Assistant City Manager

City of Asheville•Asheville, NC

11d•Onsite

About The Position

The City of Asheville is seeking the position of Assistant City Manager. The Assistant City Manager (ACM) provides high-level leadership and strategic counsel to the City Manager, serving as a vital link between the City Council’s vision and operational execution. The ACM is responsible for empowering department heads to reach performance benchmarks, ensuring rigorous fiscal and administrative accountability, and spearheading complex, high-priority initiatives. This role requires a sophisticated ability to navigate the competing interests of community stakeholders while maintaining a commitment to organizational excellence and sustainable municipal growth.

Requirements

Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration or a related field required; supplemented by ten years of progressively responsible experience in municipal government management, to include lead or supervisory experience; or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.
Must possess and maintain a valid North Carolina driver’s license.
Must be able to demonstrate proficiency in performance of the essential functions and learn, comprehend, and apply all City or departmental policies, practices, and procedures necessary to function effectively in the position.

Nice To Haves

Residency Requirement: This position requires the successful candidate to maintain a primary residence within Buncombe County, North Carolina, throughout the duration of their employment.

Responsibilities

Serve as an executive liaison between the City Council and municipal operations, translating City Council priorities into actionable strategies while preserving organizational stability and operational integrity.
Communicate critical operational updates to the City Manager and Council to facilitate data-driven decision-making.
Provide executive leadership and strategic coordination across complex municipal operations and critical initiatives, including city-wide emergency response and continuity of government functions.
Evaluate existing administrative policies to identify gaps in oversight and implement necessary structural improvements.
Direct cross-departmental operations to ensure all municipal services align with established city-wide goals and legal standards.
Manage large-scale municipal projects by coordinating resources across various functional areas to ensure on-time completion.
Monitor departmental performance metrics to maintain high-quality service delivery while minimizing operational waste.
Resolve complex organizational conflicts by identifying root causes and implementing sustainable, policy and data driven solutions.
Mentor department directors and emerging leaders to build a high-capacity, resilient internal management structure.
Oversee the development of the annual budget to ensure long-term fiscal stability and strategic resource allocation.
Enforce organizational accountability standards to maintain a consistent and transparent professional environment for all staff.