Special Assistant to the Mayor

With competitive pay, great benefits, and endless opportunities, working for the City and County of Denver means seeing yourself working with purpose — for you, and those who benefit from your passion, skills and expertise. Join our diverse, inclusive and talented workforce of more than 11,000 team members who are at the heart of what makes Denver, Denver.

Pay

The hiring range for this position is $60,064/year - $79,000/year, based on experience.

Benefits

• A guaranteed life-long monthly pension, once vested after 5 years of service
• 457B Retirement Plan
• 140 hours of PTO earned within first year + 12 paid holidays, 1 personal holiday, 1 Wellness Day and 1 volunteer day per year
• Competitive medical, dental and vision plans effective within 1 month of start date

More information about the perks and benefits we provide to full-time employees can be found on our website.

Schedule

This position is on-site, primarily at the Denver City and County Building (1437 Bannock Street) in downtown Denver. All Mayor’s Office positions are in-person roles.

About Us

The Mayor’s Office of the City and County of Denver is dedicated to serving the residents, businesses, and visitors of our vibrant city. Under the leadership of Mayor Mike Johnston, the office works to implement policies, programs, and initiatives that enhance the quality of life for all Denverites. Through collaboration with city agencies, community organizations, and stakeholders, the Mayor’s Office strives to create a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future for Denver.

Learn more about the Mayor’s Office, featured projects, priorities, Denver’s Citywide Goals, and more on the Mayor’s Office webpage.

Responsibilities

The Mayor’s Office is seeking a highly organized, solutions-oriented, and politically savvy professional to serve as the Special Assistant to the Mayor. This role sits at the center of executive operations and helps keep the Mayor’s Office running with precision, responsiveness, and professionalism. This is not a routine administrative role. It is a high-trust, high-impact opportunity to help power the daily operations of the Mayor’s Office and contribute directly to work that affects the people of Denver every day.

You will support the Principal Operations Team with a primary focus on:

• Briefing Book Compilation & Production
  • Compiling the Mayor’s daily briefing book - a coordinated set of materials that prepares the Mayor and senior staff for the day’s priorities, events, and key decisions using established templates and guidance
  • Coordinating with staff across the administration to:
    • Collect memos, biographies, talking points, schedules, and background materials from departments and senior staff
    • Ensure all required components are submitted on time
    • Proofread, format, organize, and finalize briefing materials for executive review
    • Produce final digital briefing materials to be delivered to the Mayor and other executive leaders
• Briefing Process Coordination
  • Serving as the day-to-day point of contact for briefing logistics
  • Maintaining briefing trackers, shared folders, templates, and workflow systems
  • Sending reminders, monitoring deadlines, and keeping contributors accountable
  • Escalating missing content, risks, or inconsistencies to the Deputy Director of Principal Operations
• Scheduling Intake, Triage, & Coordination
  • Supporting the Principal Operations and Scheduling team by managing inbound requests, tracking statuses, and coordinating responses
  • Drafting decline communications, identifying surrogate opportunities, and routing requests appropriately
  • Assisting with confirmations, logistics, and alignment between calendar activity and briefing materials
• Mayor Support Backup
  • Serving as a backup to the Deputy Director of Principal Operations' Special Assistant to the Mayor for direct support when needed, including:
    • Assisting with staffing logistics
    • Helping to ensure the Mayor is on time, prepared, and fully supported for meetings and engagements
    • Assisting with real-time logistics, movement, and problem-solving during events or high-priority meetings
    • Providing calm, dependable, on-the-ground support to ensure smooth execution of the Mayor’s day
• Correspondence Program Support
  • Leading the implementation of a Mayor’s Office correspondence program in coordination with senior staff and communications, including:
    • Drafting and maintaining form letters and templates for constituent responses on key policy and city topics
    • Coordinating inputs from policy, legal, and communications teams
    • Tracking usage, updates, and consistency across outgoing responses
    • Ensuring constituent communications are timely, accurate, and aligned with administration priorities and tone
• Administrative & Operational Support
  • Printing and assembling materials
  • Maintaining trackers, systems, and shared documents
  • Light note-taking and follow-up documentation, as needed
  • Providing backup support across the Principal Operations team during high-volume periods

In this role, you’ll gain firsthand experience with the inner workings of a political office, learning how strategic decisions are shaped, how information flows, and how operational priorities are executed at the leadership level. It’s an ideal opportunity for someone who thrives in fast-paced environments, anticipates needs, solves problems quickly, and takes pride in helping leaders operate at their best. As you deepen your understanding of municipal operations and build cross-functional relationships, you’ll also have opportunities to expand your skill set, take on increasing responsibility, and position yourself for future growth and advancement within the team and across the broader organization.

Requirements

We are seeking a candidate who is highly organized, emotionally intelligent, and motivated to grow in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The ideal candidate brings sound judgment, strong attention to detail, a collaborative mindset, and the ability to adapt quickly while supporting high-profile work with professionalism and care.

• Communication & Writing Skills
  • Strong written communication skills, including the ability to draft clear, professional, and audience-appropriate correspondence, briefing materials, and internal communications
  • Ability to synthesize information quickly and translate complex topics into concise, actionable summaries
  • Strong verbal communication skills with the ability to interact professionally with senior leaders, staff, community members, and external stakeholders
• Operational Excellence & Execution
  • Exceptional attention to detail with the ability to consistently produce accurate, polished, and high-quality work products
  • Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet competing deadlines
  • Ability to build, maintain, and improve systems, workflows, and administrative processes that increase efficiency and accountability
  • Proven ability to manage logistics involving multiple stakeholders, shifting priorities, and tight timelines
  • Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and the ability to quickly learn new systems, tools, and technology platforms
• Judgment, Maturity & Critical Thinking
  • Emotional maturity and professionalism, especially when operating in high-pressure, fast-moving, or politically sensitive environments
  • Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential information or navigating sensitive situations
  • Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to assess issues, anticipate needs, identify risks, and recommend practical solutions
  • Ability to remain calm, steady, and solutions-oriented when priorities shift unexpectedly
• Adaptability, Growth Mindset & Drive
  • Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to thrive in an environment where schedules, priorities, and needs can change quickly
  • Quick learner who can absorb new information rapidly and apply it effectively
  • Self-starter with ambition, initiative, and a strong desire to take ownership and grow professionally
  • Positive, team-first attitude with a willingness to jump in wherever needed to support the mission of the Mayor’s Office

Qualifications

Education requirement: Bachelor's Degree.

Experience Requirement: Three (3) years of experience administering business operations or operational programs and/or assisting professional/management staff with administrative or operational functions.

Education/Experience Equivalency: One (1) year of the appropriate type and level of experience may be substituted for each required year of post-high school education. Additional appropriate education may be substituted for the minimum experience requirements.

Licensure/Certification: None