A well-crafted city manager resume is crucial for landing a role in local government, where you’ll oversee daily operations and drive policy implementation.

Your application must showcase your ability to manage complex municipal issues and highlight your leadership in community development.

In this article, we'll walk you through the key elements of building a compelling document that reflects your experience, achievements, and qualifications to make you stand out in the competitive field.

City manager resume examples

Generalist city manager resume sample

Generalist city manager resume template

Generalist city manager resume template
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Resume for generalist city managers | Plain text

Laura Mitchell

Miami, FL | Phone: (305) 555-1234 | Email: lauramitchell@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lauramitchell

Professional Summary:

Results-driven City Manager with over 11 years of experience in public administration, planning, and economic development. Proven success in managing municipal budgets, overseeing public works, and driving community engagement.

Professional Experience:

City of Miami, FL

City Manager

August 2018 – Present

  • Spearhead the development and implementation of the City of Miami’s $1.2 billion annual budget, ensuring financial transparency and fiscal responsibility.
  • Lead a multi-department initiative to improve transportation infrastructure, securing $45 million in federal grants to upgrade roadways and public transit.
  • Collaborate with community leaders to launch the "Miami Green Initiative," reducing the city's carbon footprint by 18% through building programs and renewable energy adoption.
  • Manage 2,500+ city employees, ensuring effective service delivery across all departments, including safety, parks, public works, and housing.
  • Act as the key liaison between the city council, local businesses, and the community, driving projects that support economic development and neighborhood revitalization.

City of Orlando, FL

Deputy City Manager

June 2013 – July 2018

  • Assisted the City Manager in overseeing the management of departments, with a focus on public safety, utilities, and parks & recreation.
  • Directed the expansion of the Orlando Sports Complex, resulting in an increase in tourism revenue by 20% over three years.
  • Implemented a new public works program that reduced response times for infrastructure repairs by 30%.

Education:

  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) – University of Florida, Gainesville, FL – 2010
  • Bachelor of Urban and Regional Planning – Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL – 2006

Key Skills:

  • Budget Management
  • Strategic Planning
  • Public Infrastructure Management
  • Economic Development
  • Public Safety Coordination
  • Intergovernmental Relations

Community Engagement & Leadership Initiatives:

  • Established the "Miami Neighborhood Revitalization Program," which partnered with local businesses and community leaders to transform underutilized spaces into public parks.
  • Launched the “Downtown Miami Business Partnership,” increasing local business investment in downtown redevelopment projects, resulting in a 12% increase in small business ownership.
  • Created an annual “City Leaders of Tomorrow” internship program, offering local high school students hands-on experience in public administration and government roles.

Strong sides of this city manager resume:

  • The summary effectively encapsulates the candidate’s extensive experience and capabilities in just a few lines, providing a strong snapshot of qualifications.
  • The bullet points consistently showcase measurable results, which immediately make the accomplishments credible and tangible.
  • The resume uses industry-specific keywords, ensuring it aligns with ATS (Applicant Tracking System) scanning requirements while appealing to human reviewers.
How to properly format a resume for a city manager?
  • Font. Pick a professional and readable font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, ideally between 10-12 points in size. This ensures your document is easy to read at a glance.
  • Length. Aim for a 1-2 page city manager resume. While this role typically requires substantial experience, you’ll want to include only the most relevant and impactful information to keep it concise.
  • Layout. Choose a well-organized layout with defined parts for Summary or Objective, Skills, Experience, and Education. Using consistent headers and bullet points for each section helps create visual structure.
  • Spacing. Set standard margins (around 1 inch) and leave adequate spacing between sections to avoid a cluttered appearance.

To ensure your city manager resume looks professional on any device, use a great online resume creator.

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Crisis city manager resume example

Sample crisis city manager resume

Michael Turner

Flint, MI | Phone: (810) 555-9876 | Email: michaelturner@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/michaelturner

Professional Summary:

Experienced City Manager with over 20 years of crisis management expertise, specializing in navigating municipalities through financial, environmental, and social challenges. Demonstrated ability to lead recovery efforts, restore public trust, and ensure government accountability during crises.

Professional Experience:

City of Flint, MI

Crisis City Manager

January 2018 – Present

  • Appointed by Michigan’s governor to lead the recovery efforts following Flint’s water crisis, managing the $100 million federal recovery fund to overhaul the city’s water infrastructure.
  • Rebuilt community trust by implementing transparency initiatives and increasing public access to city meetings and records.
  • Develop and execute a crisis communication plan, facilitating clear, consistent communication with residents, media, and state officials.
  • Spearhead the installation of over 9,000 new lead-free lines, restoring safe drinking water to residents ahead of schedule.
  • Work with state and federal agencies to develop long-term recovery plans focused on economic revitalization and public health improvements.

City of Detroit, MI

Assistant City Manager – Emergency Management

September 2012 – December 2017

  • Assisted the city in emerging from bankruptcy by developing an emergency management plan that streamlined city services and reduced administrative costs by 15%.
  • Led a task force to address Detroit’s blight issue, coordinating the demolition of over 12,000 vacant homes, making neighborhoods safer and more livable.
  • Collaborated with public safety departments to create a citywide emergency plan, improving response times during natural disasters and incidents.

Education:

  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) – Wayne State University, Detroit, MI – 2005
  • Bachelor of Political Science – University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI – 2001

Key Skills:

  • Crisis Management
  • Emergency Planning
  • Public Safety and Infrastructure Restoration
  • Stakeholder Engagement
  • Financial Oversight in High-Stress Environments
  • Public Trust & Transparency Initiatives

Government Collaboration & Policy Advocacy:

  • Worked closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure Flint’s water crisis recovery met federal standards, securing an additional $50 million in funding for infrastructure improvements.
  • Lobbied for new state-level legislation aimed at improving water quality standards across Michigan, leading to the passage of the “Clean Act Amendment” in 2019.
  • Testified before the U.S. Senate regarding Flint’s recovery efforts, advocating for increased federal support for cities facing public health and environmental crises.

Here are a few reasons why this example of a public administration resume will impress recruiters:

  • It uses terms like "crisis communication," "emergency planning," and "stakeholder engagement" to signal that the candidate is highly specialized.
  • Specific challenges are detailed with precise actions and outcomes, showing hands-on experience with large-scale municipal recovery efforts.
  • Mentioning lobbying efforts and testifying before the U.S. Senate strengthens the resume by showing that the person has worked at the highest levels.
Should I choose a city manager resume objective or summary?

Resume summary is best for those with extensive experience in city or local government.

  • It allows you to concisely highlight key achievements and relevant skills.

City manager resume summary sample:

Results-driven city manager with 10+ years of experience in municipal governance, budget management, and community engagement. Proven track record of implementing policies that foster economic growth and enhance public services.

Resume objective is suitable for those new to the role, such as assistant city managers or professionals with related experience in public administration.

  • A well-crafted statement highlights your goals and relevant skills.

City manager resume objective example:

Dedicated professional with 5 years of public administration experience seeking a city manager role to leverage skills in policy development and resource management for community betterment.

How to showcase your city manager resume skills?

A dedicated skills section is vital because it shows hiring committees you have both the technical knowledge and interpersonal abilities needed to manage a municipality effectively.

  • Hard skills are specific, measurable attributes gained through experience or training.
  • Soft skills are personal attributes that enable effective interaction with others.

City manager hard skills:

  • Budgeting and Financial Management
  • Urban Planning
  • Public Policy Analysis
  • Strategic Planning
  • Project Management
  • Contract Negotiation
  • Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Environmental Policy Knowledge
  • Data Analysis

Soft skills for a city manager:

  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Conflict Resolution
  • Community Engagement
  • Decision-Making
  • Adaptability
  • Time Management
  • Collaboration
  • Problem-Solving
  • Empathy

Interim city manager resume template

Interim city manager resume sample

Interim city manager resume sample
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Resume for interim city managers | Text version

David Robinson

San Bernardino, CA | Phone: (909) 555-4567 | Email: davidrobinson@email.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/davidrobinson

Professional Summary:

Versatile Interim City Manager with 10 years of experience stepping into high-stakes leadership roles during periods of transition. Skilled in maintaining operational continuity while preparing the municipality for permanent leadership.

Professional Experience:

City of San Bernardino, CA

Interim City Manager

March 2022 – December 2024

  • Appointed as interim city manager following the retirement of the previous one, overseeing daily operations for a city of over 215,000 residents.
  • Stabilized city finances by implementing temporary budgetary controls, reducing non-essential spending by 8% while maintaining critical public services.
  • Coordinated with department heads to address immediate infrastructure concerns, including a citywide road repair initiative that reduced pothole complaints by 25%.
  • Facilitated the smooth transition to permanent leadership, providing comprehensive briefing reports and strategic recommendations for the incoming city manager.

City of Riverside, CA

Deputy City Manager – Interim Role

August 2020 – February 2022

  • Led the Riverside city team during a period of leadership transition, overseeing a $900 million budget and 1,800 employees.
  • Addressed short-term operational challenges by streamlining procurement processes and improving departmental coordination, reducing project delays by 15%.
  • Provided leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring continuity of essential city services and developing new protocols for remote operations.

Education:

  • Master of Public Administration (MPA) – University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA – 2011
  • Bachelor of Economics – California State University, Fullerton, CA – 2007

Key Skills:

  • Transitional Leadership
  • Municipal Budgeting
  • Organizational Change Management
  • Workforce Development
  • Public Sector Operations
  • Infrastructure and Public Service Continuity

Process Improvement & Operational Efficiency:

  • Implemented Lean Six Sigma methodologies across city departments, improving operational efficiency by streamlining processes and reducing waste, leading to a 12% cost savings.
  • Reorganized the public works department, cutting down the approval process for projects by 25%, which allowed for faster execution of critical infrastructure improvements.

This sample city manager resume is effective for several reasons:

  • It highlights the candidate's ability to ensure organizational continuity during leadership changes, with specific achievements like reducing non-essential spending.
  • Integrating response to COVID-19 adds contemporary relevance, demonstrating adaptability to new challenges while maintaining essential services.
  • The resume does an excellent job of highlighting short-term results in a way that reflects the limited time frames of interim roles.
What educational credentials should I add to my city manager resume?

The education section highlights your foundational knowledge in public administration or a related field, which is often crucial for city manager positions.

List your degree(s), the university or college attended, and your graduation year. Relevant certifications or licenses (like a Certified Public Manager credential) are also valuable additions.

If you hold a master’s degree in public administration, urban planning, or a related field, include it here to show advanced expertise. When writing multiple diplomas, start with the highest level of education.

How to organize the experience section in city manager resumes?
  • Reverse chronological order. Start with your most recent position and work backward.
  • Focus on relevant roles. Include job titles, employment dates, and company/organization names for each entry. City managers often have a range of experience in both public administration and management roles.
  • Highlight key responsibilities. Emphasize duties related to policy implementation, community planning, financial oversight, and team leadership.
  • Quantify achievements. Use data where possible to illustrate your impact. For example, Oversaw a $20M annual budget, reducing costs by 15% through efficiency initiatives.

Conclusion

Creating a city manager resume requires a fine balance between showcasing your leadership capabilities and your knowledge of municipal operations.

Tailoring your application to reflect the specific needs of the city you’re applying to will greatly improve your chances of landing the role.

By focusing on relevant experience, measurable achievements, and strategic skills, your resume can demonstrate the value you can bring to a city’s growth and development.

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