The City of Gaithersburg is seeking a visionary, collaborative, and service-oriented Assistant City Manager (ACM) to join our dynamic executive leadership team. This is a rare opportunity to serve in a pivotal role in a well-managed, effectively governed, incredibly diverse community with an exceptional high quality of life.

As part of a two-person ACM team supporting the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager will have the opportunity to lead key City initiatives, drive operational excellence, and help shape the future of our City in partnership with dedicated department heads, elected officials, and community members. The ACM will oversee a portfolio of departments based on the successful candidate’s background and experience. Applicants must have subject matter skills and knowledge, supervisory and management experience, and a track-record in leadership working with a diverse workforce and affecting inclusive and effective outcomes. This position truly offers a skilled leader the opportunity to work in partnership with the City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Senior Leadership Team to bring new perspective, leadership, and additional innovation to further the City’s mission, vision, core values, and long-range goals.

The position can accommodate both in-person and remote work at the discretion of the City Manager. Preparation for and attendance at meetings, events, and other work outside of regular business hours is required.

The Assistant City Manager plays a vital role in the overall leadership and direction of the organization, providing executive-level management over a variety of City operations and initiatives. Each ACM is assigned a portfolio of departments and functional areas based on organizational needs and the individual’s expertise, but both work closely with one another and with the City Manager to promote a unified, collaborative, and effective leadership model. The ACM is a key strategic partner to the City Manager, contributing to the development and implementation of City-wide goals, policies, and priorities. This role involves direct oversight of department directors, performance monitoring, budget management, and fostering alignment between department operations and the City's strategic objectives. The position also regularly engages with the Mayor, City Council and other public officials.

In this role, the ACM facilitates cross-departmental collaboration and leads complex, high-impact projects that advance innovation and improve service delivery. The position requires the ability to develop and nurture strong working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, engage with residents and community organizations, and represent the City in a variety of intergovernmental and public settings. The ACM supports transparency, responsiveness, and trust in local government by modeling integrity, accountability, and ethical leadership. The ACM also plays a central role in personnel matters, helping to shape organizational culture, coach department leaders, address performance challenges, and lead organizational change. The Assistant City Manager may also serve as Acting City Manager in the City Manager's absence, ensuring continuity of leadership and operations.

First review of applications will begin by June 30, 2025. The position will remain open until filled.

Interested candidates must apply on our website by completing and submitting a brief online application and providing required supporting documents.

Requires Master's Degree in Public or Business Administration or closely related field and a minimum of eight years of progressively knowledgeable and highly responsible professional experience involving responsibility for planning, organization, and implementation of major functions and programs, the majority of which shall have been acquired in a managerial capacity. Local government experience is desired; municipal government experience is strongly preferred. ICMA Credentialed Manager certification a plus. Residency within the City of Gaithersburg is not required.

The ideal candidate for the Assistant City Manager position is an accomplished and forward-thinking public sector leader who is passionate about local government and dedicated to public service. This individual is a strategic thinker who can translate big-picture goals into actionable plans, while also possessing the practical expertise to ensure high-quality service delivery and operational effectiveness. The ideal candidate is a collaborator by nature, with a strong ability to foster partnerships across departments, with elected officials, community members, and regional partners. They will be politically astute, yet apolitical, with the ability to navigate sensitive issues and competing interests with diplomacy, fairness, and discretion.

An exceptional communicator and listener, the successful candidate understands the value of inclusive engagement, transparency, and trust-building. They are committed to cultivating a positive organizational culture, developing others through coaching, and managing performance in a constructive, accountability-oriented manner. This person must be comfortable with ambiguity and change, eager to champion innovation, and skilled in aligning resources to achieve strategic priorities. With a solid understanding of public administration, municipal finance, and operations, the ideal ACM brings both a visionary mindset and a hands-on management style. They are grounded in values of equity, integrity, and professionalism, and thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment where collaboration, creativity, and service excellence are expected and rewarded.

About City of Gaithersburg, MD

With more than 70,000 residents located in the heart of Montgomery County, Gaithersburg is one of the largest cities in Maryland. Here you’ll find an excitingly diverse population living in a mixture of housing types in warm, welcoming neighborhoods. Gaithersburg combines a respect for its heritage, demonstrated by revitalization efforts in the Olde Towne residential and commercial district, with thoughtful planning for new communities. Our businesses range from world renowned technology companies to family-owned restaurants and service providers. With indoor and outdoor aquatic facilities, a skate park, miniature golf course, and award-winning recreational & cultural enrichment programs, people of all ages enjoy an exceptional quality of life here. Gaithersburg residents enjoy the best of both worlds - the familiarity and comfort of a small town community within the exciting metropolitan area of the nation’s capital. Gaithersburg occupies approximately 10 square miles in the geographic center of Montgomery County, Maryland. The southeastern border of the City lies just 13 miles from the northwestern border of Washington, D.C.

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