Chief of Staff to the City Manager
Company: City of Cambridge
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: August 4, 2022
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Job Description:
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
ABOUT THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE:
Cambridge is a unique and growing urban community of 120,000
residents, making it the fourth largest city in Massachusetts. Our
community is diverse, with 34% of residents identifying as people
of color and 34% of residents' home language is a language other
than English. The city stands out as a hub of innovation and is
home to Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(MIT), and an increasing number of biotechs and high-tech
start-ups. The biotech corridor in Kendall Square has been called
"the most innovative square mile on Earth," and has led the country
in everything from the invention of rubber hoses to the development
of Covid-19 vaccines.
Cambridge's City government has an annual operating budget of $800M
and over 1,600 full-time employees. Cambridge has access to
significant resources but is confronting similar challenges as
other urban centers - rising housing costs, climate change,
sustainable transportation, homelessness, and persistent economic
and racial inequities. The City Council and City leadership are
committed to being a leader on issues of equity and sustainability
and creating a city that works for everyone.
ABOUT THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
As Cambridge's Chief Executive Officer, the City Manager supervises
and manages all City Departments, recommends policies and programs
to the City Council, and implements City Council legislation. The
City Manager's Office collaborates with the City Council and city
departments on the shared mission to serve the Cambridge community
and build a better city for all.
ABOUT THE ROLE:
The Chief of Staff to the City Manager will be a trusted advisor
and member of the senior cabinet responsible for coordinating
alignment between the City Council, city leadership, and community
leaders and advocates. The ideal candidate will build strong and
trusted relationships across diverse perspectives and is both an
empathetic listener and persuasive communicator. The Chief of Staff
will be skilled at navigating local political dynamics, an
intensely curious learner who can understand complex policy, and a
leader with a city-wide view of how to do the most good. The Chief
of Staff will also be responsible for coordinating policy and
constituent services across the Executive Department, coordinating
board and commission appointments, and coordinating agenda and
preparations for the City Council.
Work closely with the City Manager to coordinate relationships
across the City Council, community leaders and residents, and city
leadership
Establish organizing structures and norms to ensure that City
Council requests are prioritized, appropriately scoped, and
communicated; coordinating across city leadership team to ensure
alignment
Serves as the key liaison between the Mayor's Office, the City
Council, and the City Manager.
Lead coordination of the preparations of the City Manager's agenda
for City Council meetings, including reviewing materials and
meeting with City department staff and other stakeholders to
respond to City Council policy orders.
Advise the City Manager on operational and planning activities,
their timelines, and implications.
Lead agenda setting and communications from the City Manager's
office, including drafting key memos and talking points
Participate with the City Manager and other senior staff in
strategic planning, policy development and problem resolution of
complex issues and needs, particularly those relating to the
Cambridge community
Assure coordination of activities with other stakeholders, assist
in problem-solving, and contribute to improvement efforts
Coordinate board and commission appointments in collaboration with
relevant city leadership
Oversee constituent services and community relations function
within the City Manager's office
Supervises staff as required
Represent the City Manager at meetings, conferences, etc.
Perform related duties as required
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with
disabilities to perform essential functions.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:
Experience
5+ years of experience managing complex projects and agendas
Experience managing teams in comprehensive assignments
Experience in project management, including the ability to
identify, develop, and deploy resources across multiple initiatives
and navigate complex relationships
Experience in development and maintenance of collaborative
relationships with federal, state, municipal and/or private/public
sector preferred.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Performs well under pressure, in a fast-paced setting, and within a
political and public setting
Empathetic listener, with the ability to build trusting
relationships across diverse individuals
Excellent writing and communications skills, particularly in a
public facing communications role with high attention to detail
Deep sense of humility, curiosity, and learning orientation
Understanding of key policy challenges that are facing cities
today
Strong problem solving and mediation abilities
Ability to create and maintain strong community collaborations
High ethical standards and personal integrity
Commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. The
City of Cambridge's workforce, like the community it serves, is
diverse. Applicants must have the ability to work and interact
effectively with individuals and groups with a variety of
identities, cultures, backgrounds, and ideologies.
Knowledge of Cambridge preferred
PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Ability to access input and retrieve information
from a computer. Ability to operate office equipment including
copiers, printers, and scanners. Executes multiple tasks involving
keyboarding, telephones, writing, bending, reaching, and lifting
boxes of files (up to 10 lbs).
WORK ENVIRONMENT: Standard office environment, which includes
fluorescent lighting and air conditioning. Moderate noise level,
which can elevate with phone calls and walk in members of the
public. Busy office work environment characterized by multiple work
demands from department staff, a great deal of customer
interaction, and heavy call volume. This position may be eligible
for hybrid work under the City's Telework Policy depending on
operational needs.
SUMMARY OF BENEFITS:
Competitive health, dental, and vision insurance
Vacation and Sick leave eligible
Sick Incentive Pay Eligible
3 Personal days
14 Paid Holidays
Management Allowance, $2,700/year
City employee commuter benefits (T-Pass reimbursement Bluebikes
membership, EZRide Shuttle membership)
RATE: 160,000-$200,000 annually + excellent benefits
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Internal applicants submit a job bidding form and 2 copies of both
your resume and cover letter; external applicants submit both your
resume and cover letter via email to: employment@cambridgema.gov or
to the Personnel Dept, Room 309, City Hall, 795 Massachusetts
Avenue, Cambridge MA 02139. Fax 617-349-4312. Resume and cover
letter requested by 08/25/22. Position will remain open until
filled.
THE CITY OF CAMBRIDGE IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
EMPLOYER AND DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR,
SEX, RELIGION, AGE, NATIONAL ORIGIN, DISABILITY OR ANY OTHER
PROTECTED CATEGORY. WOMEN, MINORITIES, VETERANS, MEMBERS OF THE
LGBTQ+ COMMUNITY, AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES ARE ENCOURAGED TO
APPLY. CITY OF CAMBRIDGE RESIDENTS ARE ESPECIALLY ENCOURAGED TO
APPLY. AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES, WRITTEN MATERIALS IN
ALTERNATIVE FORMATS, AND REASONABLE MODIFICATIONS IN POLICIES AND
PROCEDURES WILL BE PROVIDED TO QUALIFIED INDIVIDUALS WITH
DISABILITIES FREE OF CHARGE, UPON REQUEST. The City is committed to
advancing a workforce culture of antiracism, diversity, equity, and
inclusion.
PDN-96dfbbd9-f6a0-4dc8-993b-1acfb3da4ca5
Keywords: City of Cambridge, Cambridge , Chief of Staff to the City Manager, Executive , Cambridge, Massachusetts
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