City of Austin - JOB DESCRIPTION

Special Assistant to the City Manager

Under the direction of the City Manager, this position drives organizational change toward advancing the prosperity of Austin through strategic initiatives and partnerships; champions forward-thinking strategies that enhance the city's ability to withstand and adapt to various challenges while leveraging the strengths of anchor institutions to catalyze positive change.

1. Collaborate with city leadership to align organizational strategies with the overarching goals and priorities of the City.
2. Lead and facilitate organizational change initiatives to enhance department efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness.
3. Develop and implement strategies to navigate through transitions and paradigmatic shifts, including restructuring, process improvements, and cultural transformations to ensure the long-term sustainability and vitality of the City.
4. Guide and support departmental leaders and staff members to successfully adopt change initiatives.
5. Develop strategic recommendations and action plans to ensure alignment and synergy across departments and city-wide initiatives.
6. Work closely with departmental stakeholders to assess and prioritize initiatives based on their strategic relevance, feasibility, and alignment with city-wide objectives.
7. Monitor progress and outcomes of prioritized initiatives, adjusting as necessary to optimize resource allocation and achieve desired results.
8. Develop strategic partnerships and collaborate with key stakeholders, anchor institutions, and community organizations to leverage expertise, information, and resources to advance city goals.

Responsible for the full range of supervisory activities including selection, training, evaluation, counseling, and recommendation for dismissal.

• Knowledge of City operations and management, strategic and long-range planning, and policy development.
• Knowledge of Federal, State, and local laws.
• Knowledge of city practice, policy, and procedures.
• Knowledge of supervisory and managerial techniques and principles.
• Knowledge of change management principles, methodologies, and tools.
• Skill in coordinating large, complex, cross-functional initiatives.
• Skill in communicating effectively both orally and in writing.
• Skill in establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with various government officials, Council members, Boards, Commissions, City Employees, stakeholders, and the general public.
• Skill in handling multiple tasks and prioritizing.
• Skill in data analysis, performance measurement techniques, problem-solving, and decision making.
• Skill in planning and organizing.
• Skill in handling conflict and uncertain situations.
• Ability to cultivate relationships with other entities to leverage their expertise, resources, and networks to advance City priorities and goals and establish partnerships and collaboration.
• Ability to conduct assessments of existing strategies to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement.
• Ability to work with frequent interruptions and changes in priorities.

• Graduation with a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major coursework in Public Administration, Business, Planning, Business Administration, or related field, plus five (5) years progressively responsible professional experience in a professional or administrative capacity, two (2) years of which were in a lead or supervisory capacity.
• Master’s degree in Public Administration, Public Affairs, Business, Political Science or History, or other related field may substitute for two (2) years of the required experience.