Chief of Staff to the City Manager

Company: City of Cambridge
Location: Cambridge
Posted on: August 4, 2022

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.
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Keywords: City of Cambridge, Cambridge , Chief of Staff to the City Manager, Executive , Cambridge, Massachusetts