Assistant City Manager for Development Services and Quality of Life

About the role

The City of Wichita seeks a dynamic, result-oriented and collaborative leader to oversee economic development, city planning, housing, building/construction services, utilities/engineering, and represent the City as a liaison to developers, Greater Wichita Partnership, Kansas Department of Commerce and other key players in commercial development.

Responsibilities

• Serves as Team Leader for functional grouping of development services, departments and staff.
• Drives innovation and collaborations to tackle touch community issues and implement big ideas.
• Represents the City Manager and City of Wichita at local, regional and national meetings and events.
• Participates in the coordination and preparation of the agenda for the City Council.
• Drafts policies and regulations for review by City Manager.
• Responds to inquiries from the public, civic and professional groups, and the news media in person, by telephone, or by correspondence.
• Confers with the City Manager on policy matters and proceeds as appropriate to ensure implementation/compliance.
• Provides guidance to Department & Division Directors in implementing governing body and administrative directives.
• Communicates with Department Directors to convey and gather information required by the City Manager.
• Provides information and staff support at meetings of the City Council.
• Approves drafts of operating procedures and directives.
• Covers or participates in special projects.

Requirements

• Thorough knowledge of principles and practices of municipal administration that includes operational functions of various units of government.
• Thorough knowledge of economic development principles, policies and tools.
• Ability to quickly develop thorough knowledge of regulations, ordinances and laws governing the municipality.
• Ability to analyze a variety of administrative problems and make sound policy and procedural recommendations.
• Ability to develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, employees of other departments, representatives of other organizations, City officials, and the public.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• To live in the corporate city limits.
• Ability to acquire and maintain a valid Kansas driver's license.

Qualifications

• Required: Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economic development, urban planning, or a related field.
• A minimum of seven years of increasingly responsible supervisory and managerial experience in leading cross-functional teams, projects and departments.
• Experience as a city/county administrator or assistant manager/department director.

Skills

• Positive, optimistic attitude, excellent facilitator.
• Honesty and personal integrity.
• Diplomatic; treats everyone with respect and dignity.
• Self-motivated, goal-oriented.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Good understanding of finance, budgeting and public management.
• Excellent people/public relations, communication and mediation/negotiation skills; adept at conflict management and resolution.
• Ability to network with communities, economic development professionals and a wide variety of other organizations (well beyond the scope of the local community).
• Ability to work effectively with community leaders, diverse community groups and all levels of government.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, often in the face of adversity.
• Comfortable and effective at public speaking and making presentations.
• Ability to research and analyze information from a wide variety of sources.
• Ability to analyze problems and seek innovative solutions.
• Adept at fostering organizational and business development.
• Ability to prepare well-thought-out proposals and make recommendations.
• Marketing and salesmanship skills; ability to inspire and mobilize people.
• Basic understanding of land use planning, real estate development, zoning, economic development principles and tools, and municipal infrastructure.
• Good understanding of government and legislative processes.
• Dedication to the local government profession that includes evening and weekend meetings, an ever-changing business and political environment and inherent challenges in economic development.

Benefits

• Medical Benefits
• Prescription Drug Benefits
• Vision Coverage
• Teladoc Virtual Care
• Healthy Living Programs
• Dental Coverage
• Life Insurance
• Long-term Disability Insurance
• Voluntary Accidental Death & Dismemberment
• Cafeteria Plan (Pre-tax for medical premiums)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Deferred Compensation
• Long-term Care Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Holidays