This position is open until Friday, December 26, 2025 at 4:30 PM. Applications must be received by the deadline in order to be considered.
About The Position
Under the direction of the Mayor, the incumbent is responsible for the efficient and economic administration of City government through effective management of available human, financial and material resources. The incumbent must possess experience managing growth and development within a large urban environment of an increasingly diverse community with a proven ability to work effectively with elected officials, civic and/or business leaders and senior management staff.
Work is characterized by executive level work with the Mayor and City Council in the development of short and long-range goals and objectives for providing municipal services; to strategize with the Mayor on legislative priorities at the state and national level; to direct and motivate the Executive/Senior Management group in the development and implementation of programs to obtain results through the effective utilization of human, financial and material resources; to integrate interdepartmental activities as required; to report periodically on operations and recommendations for appropriate courses of action and improvements. The incumbent is required to exercise keen judgment, imagination and foresight in making administrative and management decisions and in meetings with state and federal administrative officials and legislators.
Work is performed according to the policy directives of the Mayor and City Council and serves at the pleasure of the Mayor.
This position is responsible for direct management of the following Director positions: Public Works & Utilities Director, Planning & Development Director, Parks & Recreation Director and Public Information Officer. In addition, this position manages the City Public Records function and the City Information services and corresponding employees.
New hires generally start between $15,091.00 and $16,638.00 per month. Placement within the position’s full wage scale is based on qualifications and professional experience. The full wage scale for this position is between $15,091.00 and $20,223.50 per month.
To view the full job description, please visit the following link: City Administrator
About The City
The City of Edmonds is a beautiful community on the Puget Sound waterfront with a population of 43,420 (MRSC, 2024) and is the gateway to the Olympic peninsula via the state ferry system. Edmonds provides a full range of services, including contracted fire services, police services a municipal court, a community pool, a regional performing arts facility, public works and utilities, a regional wastewater treatment facility, along with community events and services through our Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services Department. Six department directors report directly to the Mayor and oversee approximately 279 full–time-equivalent employees.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:
- Serves as the Mayor’s Chief of Staff; organizes, directs, and motivates the leadership team in a manner that will assure the accomplishment of city objectives; assists in the selection and performance evaluation of directors by the Mayor; makes recommendations to the Mayor on resolving management performance issues.
- Assists the Mayor to ensure the effective administration of city government by coordinating programs among departments so that the most effective degree of unified action may be attained.
- Recommends to the Mayor an effective organizational structure to assure continuity of managerial and specialized skills capable of accomplishing city government objectives, as well as the Mayor’s and Council’s goals.
- Directs development of financial plans for the future and development of revenue projections and new revenue opportunities; ensures the financial soundness and integrity of the city to capably meet commitments and continue to provide the high quality of service to the community; ensures long-range economic and financial planning for respective departments to meet growth requirements and projects; recommends expenditures for assigned departments biennial budget to provide a sound basis within which to operate and in order to control costs.
- Under the Mayor’s direction, develops, recommends, and implements plans and policies to effectively attain long and short-range goals and objectives of the City of Edmonds.
- Confers with the City Attorney to assure that city laws and ordinances are carried out; assures compliance with applicable federal, state and local laws, codes and regulations.
- Facilitates an effective relationship with the Mayor and the City Council to ensure the establishment of objectives and the successful pursuit of their policy leadership role.
- Assures that the City of Edmonds maintains a position of leadership through the effectiveness of its city government by keeping abreast of trends and developments in city management, ensuring that the basic needs of the public are anticipated and satisfied.
- Coordinates intergovernmental activities with the Mayor, City Council, City officials, government agencies and the community; meets with state and federal administrative officials and legislators to present the City’s viewpoint on pending administrative or legislative actions relating to daily operations and long-range planning.
- Maintains an awareness of significant developments and legislative actions affecting the City of Edmonds, apprises the Mayor, Council and appropriate department heads and facilitates timely and appropriate action; reports to the Mayor and City Council on operations and recommends appropriate courses of action and improvements.
- Provides for public relations and community relations; plans and develops policies to contribute to the goodwill and support of the city government.
- Develops and maintain collaborative relationships with other local city administrators/city managers.
- Delivers presentations to community interest and civic groups to further understanding between the city administration and the public.
- Ensures direction, control, and measurement of results necessary to planned growth while maintaining an efficient balance between the quality and cost of city government.
- Participates in Boards and Commissions as necessary.
- Performs related duties as assigned that are within the scope of the position classification.
Education and Experience:
Bachelor's degree in Business or Public Administration or a closely related field. Master’s degree and experience in Public Administration is highly preferred; AND
Seven (7) years of executive or equivalent director management experience in city government or the public sector including five (5) years of managerial experience in positions equivalent or similar to deputy chief administrative officer in a similar or larger sized organization, which would demonstrate the incumbent’s experience in financial administration, project and personnel management, accounting, personnel management, or strategic management experience. Increasingly responsible management experience in the public sector is highly preferred.
An equivalent combination of education, training and experience that will allow the incumbent to successfully perform the essential functions of the position may also be considered.
Required Licenses Or Certifications
- A Valid WA State Driver’s License and a five-year driving abstract acceptable to the City’s insurance requirements is required for any position that will drive for City business.
- A criminal background check is required following a verbal offer of employment. Criminal history is not an automatic employment disqualifier. Results are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Working Conditions
Environment
- Work is performed in an office environment subject to frequent interruptions; may be exposed to individuals who are irate or hostile; may be subject to long hours due to the attendance at City Council and Committee meetings and other responsibilities required at this executive level. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Physical Abilities
- The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the incumbent is regularly required to sit, talk and hear; frequently required to use hands to finger, handle and feel; occasionally required to stand, walk and reach with hands and arms; and occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 35 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, color, and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus.
Hazards
- Contact with angry and/or dissatisfied customers.
- Occasional exposure to dangerous machinery.
- Occasional extreme weather conditions.
- Potential physical harm and hazardous chemicals when working in the field, conducting inspections and working around construction equipment and worksites.
