Assistant to the Council

City of Goodyear•Goodyear, AZ

8h•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant to the Council provides a wide variety of professional support to the Council, representing them at meetings when required. This position offers extensive professional assistance, project management, and recommendations on City issues, performing highly responsible administrative work across a broad range of municipal activities. The Assistant to the Council will serve as the liaison to the Goodyear Youth Commission, assisting in developing and organizing meetings, educational experiences, and leadership opportunities. This is a professional role demanding exceptional analytical and communication skills, with a strong emphasis on written and verbal communication, time management, and organizational abilities. Prior experience supporting elected officials and a solid understanding of sensitive subject matter with civic leaders are essential. The ideal candidate will be adept at exploring, organizing, and executing complex projects, consistently demonstrating a positive, professional demeanor with tact, respect, flexibility, and efficiency. They will effectively represent the City of Goodyear Mayor and Council Office in all interactions. At the City of Goodyear, employees are valued as the greatest asset, part of a dedicated team committed to a highly engaged workforce. The organization fosters learning, growth, employee development, career-building, and a culture of innovation, guided by core values: Adaptability, Integrity, Initiative, Empathy, Optimism, and Innovation.

Requirements

Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field, normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
Minimum of three year experience in a related field.
Valid Driver’s License.
Ability to read and comprehend city regulation agreements, council action reports, and trade journals.
Ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
High-level command of the English language with the ability to write memoranda, correspondence, reports and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
Comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization. This includes the ability to understand and navigate complex governmental processes.
Exceptional analytical and communication skills.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Strong time management and organizational abilities.
Prior experience working with or supporting elected officials.
Solid understanding of the challenges and complexities involved in addressing sensitive subject matter with civic leaders.
Comfortable exploring, organizing, and executing complex projects and topics.
Consistently exhibit a positive, professional demeanor and approach work with tact, respect, flexibility, and efficiency.
Effectively represent the City of Goodyear Mayor and Council Office in all interactions and responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others but may provide advice/direction to an employee with less experience/skill or tenure.

Responsibilities

Prepares reports and verbal and written correspondence on behalf of the Council.
Assists in setting the Council's schedules.
Conducts research and special projects and assures implementation of programs developed and initiated by the Council.
Coordinates the response to issues raised by citizens of Goodyear by coordinating with Departments or other appropriate parties to respond.
Advises the Council on unresolved issues that must be addressed.
Provides a visible link between elected officials and the public, acting as a representative in dealings with constituents (both individually and in groups), and city departments and committees, including the Goodyear Youth Commission.
Responds to Citizen Inquiries and complaints with the utmost tact and resourcefulness in seeking solutions to the problems presented from within Goodyear and other agencies.
Communicates with citizens, management, public officials, general public, and other City employees in order to resolve complaints and inquiries and provide requested information or referral.
Composes correspondence dealing with city-related issues and subject matter in ways that sometimes requires considerable sensitivity, discretion, judgment, or negotiation in replying to inquiries, and/or presenting or requesting information.
Attends City Council meetings and work sessions; researches, responds to and prepares correspondence; sets up meetings and conferences; responds to the telephone inquiries and performs necessary follow up, and communicates with City management on sensitive and/or confidential issues received by the Council.
Drafts information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.
Ensures Councilmembers are prepared for city-related meetings including providing research, coordinating logistics, and preparing materials.
Is knowledgeable about a variety of City issues and able to state the Council's position on such issues.
Supports Council’s involvement in regional and national activities as directed by intergovernmental affairs staff.
Exercises considerable judgment in analyzing policy issues, identifying city-wide impacts, and coordinating responses on strategies and alternatives for dealing with the issues.
Meets individually with each assigned Councilmember and appropriate department directors to become acquainted, discuss expectations and processes, and establish the best form of communication.
Manages City Council and constituent requests by working with other departments to research and analyze issues, and provide updated information in a timely manner.
Attends various city-related meetings with or on behalf of Council.
Compiles the necessary background information and/or materials for each meeting, provides feedback of the meeting, and follows up on the issues discussed.
Attends meetings and familiarizes self with Youth Commission, including its structure, goals and mission.
Researches and manages projects as assigned.
Tracks all issues from conceptualization to finalization and informs manager of results.
Plans, coordinates, and monitors special programs or events initiated by Council such as Council Conversations.
Actively seeks out methods to enhance communications, streamline work processes, decrease turnaround times, and provide quality customer service to Council and Goodyear residents.
Assists Council by developing information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.
Prepares recommendations and reports for Council about projects, programs, disputes, and other issues that arise.
Utilizes already-existing or new communication tools (Council Activity Reports, etc.) to ensure timely dissemination of information to all members of Council.