Professional Local Government Management

To be successful, today’s complex local government operations require a combination of strong political leadership, policy development, a relentless focus on execution and results, a commitment to transparent and ethical government, and a strategy for representing and engaging every segment of the community. Most of us take for granted the public services our communities provide—from law enforcement and recycling, to emergency response and public transportation. While we often see the people who deliver these services—police officers, sanitation workers, paramedics, bus drivers—we may forget that there are others behind the scenes who help ensure that our public services operate smoothly and efficiently each and every day, 24 hours a day.

Professional city, town, and county managers are just such people. You may know them by various titles: city manager, county administrator, town manager, chief administrative officer. Their primary responsibility is to keep your community running smoothly. These highly trained, experienced men and women are committed to meeting the challenges described above every day. To do so, they work with a range of individuals involved in public safety, public works, community and economic development, and many other service areas. You can count on this team to make your community a great place to live!

Under a system of local government called the council-manager form, the elected officials are the community leaders and policy makers who establish a vision for their city, town, or county, and who hire the manager to carry out policy and ensure that all residents are being equitably served. The manager coordinates the work of department heads and other employees, who help ensure the smooth and efficient delivery of services. By building public/private partnerships, managers target all of a community's resources to solve current problems.

While the council-manager form is the structure of government that is most supportive of successful professional management, city, town, and county managers work effectively in all types of communities.

What skills do professional managers bring to their communities?

As the needs of our communities have become more complex, so has the job of city, town, and county managers. In the early years, many professional managers were recruited from the ranks of civil engineers, who were trained to build and maintain the community’s infrastructure, such as bridges, roads, and water systems.

Today's managers must also possess the management “know-how” to build strong communities, if not from the ground up, then by ensuring the continuous improvement of community services. Many of today’s city, town, and county managers hold bachelor’s degrees in public administration, political science, or business. Increasingly, these individuals enter the profession with a master’s degree, often in public administration.

City, town, and county managers draw on a wealth of experience and a multitude of skills to get the job done. The job includes:

Administration of personnel—providing direction and leadership to department heads and those who provide direct services to the community.

Management of public funds—ensuring the cost-effectiveness of programs, balancing budgets, and securing the financial health of the community.

Implementation of programs and policies—working with elected officials and community leaders to achieve common goals and objectives for the community.

Coordination of service delivery—anticipating future needs, organizing work operations, and establishing timetables to meet community needs.

Above all else, today's professional city, town, and county managers bring to the communities they serve a commitment to maintaining the public trust and confidence in local government, achieving equity and social justice, affirming human dignity, and improving the quality of life for all residents.

What professional managers do

• Work with elected officials as they develop policies. The manager may discuss problems and recommendations, propose new plans, or discuss issues that affect the community and its residents.
• Ensure that laws and policies approved by elected officials are equitably enforced throughout the city.
• Seek feedback from residents and members of the business community to address and solve problems.
• Prepare the annual budget, submit it to elected officials for approval, and implement it once approved.

  Economically strong, high-quality-of-life communities don't just happen. They need a lot of planning and professional management.

• Supervise department heads, administrative personnel, and other employees, and supervise top appointees.
• Solicit bids from contractors and select or recommend the appropriate individual(s) or organization(s) to perform the work.
• Investigate citizen complaints and problems within the administrative organization and recommend changes to elected officials.
• Manage the day-to-day operations of the city, town, or county.

For more information about the local government management profession, use the menu at the top of this page.

If your school or community group is interested in learning more about local government and the role of professional managers, send an email to publicawareness@icma.org.

ICMA members who would like more information about the public awareness campaign or who would like to request or download presentation materials should visit the Public Awareness Campaign section of icma.org under Member Benefits and Information.