GENERAL FUNCTIONS
The City Manager serves as Chief Administrative Officer for the city and is responsible for proper administration of all city affairs placed in the manager’s charge by law and ordinance and shall implement the policy of the city as established by the Palmer City Council.

DISTINGUISING CHARACTERISTICS
The City Manager is expected to develop effective working relationships with elected, administrative, federal, state, and local officials as well as the public, to ensure cooperation and efficient operation of the city in providing services to the public.
The City Manager must be able to work well under pressure, stay focused and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. The City Manager must possess a high degree of initiative and responsibility to make decisions. He/she must exercise sound judgement and discretion and use sound management techniques and practices in a wide variety of administrative areas. The City Manager should possess excellent written and verbal communication skills, negotiation techniques and sound judgment.
The City Manager must perform his/her job duties with considerable independence and within prescribed guidelines and procedures and exercise appropriate judgement and discretion.

SUPERVISION RECEIVED
The City Manager receives general direction from the seven members of the City Council through broad policies and guidelines.

SUPERVISION EXERCISED
The City Manager exercises administrative direction over all department heads except for the City Attorney and City Clerks, direct supervision over all administrative staff.

EXTERNAL VISIBILITY/CONTACT
This position requires high contact with key city personnel, public, other government agencies, and must possess well-developed communication skills in maintaining effective relations with the public.

WORKING ENVIROMENT
Work is performed primarily in an office setting. The noise level in the work environment will normally be quiet to moderately noisy depending upon office equipment, telephones in use, and other employees/members of the public with business in the office. While performing the duties of this job, employee will frequently be required to use hands and fingers dexterously to operate office equipment, will be required to communicate orally, regularly required to sit, stand, walk, occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch, and reach with hands and arms and lift up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required include close vision and the ability to adjust focus, drive to off-site meetings and inspections throughout the city and occasionally fly to meetings both in and out of state.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES
• Plans, directs, coordinates, and administers the activities of all administrative departments in carrying out the requirements of city ordinances, rules, regulations, and the requests of the City Council.
• Establishes operating procedures and performance standards for departments; directs organization staffing and supervision of operations as delegated to department heads daily; establishes long and short-range goals and objectives for the city based on requests established the City Council.
• Reports regularly to the Council concerning the status of all assignments, projects, and functions of the city; establishes departmental objectives and deadlines for meeting these requests; administers a variety of special programs and operations.
• Analyzes a variety of issues, state, and federal legislation, and prepares recommendations on items requiring council action.
• Studies and resolves a variety of difficult and complex administrative and management problems as directed by the City Council; interprets regulations and recommends policy changes.
• Responsible for Enterprise Departments of the Warren “Bud” Woods Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer Water and Sewer and oversees contracts for Palmer Golf Course, Palmer Museum of History & Art, Palmer Visitor Center, and Palmer Garden.
• Represents the city and City Council in negotiations and related administrative and operational matters with governmental, non-governmental organizations and the public; communicates the mission and activities of the city.
• Assists the City Council with policy planning by gathering data and presenting alternative plans; recommends feasible alternatives based on effective management practices; discusses implications of alternatives.
• Is responsible for the employment of all city employees, except the City Attorney and City Clerk, and shall supervise and coordinate the personnel policies and practices of the city. Appoints, disciplines, and terminates city administrative officials and employees, as provided by statute; evaluates the performance of administrative support staff and department heads.
• Manages and administers the financial affairs of the city; coordinates the preparation of the city budget including capital improvements program, in liaison with the council, and department heads; administers the approved operating budget by monitoring expenditures and recommending changes to the council; oversees the investment of city funds to ensure the best possible interest; presents reports to the council on the city’s financial status.
• Directs emergency preparedness and recovery efforts for civil emergencies within the city.
• Exercises custody over all real and personal property of the city.
• Executes other powers or duties specified by statute or by council action.
• Performs related work as required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, EXPERIENCE AND PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• The knowledge, skills, and abilities required are usually, although not always, acquired through completion of a bachelor’s degree in business administration, Public Administration, or a related field, five (5) years’ experience in municipal administration at the level of City Manager, Deputy City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or other senior city management official, or as a private industry senior executive officer in an organization of comparable complexity. Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
• Valid Alaska driver’s license within thirty (30) days of hire.
• Excellent attention to detail, accuracy, and quality.
• Extensive knowledge of federal, state, and city rules and regulations.
• Experience in successful management and conflict resolution. Ability to evaluate management practices and adopt effective courses of action.
• Must be a self-starter.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the City Council, officials, other governmental and regulatory officials, staff, private and community organizations, developers, contractors, business leaders, employees, and the public.
• Ability to analyze complex administrative problems, facts, programs, trends, costs and makes sound recommendations and comprehensive reports in oral and written forms.
• Ability to communicate effectively, orally and in writing with governmental officials, staff, employees, and the public.
• Must demonstrate ability to make executive decisions and exercise sound business judgment in the best interest of the city.
• Ability to perform under stress and thrive in a fast-paced, intense work environment.
• Ability to maintain the confidentiality of all activities and management.

RESIDENCY
The city manager shall reside in the city limits within 180 days of hire as prescribed in the city’s charter. Relocation assistance may be available.

ADA STATEMENT
THE ABOVE STATEMENTS ARE INTENDED TO DESCRIBE THE GENERAL NATURE AND LEVEL OF WORK BEING PERFORMED BY PERSON(S) ASSIGNED TO THIS POSITION. THEY ARE NOT INTENDED TO BE AN EXHAUSTIVE LIST OF ALL DUTIES, RESPONSIBILITIES AND SKILLS REQUIRED OF PERSONNEL IN THIS POSITION. ALL REQUIREMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO POSSIBLE MODIFICATION TO REASONABLY ACCOMMODATE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES