JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: City Administrator
Department: City Administration
Reports To: Mayor
Location: City Hall, 1040 Harley-Davidson
FLSA Status: Exempt
Classification: N/A (This position is not collectively bargained.)
Updated: July 29, 2024

POSITION OBJECTIVE:
The City Administration is the chief administrative officer of the City, responsible to the Mayor for the administration of all City affairs placed in the City Administrator’s charge by SMC Title 7 and City resolutions.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES OF THIS POSITION:
To perform the job successfully, an individual must be able to perform the following essential duties satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Per SMC Title 7.03.03, the City Administrator’s duties include:
• Ensuring that all provisions of this Code and all acts of the City Council subject to enforcement by the City Administrator or employees subject to the City Administrator's direction and supervision, are faithfully executed.
• Overseeing and directing the administration of all departments, offices, and agencies of the City, except as otherwise provided by State law, or this Code.
• Making recommendations to the City Council concerning City affairs.
• Preparing and submitting to the City Council an annual budget not later than September first of each year.
• Ensuring all terms and conditions in any contract or franchise to which the City is a party are faithfully kept and performed.
• Directing the hiring, reassignment, and promotion of all City employees.
• When necessary, suspending or removing any City employee except as otherwise provided by State law, this Code, or personnel policies adopted by the City Council.
• Serving as the liaison between the Mayor, the City Council, and City staff.
• Attending all meetings of the City Council, except as excused by the Mayor.
• Keeping the City Council advised as to future City needs.
• Providing staff support services for the Mayor and City Council members.
• Submitting updates and reports to the City Council as requested.
• Delegating authority with specific guidelines as considered appropriate.
• Performing such other duties as are required by the City Administrator job description, by resolution, or as may be required from time to time by the Mayor.
A more specific understanding of the above essential duties as listed in SMC Title 7.03.03 is outlined below.
• Provides direction for all city functions falling under the authority of the City Council and Mayor; maintains a physical presence and responds promptly to the city’s needs.
• Serves as liaison between city staff, the Mayor, and the City Council; attends all meetings of the City Council; briefs Council members on pending agenda items and other city issues; responds to inquiries and provides Council members with information on the status of city operations and projects; provides analysis as needed to assist the Council to make informed policy decisions; prepares meeting agendas under direction of the Mayor; provides administrative support to Mayor and Council as needed.
• Assists the Mayor and City Council with strategic and long-range planning for the city; participates in planning efforts at the local and regional level; keeps City Council apprised of developments at the state and federal level that impact the city; monitors pending legislation for impact on the city; oversees compliance with new legislation; maintains ongoing communication with local legislators during session and throughout the year; active on the City’s behalf in the South Dakota Municipal League.
• Facilitates internal and external communication throughout all levels of the organization; conducts meetings with department heads; focuses individual department efforts on the overall goals and objectives of the city; serves as liaison between the Mayor and Council and the staff; provides staff with policy direction, ensuring overall effectiveness and goal achievement.
• Performs financial and managerial analysis for the Mayor and City Council pertaining to city operations and programs; gathers information relevant to the topic; evaluates data and makes recommendations based on findings; prepares reports; makes presentations to the City Council and other interested parties.
• Facilitates problem-solving at all levels in the organization; works with department heads and senior management to ensure effective coordination and cooperation among departments; coordinates the continuous review of interdepartmental processes for quality control and improvement; responds to inquiries from the public regarding issues unresolved at the department level.
• Oversee operations of all city departments; serves as liaison between the Mayor and Council and department heads, keeping the Mayor and Council apprised of departmental activities; assists departments with the resolution of problems requiring the attention of city management; monitors and evaluates progress of departments toward the goals and objectives of the administration.
• Directs the preparation of the annual budget; prepare the City Administrator and Mayor & Council budgets; reviews departmental budget requests from all city departments for inclusion in the budget recommendation to the City Council; recommends changes to the budget requests from all city departments; coordinates the scheduling of budget meetings; ensures compliance with all legal and procedural requirements.
• Oversee and participates in the resolution of inquiries and complaints from the public and external organizations; establishes, monitors, and evaluates progress towards goals and objectives of the administration.
• Represents the Mayor, City Council, and the city at various meetings, functions, and events; serves as liaison to various civic or governmental organizations and committees, task forces, boards, and commissions; confers regularly with officials from municipalities, the school board, Chamber of Commerce, authorities, and commissions; provides information about city operations; participates in discussions and decisions; keeps the City Council apprised of activities.
• Serves as the city's representative in collective bargaining with the city's bargaining units; performs cost analysis on proposals and makes recommendations to the Council and Mayor for consideration.
• Oversee recruitment, selection, training and retention of qualified staff; ensures that city policies and safety standards are met.
• Coordinates special projects for the City, including the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of construction/renovation projects, management studies, new programs, and various professional services; defines the scope of the project; identifies and ensures proper allocation of financial, material, and human resources; formulates solutions and resolves problems; facilitates the implementation of the project; provides administrative support for the project as needed.
• Oversee professional contractors and consultants providing services for city projects; participates in the evaluation and selection of contractors and consultants; interfaces with and monitors the work of contractors and consultants to ensure timely and quality completion of projects.
• This position will perform other duties as assigned and required.
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
General (Education and/or Experiences):
• Master's Degree in Public Administration (or related educational field of study) (Required although experience in lieu of education may be considered)
• Bachelor's degree in Public Administration, Political Science, Business Management, Economics, Finance, or closely related field from an accredited university
• Minimum of ten (10) years progressive responsibility as a City Manager or equivalent managerial position in an organization of comparable complexity
• A diverse exposure to managing all aspects of a full service city
• Proven track record of community outreach and consensus building, both internally and externally, with diverse stakeholder groups
• Must possess high ethical standards, excellent customer service and foster cooperation, trust and teamwork with the municipal organization
• Able to be flexible and handle a number of responsibilities simultaneously
• Broad knowledge of the policies and practices of public administration in finance, human resources, public works, public safety, and community development
• Knowledge of city government organization and applicable policies and procedures
• Knowledge of applicable city, state and federal ordinances, laws and regulations
• Knowledge of administrative, management and supervisory principles and practices
• Knowledge of budgeting techniques and governmental accounting practices
• Skill in strategic planning and development
• Skill in analyzing information and providing data and advice regarding implications.
• Skill in developing and implementing policy
• Skill in both oral and written communication
• Skill in establishing cooperative work relationships with those contacted in the course of work
• Able to work in partnership with the Mayor and Council to professionally represent the City in a variety of economic development, intergovernmental, regional, community, and Sturgis Motorcycle Rally related settings and projects
• Ability to interpret complex regulations and guidelines
• Able to provide strong leadership, economic development, financial management, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Must be an experienced, creative, flexible, and adaptable professional who can effectively address the City and community needs
• Capacity to understand municipal and business issues on a technical level and convey them to the community in a concise, articulate manner
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job as listed above. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• Able to frequently sit at a desk or computer situation, stand, walk, speak, and hear
• Able to frequently required to walk and sit for periods longer than two (2) hours
• Able to frequently required to stand
• Able to frequently grip, reach, and handle papers and files
• Able to regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
• Able to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Able to frequently type, use a 10 key pad, and write for extended periods of time
• Able to frequently communicate verbally and in writing to personnel, staff and customers
• Occasional need to bend, twist, and lift
• Able to work in an occasionally stressful work environment
Other:
• Must reside within the City of Sturgis
• Must possess a valid South Dakota Driver's License with an acceptable driving record
• Must have an acceptable background check (including education, credit, work history, etc.)
RELATIONSHIPS:
The position shall be supervised and directed by the Mayor.
The Sturgis Municipal Code, especially Title 7, shall provide the organizational framework and granted authority of the City Administrator position. It may be amended from time to time and the sole discretion of the Council.
This position works closely with the various committees established by the City Council, a variety of public, private and community organizations and citizens groups in developing and implementing programs to achieve City priorities and solve community problems.
The following positions report to this position:
Per organizational chart approved by City Council each year