other management staﬀ to determine the best course of action and management strategy. • Assesses and monitors workloads, administrative and support systems and internal reporting relationships; identiﬁes opportunities for improvement; directs and implements changes. • Oversees administration of personnel management system; approves hires, promotions, salary increases and related personnel actions; determines disposition of employee grievances. • Directs the preparation of City Council agenda. • Assesses the current and long-term needs in various program areas; assists the City Council in developing strategic goals and implements said goals. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Advises the City Council concerning the status of current projects. • Develops programs and strategies to enhance the eﬀectiveness and eﬃciency of City operations. • Oversees the City’s economic development eﬀorts. • Builds mutually beneﬁcial partnerships with residents, outside agencies, developers, local community groups and others. • Attends City Council and other public meetings; makes speeches and community presentations as required. • Negotiates contracts and other agreements; signs agreements and contracts for purchase of goods and services; negotiates and resolves sensitive and controversial issues. • Prepares correspondence necessary to direct or document City business decisions. • Conducts self in a professional manner which demonstrates courtesy and respect for all community members and coworkers. • Performs other related duties as required. Minimum Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution and seven years of related experience; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Advanced degree in Public Administration, Urban Planning, Business Administration, or related. Experience in municipal government. Supervisory experience in municipal government. • Valid State of Iowa driver’s license with satisfactory driving record required. Must be 18 years of age. Must pass criminal background check. Must reside in the municipal limits of the City of Iowa City. Preferred Education, Experience, Certification/Licensure, Other • Master’s degree from an accredited educational institution and more than seven years of related experience; and/or equivalent combination of education and experience. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities • Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations. • Ability to apply principles of logical or scientiﬁc thinking to a wide range of intellectual and practical problems. • Ability to calculate ﬁgures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume. • Ability to deal with a variety of abstract and concrete variables. • Ability to deﬁne problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. • Ability to develop and present mathematical budget information. • Ability to eﬀectively communicate, both orally and in writing, to residents, the City Council and employees. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) • Ability to make eﬀective and persuasive speeches and presentations on controversial or complex topics to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors, commissions, or elected oﬃcials. • Ability to read and understand technical materials, reports and journals and prepare administrative documents. • Ability to reliably and predictably carry out duties. • Ability to respond eﬀectively to the most sensitive inquiries or complaints. • Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference. • Ability to write speeches and articles using original or innovative techniques or style. • Knowledge of principles and techniques of public administration. • Skill in management, decision making, written and verbal communication, public relations, and interpersonal relations. • Skill in using computers and applicable software applications (Microsoft Oﬃce – Word, Excel, Outlook). Supervision Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of a department. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization's policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include supervising subordinate supervisors and direct reports include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems. Physical Demands The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. Ability to transport self from building to building and to attend various functions and meetings at other sites either within or outside of the City. Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential duties and responsibilities of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties and responsibilities. Updated: August 2025 (Admin Review) The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Duties are generally performed in an oﬃce setting with a controlled environment. The job requires sitting for extended periods of time and the work may expose the employee to unpleasant social situations and signiﬁcant work pace pressure. Iowa City is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act as Amended, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer. Reviewed/Approved by: Geoﬀ Fruin, City Manager (4/2024) of this job description, and I agree that I can perform the duties of this position with or without reasonable accommodation. Employee Date ________________________________ __________________