Assistant to the Council

The Assistant to the Council provides a wide variety of professional support to the Council. In addition, this position represents the Council at meetings when required and appropriate. The position provides extensive professional assistance, project management, and recommendations on City issues and performs highly responsible administrative work covering a broad range of municipal activities. The Assistant to the Council will serve as the liaison to the Goodyear Youth Commission and will assist in developing and organizing meetings, educational experiences and leadership opportunities.  This is a professional position requiring exceptional analytical and communication skills.

• Prepares reports and verbal and written correspondence on behalf of the Council. Assists in setting the Council's schedules.
• Conducts research and special projects and assures implementation of programs developed and initiated by the Council.   Coordinates the response to issues raised by citizens of Goodyear by coordinating with Departments or other appropriate parties to respond. Advises the Council on unresolved issues that must be addressed. 
• Provides a visible link between elected officials and the public, acting as a representative in dealings with constituents (both individually and in groups), and city departments and committees, including the Goodyear Youth Commission.
• Responds to Citizen Inquiries and complaints with the utmost tact and resourcefulness in seeking solutions to the problems presented from within Goodyear and other agencies. Communicates with citizens, management, public officials, general public, and other City employees in order to resolve complaints and inquiries and provide requested information or referral.
• Composes correspondence dealing with city-related issues and subject matter in ways that sometimes requires considerable sensitivity, discretion, judgment, or negotiation in replying to inquiries, and/or presenting or requesting information. 
• Attends City Council meetings and work sessions; researches, responds to and prepares correspondence; sets up meetings and conferences; responds to the telephone inquiries and performs necessary follow up, and communicates with City management on sensitive and/or confidential issues received by the Council.
• Drafts information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.
• Ensures Councilmembers are prepared for city-related meetings including providing research, coordinating logistics, and preparing materials.
• Knowledgeable about a variety of City issues and able to state the Council's position on such issues. This includes supporting Council’s involvement in regional and national activities as directed by intergovernmental affairs staff. Incumbent must exercise considerable judgment in their capacity with the responsibility for analyzing policy issues, identifying city-wide impacts, and coordinating responses on strategies and alternatives for dealing with the issues.

• Formal Education/Knowledge:  Work requires broad knowledge in a general professional or technical field.  Knowledge is normally acquired through four years of college resulting in a Bachelor's degree or equivalent.
• Experience:  Minimum of three year experience in a related field.
• Certifications and Other Requirements:  Valid Driver’s License.
• Reading:   Work requires the ability to read and comprehend city regulation agreements, council action reports, and trade journals.
• Math:   Work requires the ability to perform general math calculations such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division.
• Writing:   Work requires a high-level command of the English language with the ability to write memoranda, correspondence, reports and produce written documents with clearly organized thoughts using proper English sentence construction, punctuation, and grammar.
• Managerial:  Job has no responsibility for the direction or supervision of others but may provide advice/direction to an employee with less experience/skill or tenure.  
• Budget Responsibility:   Has no budget responsibility
• Policy/Decision Making:  Significant - The employee normally performs the duty assignment after receiving general instructions as to methods, procedures, and desired end results. There is some opportunity for discretion when making selections among a few, easily identifiable choices.  Work involving discretion is typically reviewed before finalized.
• Technical Skills:  Comprehensive Application - Work requires a comprehensive, practical knowledge of a technical field with use of analytical judgment and decision-making abilities appropriate to the work environment of the organization. This includes the ability to understand and navigate complex governmental processes.
• Interpersonal/Human Relations Skills:  High - Interactions at this level usually impact the implementation of policies. Contacts may involve interpretation of how policies are implemented and may require discussion and the support of controversial positions or the negotiation of sensitive issues or important presentations.  During interactions on policy implementation, contacts may also involve stressful, negative interactions requiring high levels of tact and the ability to respond appropriately to aggressive interpersonal interactions.  

• Meet individually with each assigned Councilmember and appropriate department directors to become acquainted, discuss expectations and processes, and establish the best form of communication.

• Manage City Council and constituent requests by working with other departments to research and analyze issues, and provide updated information in a timely manner.

• Begin attending various city-related meetings with or on behalf of Council. Compile the necessary background information and/or materials for each meeting, provide feedback of the meeting, and follow up on the issues discussed.

• Attend meetings and familiarize self with Youth Commission, including its structure, goals and mission.

• Research and manage projects as assigned. Track all issues from conceptualization to finalization and inform manager of results.

• Plan, coordinate, and monitor special programs or events initiated by Council such as Council Conversations.

• Actively seek out methods to enhance communications, streamline work processes, decrease turnaround times, and provide quality customer service to Council and Goodyear residents.

• Begin assisting Council by developing information points, speeches, newsletter articles, social media posts, and other communications.

• Prepare recommendations and reports for Council about projects, programs, disputes, and other issues that arise.

• Utilize already-existing or new communication tools (Council Activity Reports, etc.) to ensure timely dissemination of information to all members of Council.