City Manager Jobs

City Manager jobs are open across municipal government, county administration, and public sector consulting, from assistant city manager to chief administrative officer, with specializations in urban planning, budget oversight, and intergovernmental relations. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

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Overview

Open roles586+
Top stateMissouri
Top employerBurns & McDonnell
Top cityKansas City, MO
Work type40% On-site
Top industryConsulting

Showing 5 of 586+ City Manager jobs

Account Manager (New York City)
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New 10h ago
Account Manager (New York City)
RxSight
New York, New York
Account Management
Business Development
Partnerships & Business Development
Bachelor's degree in business
201-500

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Manager - Events (City Park and Samuell Farm) (Park and Recreation [PKR] Dept., Unclassified Postion)
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New 11h ago
Manager - Events (City Park and Samuell Farm) (Park and Recreation [PKR] Dept., Unclassified Postion)
City of Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Business Operations
$70k.2 - $88k.6/yr
Bachelor's degree in business
10,000+

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Team Manager - Century City
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New 16h ago
Team Manager - Century City
Tiffany & Co.
Los Angeles, California
Business Operations
Human Resources (HR) — Generalist
Recruiting & Talent Acquisition
$111k - $156k/yr
10,000+

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Energy Efficiency Account Manager II (Remote - Greater Salt Lake City, UT)
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New 16h ago
Energy Efficiency Account Manager II (Remote - Greater Salt Lake City, UT)
Energy Solutions
Salt Lake City, Utah
Account Management
Customer Service
Customer Success
$79k - $87k/yr
Remote (US)
High school diploma or GED
501-1,000

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Area Sales Manager - Oklahoma City, OK
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New 19h ago
Area Sales Manager - Oklahoma City, OK
AGORA Data, Inc.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Business Operations
Customer Success
Project Management
Remote (US)
Bachelor's degree

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City Manager Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Burns & McDonnell28
  • Ballad Health17
  • Cherry Hill Programs12
  • サイネオス・ヘルス11
  • Cook Out Restaurants8

Top Industries Hiring

  • Consulting & Professional Services10
  • Retail3
  • Technology & Software3
  • Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals3
  • Healthcare & Medical Services2

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in city manager jobs.

  • Master's degree in public administration, public policy, or a related field
  • Direct experience managing or overseeing a municipal or county government operation
  • Demonstrated expertise in developing and administering large public-sector budgets
  • Ability to coordinate across elected officials, department heads, and community stakeholders
  • Experience with strategic planning, capital improvement programs, and long-range financial forecasting
  • ICMA Credentialed Manager designation or active progress toward certification

Tips for Your City Manager Job Search

Tailor your resume to budget scale

City manager hiring committees want to see the dollar value of budgets you have managed. Pull those figures from past annual reports or departmental filings and place them in your resume's summary and each relevant role.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists city manager openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target postings by population tier

Municipalities sort candidates by the population size they have administered. Filter your search by city size and apply only where your experience falls within one tier above or below the community's current population to stay competitive.

Get your ICMA-CM credential documented

Many council-manager communities expect or prefer credentialed managers. If you hold the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation, list it prominently on your resume and reference it in your cover letter when the posting mentions professional standards.

Prepare a policy case study for interviews

City manager interviews often include a panel scenario where you must walk elected officials through a real policy problem. Prepare a two-minute narrative about a complex intergovernmental issue you resolved, covering the stakeholders, the tradeoffs, and the outcome.

Negotiate start date around budget cycles

Many city manager appointments align with the fiscal year. When you receive an offer, ask which phase of the budget cycle you would be entering so you can negotiate a start date that gives you time to review financials before the next adoption process.

City Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most city managers?

The companies hiring the most city managers right now include Burns & McDonnell, Ballad Health, and Cherry Hill Programs, with the largest share of openings in Missouri, New York, and Utah, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings in this role are distributed across communities of all sizes, so checking regularly gives you the best view of active searches.

How many city manager jobs are remote?

About 60% of city manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on, community-facing nature of most positions. The sub-areas most likely to offer any remote flexibility are interim or consulting engagements, regional planning roles, and intergovernmental coordination assignments where in-person residency requirements are relaxed.

How do you become a city manager?

Start with a master's degree in public administration or a closely related field, then build several years of experience in municipal department leadership, budget management, or assistant city manager roles. Pursue the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation to signal professional commitment. Apply to progressively larger communities and develop a portfolio of policy outcomes, capital projects, and council relationships that demonstrate readiness for the top administrative role.

Can you get a city manager job with little experience?

Entry into city management typically starts through assistant or deputy city manager roles, budget analyst positions, or department director appointments in smaller municipalities. Focusing on communities with populations under a few thousand gives newer administrators a realistic path, since those councils often prioritize candidates with strong public finance skills and council communication ability over years of direct city management experience.

What does the city manager interview process look like?

Most city manager searches begin with a resume screening and phone screen by an executive recruiter or HR director, followed by a panel interview with the city council and senior staff. Finalists typically complete a structured in-person visit that includes a community forum, one-on-one meetings with department heads, and a scenario exercise. Some councils also request a written response to a policy brief before the final vote.

Where can I find and apply to city manager jobs?

You can find and apply to city manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and community size preference, then apply directly to each one that fits.

See All 586+ City Manager Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find City Manager Jobs