Also called a town manager or a country manager, the duties will vary from place to place. In general, this administrator ensures the smooth continuity of local government by creating departments and appointing heads and supervisors as provided by state or local law. Definitely, he does long-range planning for the area of responsibility, preparing for population growth and its need for increased services to the community. Sometimes the city manager is an urban planner and only involved in the development of the area or community. City managers may also be responsible for preparing the detailed annual budget. Detailing would include specific estimates on all budget items.
For centuries, the administration of government has been carried out by persons appointed to perform specific services such as collecting taxes, planning streets, water supply, and law enforcement. These civil servants have been assigned on their responsibilities by kings and dictators, by local rulers, and in democratic societies by elected officials, mayors, or local councils. Because the term of office to which officials may be elected, it may be only a few years. Besides, it has always been required to have persons with special skills to handle a top management job level in order to maintain the continuity of running a government. Further, it is no longer possible for towns and cities to develop at random. Long-term plans and people to carry them out are needed in every town or city of any size. Many aspects of city life such as building public works, including health and sanitation provision, and collecting the revenues needed to construct and maintain them must go on irrespective of the government or party in power.
Population growth and industrial expansion place increasing pressure on housing, transportation, recreation, and other facilities of cities. Problems associated with the growth of modern cities and towns, such as air and water pollution and rising crime rates must be dealt with. To effectively deal with problems, as well as with the overall running of the town or city, many communities are hiring specialists in urban management techniques - who are the city managers who perform CEO jobs.
Nevertheless, a city manager is usually appointed by the community’s elected officials and is responsible to perform a chief officer executive jobs directing and coordinating the administration of local government policy. Likewise, the city manager may in turn appoint department heads and staff needed under state or local ordinances. An important part of the city manager’s work is supervising the activities of these departments that collect and disburse taxes, enforce the law, maintain public health, construct public works, and purchase supplies and equipment. The city manager must prepare annual budgets on the costs of these services and submit estimates to the elected officials for approval. In addition, the city manager must provide reports of ongoing and completed work to the representatives of the people that live in the city. He must also plan for future growth and expansion of population and the need for public services. This may require preparing and writing proposals and recommend zoning regulations controlling the location and development of residential and commercial areas. It may be necessary to present these proposals at meetings of the elected authority as well as at public meetings of citizens.
The staff of a city manager have a variety of titles and responsibilities similar to CFO jobs. For instance, department head assistants may work in several areas, such as law enforcement, finance, or law, but are generally responsible for just one area. Responsibility for specific projects such as developing the annual budget, as well as organizing and coordinating programs, belongs to assistant city managers who may also supervise city employees and act for the city manager in the manager’s absence. In addition, management assistants work under the city manager’s direction, answering correspondence, receiving visitors, preparing reports, and administering programs.
As to CEO job and employment, the greatest demand for this CEO career requires those aspirants who can be able to use more sophisticated management techniques, including computerized tax and utility billing, electronic traffic control, and applications of systems analysis to urban problems. The demand for city managers will increase as more cities will become busier. City managers who perform work similar to a COO job generally work in a well-lighted and well-ventilated offices. They often work overtime at night and on weekends reading and writing reports or finishing paperwork. To provide information to citizens of current government operations or to advocate certain programs, city managers frequently appear at public meetings and other civic functions. When a problem arises or a crisis occurs, they may be called to work at any hour.
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