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Summary

Under direction of the City Manager, provides assistance in planning, managing, overseeing, and directing city operations and services to meet City Council goals and objectives. In this capacity, is delegated supervision of Departments and Offices. Supports and assists the City Manager in providing leadership to the organization and identifying future organizational and community challenges / opportunities and approaches to addressing them. May serve as Acting City Manager when City Manager and Deputy City Manager are not available.

Essential Functions

(Essential functions, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, may include the following tasks, knowledge, skills and other characteristics. The list of tasks is ILLUSTRATIVE ONLY, and is not a comprehensive listing of all functions and tasks performed by positions in this class.)

Assists the City Manager in providing executive leadership to the organization including supervision, policy development, and City County and Community support and service.

Provides supervision to departments and offices, as assigned by the City Manager. This supervision includes:

Recruits, manages, supervises and directs the activities of assigned staff and functions; makes recommendations regarding hiring, discipline, termination or advancement of employees. Schedules employees, assigns work, and monitors progress; guides, trains and develops employees in the accomplishment of their duties and professional growth; and evaluates performance.
Assists in developing and evaluating budget needs and priorities.
Determines activities to align Departmental work and priorities to City Council and organizational priorities as outlined in the strategic plan and other documents.
Identifies areas of opportunity or improvement for areas within supervisory responsibility.
Ensures appropriateness of Departmental work products for use by City Manager, City Council, City organization, and members of the public including representing and informing City Manager of major issues and projects having political significance or high sensitivity in the community.

Works as a member of the City Manager’s Executive Team (SLT) to support strategic efforts of the organization including:

Development or implementation of strategic goals or actions through the Strategic Plan, including participation on SLT, with Strategic Planning Action Team, Strategic Planning Implementation Teams, and in work with community and regional partners.
Capacity building around the City’s Vision, Mission, Values, Strategic Plan, or other performance improvement efforts.
Project management or leadership of cross-departmental teams or efforts, as assigned.
Policy development or facilitation, as assigned.
Organizational change, development or communication activities, as needed.
Contract or consultant management, as needed.

Represents the City Manager and the City of Thornton in intergovernmental, community and other collaborative efforts, as assigned:

Develops and maintains close working relationships with other cities, counties and governmental agencies.
Represents the City in a leadership, policy-making capacity in negotiations with outside organizations; advocates the City's positions on issues in negotiations and meetings.
Recommends and/or develops joint efforts on projects/issues when appropriate to achieve City Council's goals and objectives.

Contributes to City Council, administrative and customer service efforts of the City Manager’s Office:

Prepares for and attends City Council planning and business meetings, Ward Meetings, Town Halls and other public meetings, as needed.
City Council support and assistance to the City Manager.
Supports and interacts with other City Board, Committees, Commissions or Task Forces, as assigned.
Collaborates and shares information with City Manager and other City Manager’s Office staff.
Attends meetings, communicates, and problem-solves on behalf of City Council Members, or members of the public, as necessary.
Researches information and develops reports, communications, press releases, and presentations, as appropriate.

Serves in an acting capacity during absence of City Manager and Deputy City Manager.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education/Experience:

Bachelor's degree in public administration or related field from an accredited college or university; eight years' experience in local government including at least four years' executive experience in a City Manager's Office or as a department director. Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be considered. Master's degree preferred.

Licensing/Certification Requirements

May need the ability to travel to various locations in a timely manner as the job requires.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

Knowledge of the policies, procedures, practices, and goals of the City of Thornton and the departments/offices responsible for.

Knowledge of federal, state, and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, and regulations pertaining to local government operations.

Knowledge of the City of Thornton organization, including the personnel, programs, functions, and services of city departments and divisions.

Knowledge of federal and state legislative processes.

Knowledge of the general principles and practices of public administration, including personnel management and supervision, organizational development and budgeting.

Knowledge of the basic principles of finance.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of performing research projects.

Knowledge of state and local statutes, ordinances, resolutions, and charter relating to municipal finance.

Knowledge of State and Federal legislative policies, procedures, and issues.

Knowledge of intergovernmental issues impacting the City of Thornton.

Skill in managing, planning, and coordinating major projects to achieve the City's missions, goals, and objectives.

Skill in developing, implementing, and evaluating policies and procedures.

Skill in applying appropriate public relations skill in various situations and circumstances and in facilitating change.

Skill in coordinating and managing the budget development process.

Skill in reviewing, preparing, and/or approving financial reports, studies, and documents.

Skill in interpreting, understanding, and following complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and guidelines.

Skill in developing and/or monitoring departmental budgets.

Skill in preparing, researching and analyzing operational and management issues and preparing reports.

Skill in managing and directing special projects.

Skill in interpreting and explaining State and Federal legislative issues.

Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with City employees, other agencies, and the public.

Ability to develop, manage, monitor, and/or maintain budgets.

Ability to research, investigate and direct the resolution of complex problems, and conduct research on public policy topics.

Ability to properly handle major programs and projects having political significance or high sensitivity in the community.

Ability to monitor proposed state and federal legislation and prepare legislative impact reports and action plans.

Ability to identify and develop appropriate courses of action to respond to a wide variety of organizational needs.

Ability to serve effectively as a member of a Senior Leadership Team.

Ability to motivate, lead, supervise and train employees.

Ability to effectively represent the City in meetings with professional organizations, other public agencies, and the general public.

Ability to respond with tact, composure, and courtesy when dealing with difficult situations.

Ability to analyze problems, identify alternative solutions, project consequences of proposed actions, and implement recommendations in support of goals.

Ability to listen well and communicate effectively orally and in writing with various audiences.

Ability to interpret, understand, and comply with complex statutes, ordinances, regulations, standards, and laws.

Ability to analyze and evaluate information accurately, and to express ideas clearly when providing oral and written reports or recommendations on administrative, financial and technical issues.

Ability to use standard office equipment, computer equipment and software including word processing, database management, spreadsheet applications and electronic mail.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City management, elected officials, board and commission members, employees, other agencies and community members.

Ability to effectively coordinate the development of the City's annual operating budget and capital improvement plan.

Ability to determine levels of staff, equipment and other resources needed to effectively and efficiently provide City services and programs.

Ability to effectively collect, review, verify, and analyze financial data.

Ability to represent the City position on intergovernmental issues and negotiate with other governments and organizations.

Ability to train employees.

Ability to research, develop and lead formal and informal presentations and discussions with diverse groups.

Physical And Mental Requirements

While performing the essential duties of this job, the employee is required to sit, stand, walk, finger, talk, hear, and make repetitive motions. This position is mostly sedentary work; exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. The employee is required to have close visual acuity and be able to determine the accuracy, neatness, and thoroughness of work assigned or to make general observations of facilities or structures.

TESTING PROCEDURES

Examinations may include but are not limited to application screening beyond minimum qualifications; written, oral, practical exercise or any combination thereof or other job related assessment deemed appropriate by Human Resources.

Your application will be used as a screening tool. Completeness and accuracy are important! Any false or untrue statements or material omissions in the application and related paperwork or during the selection process could disqualify you from consideration.

As a condition of employment, the City of Thornton conducts background investigations for all positions which may also include a review of credit report and/or driving record. A drug screen, physical, and/or psychological examination administered by a city-designated provider will be required for pre-determined positions.

The City of Thornton is an equal opportunity employer.

The City of Thornton offers employees an outstanding benefits package. Benefit eligibility is based on the status of the position. Please email Jobs@thorntonco.gov to receive a copy of our 2025 Benefits Guide.

Benefits offered may include the following depending on the job type/status of the position:

Health Insurance
Dental Insurance
Vision Insurance
Life, Dependent Life & Supplemental Life Insurance Options
Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment Policy
Flexible Spending Plan
Retiree Health Savings Plan
Pension Plan & Deferred Compensation Plans
Short & Long-term Disability Plans
Paid Holidays
Vacation & Sick Leave
Multilingual Incentive Pay
Recreation Pass
Wellness Program - Learn more here
In-House Training Opportunities
Tuition Reimbursement
Employee Assistance Program
Flexible Schedules
Hybrid Schedules

01

Please indicate the highest level of education you have completed. (Please note that we will verify graduation/completion.)

High School Diploma or GED
Associate's Degree
Bachelor's Degree
Master's Degree or higher
None of the above
Other

02

Please select the appropriate amount of management experience you have in municipal government:

0 - 5 years
6 - 7 years
8 - 11 years
12+ years

03

Do you have at least four years' supervisory experience?

04

Please describe any experience you have developing cross-departmental housing, community engagement, or other neighborhood-supporting services. If you do not have experience in these areas enter "n/a".

05

Do you have experience leading the recruitment process for high profile positions like a Parks and Recreation Director, a Community and Economic Development Director or a Community Programs Director? If yes, share how you prioritized recruitment activities and how you approached the recruitment to ensure both a robust skill set and alignment of goals and values.

06

Have you been involved in organizational restructuring or other significant organizational change effort implementation? If yes, can provide an example that illustrates how you approached decision-making and communication to balance individual needs with collective needs? If no, enter "n/a".

Required Question

City of Thornton, Colorado

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