Deputy City Manager Jobs
Deputy City Manager jobs are open across municipal government, county administration, and regional public authorities, at levels from assistant deputy to senior executive, with specializations in budget and finance, community development, and operations management. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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JOB INFORMATION
The San Diego City Attorney's Office protects the people of San Diego by serving as chief legal counsel to the City of San Diego’s elected officials and operational departments; prosecuting and defending civil cases involving the City; and as the City’s prosecutor on behalf of the People of the State of California, by holding accountable those who commit crimes against the public health and safety and violate other local and state laws. Our municipal law firm employs over 190 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff, dedicated to providing legal services to the City of San Diego.
The Civil Litigation Division of the San Diego City Attorney's Office is seeking applications from
attorneys who are interested in a position as a Deputy City Attorney, focusing on Federal Litigation. This position reports to the Assistant City Attorney and is responsible for a broad range of duties including prosecuting or defending federal civil lawsuits in which the City is a party and that impact the well-being of San Diego residents.
Examples of recent matters handled by our Division are challenging the termination, freezing, and conditions placed on federal funding; preparing and supporting high-impact amicus curiae briefs related to immigration, voting, civil rights, and reproductive rights; and participating in the federal rule-making process on new regulations and policies that threaten the constitutional rights or statutory rights of San Diegans.
NOTES:
The following wage increases are scheduled to take effect for Deputy City Attorneys:
- A 3.5% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2027.
- A 2% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2028.
- A 2% general wage increase will be effective January 1, 2029.
To Apply:
To learn more about the position, please visit the San Diego City Attorney’s Office Career Page.
JOB INFORMATION
The San Diego City Attorney's Office protects the people of San Diego by serving as chief legal counsel to the City of San Diego’s elected officials and operational departments; prosecuting and defending civil cases involving the City; and as the City’s prosecutor on behalf of the People of the State of California, by holding accountable those who commit crimes against the public health and safety and violate other local and state laws. Our municipal law firm employs over 190 lawyers and approximately 230 support staff, dedicated to providing legal services to the City of San Diego.
The Civil Litigation Division of the San Diego City Attorney's Office is seeking applications from
attorneys who are interested in a position as a Deputy City Attorney, focusing on Federal Litigation. This position reports to the Assistant City Attorney and is responsible for a broad range of duties including prosecuting or defending federal civil lawsuits in which the City is a party and that impact the well-being of San Diego residents.
Examples of recent matters handled by our Division are challenging the termination, freezing, and conditions placed on federal funding; preparing and supporting high-impact amicus curiae briefs related to immigration, voting, civil rights, and reproductive rights; and participating in the federal rule-making process on new regulations and policies that threaten the constitutional rights or statutory rights of San Diegans.
NOTES:
The following wage increases are scheduled to take effect for Deputy City Attorneys:
- A 3.5% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2027.
- A 2% general wage increase will be effective July 1, 2028.
- A 2% general wage increase will be effective January 1, 2029.
To Apply:
To learn more about the position, please visit the San Diego City Attorney’s Office Career Page.
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Who's Hiring
Top Industries Hiring
- Government & Public Sector
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in deputy city manager jobs.
- Master's degree in public administration, public policy, or a related field
- Seven or more years of progressively responsible local government management experience
- Demonstrated experience managing and overseeing large municipal operating budgets
- Proven leadership of multiple city departments or cross-functional government teams
- Experience with strategic planning, capital improvement programs, and policy development
- ICMA Credentialed Manager designation or active progress toward credentialing
Tips for Your Deputy City Manager Job Search
Tailor your resume to municipal priorities
Lead with budget oversight figures, departmental headcount, and capital project values you've managed. City councils and hiring panels look for candidates who can demonstrate fiscal stewardship and cross-departmental coordination at a scale matching their own.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists deputy 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 and budget tier
A deputy city manager role in a 50,000-resident city involves different responsibilities than one in a 500,000-resident metro. Filter openings by jurisdiction size so your experience with comparable operating budgets and service demands aligns with what the posting actually requires.
Get your ICMA-CM credential in order
Credentialed managers often move faster through shortlists for deputy roles in professionally managed cities. If you're eligible, confirm your ICMA Credentialed Manager status is current and prominently noted on your resume before submitting.
Prepare a policy portfolio with measurable outcomes
Interview panels for deputy city manager roles ask for specific policy wins, not general responsibilities. Document two or three initiatives you led, the stakeholder groups involved, the timeline, and the measurable outcome, so you can present them confidently during structured interviews.
Negotiate your performance review cycle upfront
At-will executive roles in city government rarely advertise their review and advancement timelines. During final-round negotiations, ask directly about annual review criteria and what a path to city manager looks like, so expectations are clear before you sign.
Deputy City Manager Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most deputy city managers?
The companies hiring the most deputy city managers right now include Los Angeles City Attorney, City and County of San Francisco, and City of Meridian, with the largest share of openings in California, Idaho, and Nevada, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Openings are distributed across a wide range of city population sizes, so candidates at different career stages can find roles that match their experience.
How many deputy city manager jobs are remote?
About 100% of deputy city manager openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most municipal executive roles require an on-site presence for council meetings, community engagement, and departmental oversight. The sub-functions most likely to allow partial remote arrangements include intergovernmental affairs, strategic planning coordination, and grant administration.
How do you become a deputy city manager?
Start with a master's degree in public administration or a closely related field, then build progressively responsible experience inside local government, moving from department analyst or assistant director roles into division director or assistant city manager positions. Earning the ICMA Credentialed Manager designation strengthens your candidacy. Lateral moves across functional areas like finance, community development, and operations show the breadth panels expect at the deputy level.
Can you get a deputy city manager job with limited experience?
Direct appointment to a deputy city manager role with limited experience is rare, but candidates from adjacent executive roles in county government, regional planning agencies, or large public authorities do make the transition. Strengthening your candidacy means accumulating budget oversight responsibility, demonstrated cross-departmental leadership, and visibility through professional associations like ICMA or state municipal leagues before applying.
What does the deputy city manager interview process look like?
Most jurisdictions run a multi-stage process beginning with an application and resume screening, followed by a panel interview with department heads or a selection committee, and often a community or council presentation round for finalists. Assessment centers, structured behavioral interviews, and written policy exercises are common at mid-to-large cities. The full process from posting close to offer can take several weeks depending on the jurisdiction's charter requirements.
Where can I find and apply to deputy city manager jobs?
You can find and apply to deputy city manager jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your experience in terms of jurisdiction size, functional focus, and seniority level, then apply directly to each listing that fits.
See All 28 Deputy City Manager Jobs
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