City Jobs in Irvine, CA

Salary : Negotiable

Location : City Hall - 300 E. Chapman Avenue Orange, CA

Job Type : Full Time Miscellaneous

Job Number : 0009

Department : City Manager's Office

Opening Date : 02 / 21 / 2025

THE OPPORTUNITY

The City of Orange, one of Southern California's most desirable communities, presents an exciting opportunity for an experienced executive to lead a well-respected organization through a pivotal financial turnaround. With its rich history, strategic location, and strong sense of community, Orange blends the charm of a small town with the potential of economic vitality of a thriving metropolitan hub. However, like many cities, Orange faces financial challenges that require disciplined leadership, operational efficiencies, and a focus on sustainable revenue growth. The next City Manager will play a critical role in stabilizing the City's fiscal foundation while preserving its high quality of life, ensuring Orange remains a safe community where businesses thrive, residents are engaged, and public services excel.

THE CITY OF ORANGE

The City of Orange was incorporated in 1888. It has grown to more than 20 times its original geographic size yet managed to maintain the small-town values upon which it was founded. Today, more than 140,000 residents call Orange home within the 27 square miles that make up the City. Its prime location offers direct access to five major freeways, a commuter rail network, one major outlet mall and ample public transportation. Orange is convenient to half a dozen major airports, harbors and ports, amusement parks, and at least ten major shopping malls.

CITY GOVERNMENT

The City of Orange operates under a Council-Manager form of government with a seven-member City Council. The City Council is elected by district for four-year overlapping terms with a two-term limit. The Mayor is elected at large for a two-year term with a three-term limit. The Mayor pro-tem is selected by the Councilmembers.

The City Manager is the Chief Executive Officer and head of the administrative branch of the City government. Orange provides a full range of services through 12 Departments : Police, Fire, Public Works, Community Development, Finance, Community Services, Library Services, Human Resources, Information Technology, City Clerk's Office, City Attorney's Office, and City Manager's Office. The City's 2024-2025 fiscal year budget is approximately $285 million. The adopted General Fund budget includes $148 million in total revenues and $156 million in total expenditures, yielding a structural deficit of $8 million. Orange is currently funded for 753 full-time equivalent positions.

Examples of Duties

THE POSITION

Under policy direction from the City Council, the City Manager plans, organizes, and provides administrative direction and oversight for all City functions and activities, as well as provides policy guidance and program evaluation to the City Council and management of 8 department heads and 6 administrative employees. Key responsibilities include directing and coordinating the development and implementation of goals, objectives, and programs for the City Council and the City; overseeing the preparation of the annual budget for the City and providing information regarding the financial condition and needs to the City Council; preparing and recommending long-and short-term plans for City service provision, capital improvements, and funding; overseeing the administration, construction, use, and maintenance of all City facilities and equipment, including buildings, parks, facilities, and other public property; and responding to the most complex, difficult, and sensitive public inquiries and complaints and assisting with resolutions and alternative recommendations.

Typical Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Any combination of training and experience, which would provide the required knowledge, skills, and abilities is qualifying. A typical way to obtain the required qualifications would be :

• Education : Equivalent to graduation from a four-year college or university with major coursework in Public or Business Administration, Public Policy, Finance, or a related field. A Master's degree is highly desired.
• Experience : A minimum of ten years of management or administrative experience in a public agency setting as a City Manager, Assistant City Manager, or in a related administrative / managerial capacity involving responsibility for planning, organization, and implementation.

SALARY & BENEFITS

The Orange City Council will negotiate a highly competitive salary and executive benefits package that is considerate of the candidate's experience and qualifications. The annual base salary for the incumbent City Manager is $313,862 . The City contributes an additional 3% on top of salary which can be taken as cash or placed into a 401A Money Purchase Retirement Plan. Employees with a Master's degree or higher are eligible to receive $500 per month of Education Pay .

Retirement is provided by CalPERS. The City of Orange is one of a few cities in Orange County in which an employee who is a Classic Member of CalPERS (or other reciprocal retirement system), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2.7% @ 55 formula with one-year final compensation. Classic Member employees contribute 8.0%. Employees who are new CalPERS members (PEPRA - those obtaining initial membership on or after January 1, 2013), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% @ 62 formula with three-year final compensation. New member employees currently contribute 7.75%.

In addition, the City of Orange observes an on-site 9 / 80 work schedule from 7 : 30 a.m. - 5 : 30 p.m. with City Hall closures every other Friday.

Supplemental Information

SELECTION & APPLICATION PROCESS

Interested candidates should apply no later than Monday, March 24, 2025, but the City may close the recruitment at any time once a suitably strong group of candidates has been established. Click here for a more detailed brochure and to submit online applications.

Confidential inquiries are welcomed to :

Greg Nelson || (916) 550-4100

Bryan Noblett || (916) 550-4100

BENEFITS FOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT TEAM

The City of Orange provides a generous array of benefits to employees in addition to maintaining competitive salaries. All Executive Director Team employees are employed "At-Will."

The following is a partial list of benefits :

Retirement Benefits. Retirement benefits are provided by the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), including the City's contribution toward the Fourth Level Survivor's Benefit.

An employee who is a " Classic " Member of CalPERS or a current member of another California public retirement system who is hired by the City of Orange on or after January 1, 2013, will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2.7% @ age 55 benefit formula with one year final compensation. Employees contribute 8.00% of pension reportable salary on a pre-tax basis for this retirement benefit.

Effective January 1, 2013, newly hired non-safety employees who are " New " CalPERS Members, as defined by the Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 ("PEPRA"), will be enrolled in the CalPERS 2% at age 62 defined benefit plan with three year final compensation in accordance with Public Employees' Pension Reform Act of 2013 (PEPRA). New Members shall contribute half of normal cost of retirement as determined by CalPERS from their pensionable compensation, on a pre-tax basis, as set forth in California Government Code Section 7522.30.

Social Security. Employees do not pay into Social Security.

Medicare. The City pays for the employee's portion of the required Medicare contribution, which is 1.45% of salary.

Cafeteria Benefits Plan. The City pays an allowance of $2,440 per month which can be applied towards medical, dental, vision, healthcare reimbursement, and / or dependent care reimbursement. Under certain criteria, employees may elect to opt out of the City's medical plan altogether and receive $750 per month.

Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance . A variety of medical insurance plans are available through the PERS Health Benefits program.

Money Purchase Retirement Plan. The City contributes an additional three percent (3%) on top of salary which can be taken as cash or placed into a 401(a) Money Purchase Retirement Plan.

Life Insurance. The City provides a term life insurance policy of $200,000 .

Retirement Health Savings Plan. The cash value of certain leave balances will be contributed on a tax-deferred basis to be used for employee medical expenses upon retirement.

Vacation. Executive Directors earn 144 hours of vacation during the first year of service, and an increasing accrual annually up to 264 hours per year after 30 years of service.

Holidays. The City observes 9.5 paid 9 hour fixed holidays and provides 22.5 hours of floating holiday annually.

Administrative Leave. Executive Directors receive 80 hours of administrative leave annually.

Sick Leave. Sick leave is accrued at a rate of 96 hours per year. Employees are eligible to convert unused sick leave to vacation on an annual basis. A partial payment (up to 50%) for accumulated unused sick leave is available to City employees who retire from the City.

Educational Incentive Program. Employees who possess a postgraduate degree or higher are eligible to receive $600 per month.

Other Benefits. Most employees work a "9 / 80" alternate work schedule with City Hall closures every other Friday. Police Executive Management positions work a "4 / 10" schedule with every Friday off. Long Term Disability, an Employee Assistance Program, Tuition Reimbursement (up to $1,500 / fiscal year), Medical Maintenance Examination Program, Trip Reduction Program incentives, optional Deferred Compensation programs and Credit Union membership are a few of the additional benefits provided and / or available to employees.

For more information, please click for the Executive & Senior Management Resolution.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

A Medical Examination, Police Records Check, and thorough Background Investigation are required of all prospective employees.

In compliance with the Immigration Reform & Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), all job offers made by the City of Orange are contingent upon establishing proof of your legal right to work in the United States.

The provisions of this bulletin do not constitute an express or implied contract. Any provision contained in this bulletin may be modified or revoked without notice. The types and levels of employee benefits provided, including City contributions toward benefit costs, are subject to change as a result of periodic contract settlements between recognized employee associations and the City of Orange.

The City of Orange is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

City Mission, Vision, and Values

Incumbents in all City positions are expected to exhibit the behavior characteristics reflected in the City's Mission, Vision, and Values statements in the performance of their duties : The City of Orange is committed to excellent service for our residents, businesses, and visitors. As an organization, the City of Orange is the leader in delivering the highest level of service to meet current and future needs of the community. The City's values include Teamwork, Accountability, and Excellence.