CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER — CITY OF MONTGOMERY (AL)
FLSA: Exempt | Classification: 0698 | Pay Grade: A14
About the City of Montgomery
Montgomery is a city with global significance and a future-focused agenda—set along the Alabama River, where the Coosa and Tallapoosa Rivers converge just north of the city and the river winds through downtown. As Alabama’s state capital and a nationally recognized center of American history, Montgomery continues to shape what’s next through civic innovation, downtown revitalization, neighborhood investment, and regional economic momentum. The city is advancing intentional development in and around downtown, alongside coordinated planning among key public partners to strengthen growth, connectivity, and quality of place.
Montgomery’s economy is supported by major employers and a strong industry base, including large-scale automotive manufacturing and a growing ecosystem of suppliers and workforce pathways. At the same time, the city is expanding its profile as a destination for outdoor recreation and tourism—anchored by the Montgomery Whitewater adventure park and other initiatives elevating the visitor experience. Montgomery is also home to the Equal Justice Initiative’s Legacy Sites, including The Legacy Museum and the National Memorial for Peace and Justice—international destinations for visitors seeking to engage deeply with American history and its enduring impact.
The City’s current project pipeline includes targeted infrastructure and neighborhood-focused planning efforts supported by federal recovery funding—reflecting a practical, implementation-oriented approach to progress.
Nature of Work
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) exists to monitor, evaluate, and strengthen city operations and functions as assigned by the Mayor’s Office. The COO provides senior operational leadership across the daily functions of city government, serves as a liaison to departments on behalf of the Mayor’s Office, and helps communicate and advance city goals and strategies—ensuring they are executed effectively. The role also supports the development and review of city and department-wide policies.
As a key member of the Mayor’s staff, the COO helps coordinate core operational planning and ensures a timely flow of information to and from the Mayor’s Office. The COO serves in an advisory capacity on operations matters within the assigned area and works with considerable independence in judgment and decision-making. This position reports directly to the Mayor.
Key Responsibilities
This list reflects a job analysis and is not exhaustive; other duties may be assigned.
Operational Strategy & Department Performance
● Oversees the development and management of operating strategies and plans for assigned departments.
● Establishes clear performance and growth goals for departments and monitors progress toward those goals.
● Monitors and reviews departmental goals, budgets, and implementation of new programs, operations, and policies.
Workforce & Operational Efficiency
● Monitors and evaluates staffing and operations to ensure the most effective and efficient use of resources within each department.
● Evaluates performance by analyzing and interpreting data to support operational decisions and continuous improvement.
Leadership, Consistency & Accountability
● Provides professional and management-level supervision consistent with directives from the Mayor’s Office to ensure consistent application of programs, services, policies, and procedures across city government.
● Communicates frequently with department heads to keep them current on policy and operational changes and to reinforce a culture of excellence, accountability, and productivity.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Knowledge
● Public administration principles and practices; general management principles.
● Strategic and operational planning (short- and long-term).
● City budgeting procedures and multi-funded financing operations; municipal operations and services.
● Mayor’s Office policies/functions and laws/ordinances relating to mayoral powers and duties.
● Employment-related laws and procedures; relevant legal codes, regulations, and governmental processes.
● English language rules and composition; computer principles and applications; project management methods; mass communication processes.
Skills
● Communicating with high-level officials and stakeholders (e.g., department heads, elected officials, business leaders, City Council members, dignitaries, influential public citizens).
● Oral and written communication to explain policies, address civic groups/media, prepare/review documentation, develop policies, and prepare reports/correspondence.
Abilities
● Plan and visualize operations to achieve strategic goals; build complex internal and external relationships; maintain effective working relationships.
● Lead large, diverse teams; direct managerial and professional employees; maintain discipline; build teamwork and trust.
● Make difficult decisions under time constraints; balance competing interests; ensure compliance; identify legal concerns and practical implications.
● Manage multiple priorities; coordinate departmental efforts for projects/special events; develop/implement operational plans, policies, procedures, and evaluation standards.
● Use initiative and judgment where no standardized procedures exist; analyze technical data and make policy/procedure recommendations.
What Success Looks Like (First 6–12 Months)
● Clear operational priorities and performance targets are established for assigned departments, with a consistent cadence for tracking progress and surfacing risks early.
● Department operations run with stronger coordination and fewer preventable bottlenecks, supported by timely communication of policy and operational changes.
● Staffing and resource utilization are evaluated and optimized so teams are positioned to deliver services efficiently and effectively.
● Budgets, new initiatives, and operational changes are monitored proactively, with leadership equipped to make informed decisions based on real-time information and performance data.
● Programs and services are applied more consistently across departments, reinforcing accountability, productivity, and a resident-centered standard of service delivery.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, or a closely related field and five (5) years of senior-level public administration experience, or experience as a senior executive in private industry within an organization of comparable complexity.
Note: Qualifying education, training, and experience that provide the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities will be considered.
