ICMA Career Network: News

Career Compass No. 31: Political Savviness

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:36:52 -0400

I am a planning manager with a mid-sized city. When our staff team presents land-use economic development or affordable housing recommendations to council they might accept them but sometimes they do not. Typically we do a good job of providing data and well-reasoned recommendations but once they get to the public hearing it’s as if the data and objective analysis do not matter and politics take over. At times one small yet connected group can shape the council’s decision or completely derail the decision. It is baffling to me and my colleagues. ...

Career Compass No. 30: Building a Powerful Network

rcarty@icma.org — Tue, 05 Feb 2013 14:46:40 -0500

I am a senior planner in a city community development department. I have good work experience and have expanded my portfolio of skills and experiences over time. I believe that I will be ready to advance in one or two years of continued good work and learning in my current position. In some of my development conversations with my supportive boss she stated that I am on my way to advancing but suggested that I attend professional meetings and better develop a network. Recently I attended a one-day state planners meeting. In...

How to Write an Ideal Job Description

mmoline@icma.org — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 09:07:41 -0500

A key part of any local government’s hiring process is the creation and distribution of job descriptions. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating the perfect job description. Heading. While this is the most important part of the job description in terms of catching people’s eyes it is often the most overlooked. When writing your description be sure to include the job title and the name of the city county or town in which the job is located as well as any other “housekeeping” details you care to include (department job code supervisor pay...

Career Compass No. 29: Forget Work-Life Balance...Re-Energize at Work and at Home!

rcarty@icma.org — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 11:48:55 -0500

I am a Division Manager in a County Environmental Services Department. I love my work but I’m working too hard. I’m often fatigued (as are many on my team). I feel overwhelmed with urgent demands. I am distracted and have little time to think plan or “connect the dots.” I have tried to better prioritize and then delegate some of the less important work but I still feel that work is all-consuming. Worst of all I do not have much time for my wife and young children. I often stay late at work...

2012 Management Fellows

kfeldman@icma.org — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 14:46:41 -0500

Please join ICMA and our partners in congratulating the 2012 Local Government Management Fellows! Fellows completed a challenging application a review process where their application is scrutinized and approved by experienced local government managers academics and alumni Fellows and they successfully navigated the host government hiring process-competing with other finalists in the host's applicant pool. All that in a still recovering economy. The Fellows began their assignments this past summer and met at the ICMA Annual Conference in Phoenix Arizona for leadership training and coaching and to experience the full conference content. Since the program begain in 2004 we...

Career Compass No. 28: My Team Member Is a Slacker!

rcarty@icma.org — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 12:23:57 -0400

As a mid-manager I serve on an important cross-departmental team focused on neighborhood revitalization (one of the City Council’s strategic priorities). Even though I do not formally lead the group I am responsible for several significant project results. The problem is that I cannot meet my timelines without the active contributions of a team member from another department. He does not produce on a timely basis. He either drops the ball or calls me at the last minute and asks me to do some of the work. This team is a high-status assignment...

Career Compass No. 27: Creating a Safe Environment for a Courageous Conversation

rcarty@icma.org — Sat, 29 Sep 2012 16:52:40 -0400

I am a hard-working and newly promoted project manager in the Public Works Department of a mid-sized city. Things are pretty dreary in the organization—we’ve experienced budget cuts even lay-offs and everybody feels overwhelmed. Like others I am dealing with quite a number of projects. I would like to enroll in a well-regarded certificate program for project management but of course our Director has gutted the training budget in the department. I’m afraid that my manager would not be sympathetic to my request that she find the training dollars and the time off. ...

Career Compass No. 26: The Art of the Interview

rcarty@icma.org — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 13:46:03 -0400

I am looking to advance in my local government career and have been applying for mid-manager positions in other local governments in my state. I have seven years of solid experience I am qualified for the jobs and I have gotten several interviews based on my resume. However I have not done well in the initial interviews and therefore have not been called back for any final interviews with the hiring manager. Do you have some suggestions on how I can improve my interview skills? Many professionals do not perform well in an interview. Some common...

The Deliberate Job Search

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:52:01 -0400

In most cases we're competing with people who can do the work and love the work and will likely fit into the organization as we will. But sometimes we trip up on a few small details giving the edge to a better-prepared competitor. Read an excerpt from ICMA's Job Hunting Handbook for Local Government Professionals to give yourself that edge . Highlights include: Finding the Vacancies Develop a roster of the site(s) you want to use as the foundation of your search. While we encourage...

Career Compass No. 25: Winning Office Politics the Right Way

rcarty@icma.org — Tue, 08 May 2012 15:00:16 -0400

I am a younger supervisor in the Building Department. Recently I presented a proposal to change the way we do business better serve the development community and generate revenue at the same time. Some colleagues who didn’t want to see the change lobbied against my idea behind closed doors with the Chief Building Official. Some deal was made that resulted in a cosmetic change in procedures but nothing substantive. My proposal was quickly shot down. Organizational politics got in the way of a needed improvement (not to mention morale). I hate politics...

Strong Cities Strong Communities Fellowship

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:02:21 -0400

The German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) in cooperation with Cleveland State University's Levin College of Urban Affairs (CSU) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University's Metropolitan Policy Program (Virginia Tech) is pleased to announce the launch of the Strong Cities Strong Communities Fellowship Program. The fellowship program supported by a gift from the Rockefeller Foundation is one component of the Strong Cities Strong Communities (SC2) Initiative a federal interagency pilot initiative that aims to strengthen neighborhoods cities and regions by enhancing the capacity of local governments to develop and execute economic visions and strategies. The two-year...

Career Compass No. 24: Asking Powerful Questions

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 16:39:37 -0500

My manager seems to be always asking our team questions. In fact we spend a lot of team time responding to her queries. We are a high-functioning and productive team but I wish my manager would just come in and tell us where she wants us to go. I thought a leader took charge and made decisions. These are times of great flux—new technologies demographic changes and severe financial shifts all are forces disrupting our local government world. In these uncertain times a manager cannot know all the answers and be certain...

Featured Job: City Manager Bell CA

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 23:59:55 -0500

City of Bell – founded in 1927; renewed in 2011. This is an opportunity to provide extraordinary public service to a community that has turned the corner and taken back their City. Vision creativity integrity – these words describe the organization’s leader of the New City of Bell. With the hard work of a skilled group of “transition managers” much of the groundwork is currently being laid including the development of a professional annual budget classification and compensation study job descriptions and other internal infrastructure improvements. The City Manager will team with the new City Council and...

Job Hunting & Hiring Just Got Easier through the ICMA Career Network!

rcarty@icma.org — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:27:06 -0500

Whether you are hiring for a job or hunting for one matching qualified professionals with the local governments who need them is a top priority here at ICMA. To that end we have recently upgraded our Job Center . The new job board functionality is now integrated with the ICMA web site and Knowledge Network and allows for a more seamless interaction for both advertisers and job seekers . Employers and recruiters will like... Ads will not disappear from your ad history so you can easily reactivate or renew a job...

Career Compass No. 23: Building Your Personal Brand

rcarty@icma.org — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:17:51 -0500

I recently attended a workshop for emerging leaders. In a time of great turmoil in local government especially fiscal crisis the speaker emphasized the need to promote your value and to take it a step further and develop a “personal brand” that will protect you in times of budget cutbacks. Developing a brand sounds like marketing a product. How can you create a brand that promotes your value? The speaker makes sense. In disruptive times all positions are vulnerable. You need to go beyond your title and position in the organization assert your...

Tonganoxie Kansas CAO Position (Not Kansas City)

rcarty@icma.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:37:51 -0500

City Administrator Tonganoxie Kansas The CAO reports to the mayor and five-member council elected at-large to 4-year staggered terms. Responsible for a $7M budget; 30 FTEs; growing stable historic community possesses strong infrastructure with capacity for future growth; located between Lawrence to the west; Kansas Speedway and other Kanssa City area attractions to the east. Seeking energetic leader w/excellent communication and grant writing skills proven work ethic and economic development experience to manage traditional services. BA degree plus four years experience as city administrator or similar required; MA degree desired. (EOE) ...

Thank You LGMF Hosts!

rcarty@icma.org — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 15:02:31 -0500

Thank you hosts and mentors for investing in tomorrow's local government managers . The commitment to host a Fellow is a steep one. Hosts create and fund an entry-level management position design a rigorous scope of work (based on rotations or single-office placement) support professional development opportunities and mentor the Fellow for one to two years. But while the commitment is steep the returns are great. Since the pilot year six alumni Fellows have been hired as managers with many more in senior stepping-stone positions. A directory of current and alumni Fellows is available at icma.org/lgmf under the Become a...

What's Code for America?

rcarty@icma.org — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:09:57 -0500

In Code for America 's first year they built more than 40 civic applications to help government provide services more openly and efficiently and better engage with their constituents. But more importantly Code for America'a fellowship program was a catalyst in breaking down the communication silos within and outside of government. The program isn't just about the apps the technology is the product of a process that has the power to transform our local governments. Join us for a Webinar on December 13 Space is limited! Reserve your Webinar seat now at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/483299846 ...

Career Compass No. 22: Overcoming Your Blind Spots

rcarty@icma.org — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:28:09 -0500

My department head talks about listening to employees wanting their ideas promoting innovation and providing support for staff. He seems sincere about these intentions but his actions demonstrate that he does not live these values. It seems to me that he has major blind spots like most of us. He does ask for feedback but no one tells him the truth. As I develop my leadership capabilities how do I become more self-aware so my behavior matches my intentions? You are right; self-awareness is a primary competency for leaders at all levels...

ICMA Student Chapters Update

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 14:34:33 -0500

In addition to the three pilot ICMA Student Chapters eight additional universities established chapters during the fall. The complete roster of chapters is: University of Alabama at Birmingham Northern Illinois University Indiana University Appalachian State University Brigham Young University Cornell University The George Washington University Norwich University University of Kansas University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh Villanova University ICMA is creating program content that engages...

Meet the 2011 Local Government Management Fellows

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:02:16 -0400

The LGMF is a highly competitive career-development opportunity designed to generate interest in local government careers among recent master's program graduates. ICMA with partners NASPAA NFBPA and IHN manage a competitive recruitment and evaluation process to find top graduates with a passion for local government. Finalists compete for full-time management-track Fellowships shaped by direct mentorship under senior government leaders and rotational assignments. ICMA recruits hosts to hire and mentor recent public administration/policy masters graduates in local government management 'apprenticeships' to prepare them to be tomorrow's city county and town managers. The Fellows began their assignments this past summer and met at the ICMA...

Menlo Park Calif. CM Job (Not Los Gatos!)

Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:31:25 -0400

City Manager City of Menlo Park CA The City of Menlo Park is composed of attractive tree-lined neighborhoods spanning a diverse social-economic landscape that reaches from the Peninsula foothills to the San Francisco Bay. This community of 32026 is situated thirty miles south of San Francisco and twenty miles north of San Jose. City resources include 232.75 FTE and a General Fund of $37.4M. Ideal candidate will be an innovative problem solver with five years as a public sector executive with private/non-profit sector experience. Email cover letter and resume to Avery Associates jobs@averyassoc.net Formal position announcement...

Longmont Colorado Job Opportunity

Mon, 17 Oct 2011 14:04:14 -0400

Post Date Oct 14 2011 Salary Start Date Application Deadline 11/15/2011 ICMA Members Only No ICMA Credential ( Details ) not required Normal Population 87460 Employer Location Longmont Colorado United States Job Reference Number Longmont CM CITY MANAGER Longmont...

Career Compass No. 21: My Micromanaging Boss Is Driving Me Crazy!

rcarty@icma.org — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 10:50:34 -0500

I am a park and recreation program coordination with a micromanaging supervisor. I joined my city government because it has a good reputation and offered good opportunities; however I’m about to look for a new job in another agency. My supervisor is driving me crazy. She is constantly checking on me and how I’m progressing with my project assignments. I am a good performer and have gotten good reviews but her micromanaging style has become debilitating and is sapping my energy and creativity. I have begun to avoid her in between our scheduled once-every-two-week meetings because I’m afraid she will...

Olathe Kansas Job Opportunity

rcarty@icma.org — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 12:40:00 -0400

Resource Management Director City of Olathe Post Date Oct 06 2011 Salary $96207/yr - $123342/yr Start Date Application Deadline N/A ICMA Members Only No ICMA Credential ( Details ) not required Normal Population 125800 Employer Location Olathe Kansas ...