CITY OF FOREST CITY JOB DESCRIPTION

Position: City Administrator Reports to: Mayor & Council
Department: City Hall Revision Date: September 2025

General Summary
Serves as the chief administrative officer of the City and is responsible for the proper administration of all affairs of the City. Supervises, directs, and evaluates the financial operation of the City according to the duties set forth in state law.

Essential Job Duties
• Plans, organizes, and defines the organization of City Administration to ensure a coordinated and effective effort to meet the goals and objectives established by the City Council, various City boards, and commissions.
• Represents the City in direct contact with citizens daily. Receives and investigates complaints from citizens. Answers questions, explains City policy.
• Plans, develops and implements administrative policies, rules, regulations and procedures with the direction of the Council.
• Develops and issues administrative rules, policies and procedures necessary to ensure proper functioning of all departments. Directly supervises administrative staff and City department supervisors. Has direct oversite of employee benefits. Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the City policies and applicable laws.
• Along with the Mayor and relevant committee, interviews prospective City employees. Recommends hiring and termination of employees. Recommends benefit packages.
• Along with the City Clerk, oversees preparation and submits an annual budget to the Council, obtains input from Department Supervisors, and keeps Council informed of the financial condition of the City and recommends action when appropriate. Transfers funds between accounts following standard accounting procedures.
• Along with City Clerk, manages and invests City funds in accordance with Council and public finance guidelines and sound financial practices and oversees preparation of information for annual audit and reviews reports.
• Performs or oversees administrative functions including drafting ordinances and resolutions.
• Attends and participates in all Council meetings and other meetings with official bodies as directed by the Council, ensures that all laws and ordinances are enforced and carries out Council directives.
• Coordinates and oversees the work of consultants and advisors contracted by the Council. Represents the City with other governmental agencies and officials.
• Oversees administrative portion of all capital projects.
• Facilitates or oversees the development of long and short-range goals and ensures their implementation and reports to the Council on their progress and accountability.
• Along with City Clerk, evaluates potential projects, programs and services to determine feasibility, community impact, and makes recommendations to the Council.
• Assists as City’s community and economic development director. Meets with prospective developers and economic development committees and reports to the Council on community and economic development issues.
• Acts as City’s zoning compliance administrator. Approves zoning applications and monitors building, park development, and other planning objectives. Verifies that plans conform to established planning and zoning standards, municipal ordinances, and flood and fire zone districts.
• Other duties as directed or assigned by the Mayor or City Council.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required
Individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities, or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation, using some other combination of skills and abilities. The individual must also be physically able, with or without the aid of mechanical devices, to safely perform the essential functions of the job.
• Knowledge of state laws and regulations relating to the following areas of municipal government: legislative process, open meeting law, finance, taxes, budgeting and accounting, property assessment, revenue financing, contract letting, bonding, urban renewal, economic development, and zoning regulations.
• Knowledge of generally accepted government accounting principles.
• Knowledge of the organization, function of, and challenges to municipal government.
• Ability to compile and analyze financial reports and present sound conclusions and recommendations.
• Ability to maintain accurate and detailed records.
• Ability to hire, train, direct the work of, and effectively supervise City employees.
• Ability to interact with the public, the City’s organizations, and other agencies in a courteous and professional manner.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and analyze City operations; develop alternatives and determine the costs, advantages and disadvantages of various alternatives.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with elected and appointed officials, staff, other public officials, volunteer departments and the general public.
• Applied knowledge of computers and software programs.

Entry Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in public administration, business administration, or a related field, and at least three years’ experience in the public sector.

Work Environment
Work is performed indoors in an office setting and involves extended use of a computer and other technology.

1) Marginal functions of positions that are incidental to the performance of fundamental job duties have been excluded from our job descriptions.

2) All requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.

3) Job descriptions in no way state or imply that the description includes every duty to be performed by the employee occupying the position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform any other job-related duties requested by their supervisor.

4) The City reserves the right to change or reassign job duties or combine positions at any time.