Chief Administrative Officer

City of New Haven, CT • New Haven, CT

376d

About The Position

The City of New Haven is seeking a highly skilled and visionary Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to join the senior leadership team. Reporting directly to the Mayor, the CAO will play a pivotal role in overseeing the operations of city departments, driving innovation, and ensuring the efficient delivery of essential public services. This position demands a dynamic leader with a proven track record in government management, strategic planning, and team development. The ideal candidate will be deeply committed to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, while working collaboratively to achieve the Mayor's goals and improve the quality of life for all residents. If you are a seasoned public administration professional with a passion for serving your community and leading transformative change, we invite you to apply.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Public Administration, Business Administration, Public Policy, Organizational Leadership or a closely related field.
• At least 7 years senior-level experience in government management and administration.
• Demonstrated experience with collaborative management and team building.
• Ability to manage multiple teams, time, and projects efficiently.
• Skilled in strategic planning, project management, and organization.
• Thorough knowledge of legislation and policies affecting local government.
• Understanding of personnel and labor relations in a unionized environment.
• Experience with budget preparation and management for multiple departments.

Nice To Haves

• Additional coursework in Emergency Management, Public Safety, Law, Human Resources Management, Finance & Public Budgeting.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with department heads to build their skills and confidence.
• Provide mentorship and guidance on improving service management and team performance.
• Set up accountability systems and nurture a growing sense of ownership within departments.
• Coordinate and analyze appropriate data to inform operational decision making and service delivery.
• Foster innovation and learning - test, learn, adapt, iterate.
• Establish measurable performance goals to assess City service quality, impact, and sustainability.
• Resolve conflicts between parts of the city government, between citizens and the government, and among citizens.
• Engage closely with Finance and Budget departments to monitor programmatic operations.
• Represent the Administration in public meetings, media events, and at state and local legislative hearings.
• Track pertinent legislation impacting municipal operations.
• Oversee litigation settlement committee with recommendations to Mayor and legislative body.
• Perform other related work as required.

Benefits

• Employer will contribute 7.5% of base pay into a defined contribution plan.
• Coverage by Social Security.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive
• Industry: Executive, Legislative, and Other General Government Support
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees