Salary: $71,380.00 - $91,009.50 Annually
Location : Columbia, SC
Job Type: Full-Time
Job Number:Department: ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
Division: CITY ADMINISTRATION
Opening Date: 07/31/2026
Closing Date: 8/31/2026 11:59 PM Eastern
Pay Grade: 116
Description Under general supervision, conducts analyses and makes recommendations on a wide range of municipal programs, operations, services and policies. Resolves highly sensitive and complex issues; coordinates or serves as City Manager's liaison to a variety of interdepartmental and multi-organizational teams. Reports to the City Manager or her designee.
The work requires exerting up to 5 to 15 pounds of force occasionally and the following physical abilities: hearing, mental acuity, repetitive motion, speaking, talking, and visual acuity.
The work is typically performed indoors with limited exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Some travel required to attend meetings or conduct site visits.
Essential Job Functions - Participates with City Administration in framing City Council's vision and strategies for accomplishing organizational initiatives; advocates City, Federal, state, and regional cooperation where opportunities exist to further the City's and region's goals;
- Represents and supports the City Manager with City Council, community meetings and civic events; makes presentations, delivers programming, and provides input as needed;
- Recommends, reviews, and evaluates proposals for new programs and services; confers with administrative and management level staff, public officials, and members of the public; recommends changes in administrative policies, organization, programs, methods, and procedures;
- Works as the city Program manager to coordinate, consult, and communicate with other departments, architects, landscape architects, contractors, planners, commissions or committees, public agencies, developers and in the development of public infrastructure and buildings, feasibility studies, concepts, planning, design, and construction related to city-lead and involved capital construction Programs;
- Directs the work activities of assigned technical and administrative support personnel; prioritizes and coordinates work assignments, reviews work for accuracy; recommends improvements in workflow, procedures and use of equipment and forms;
- Provides the City Manager with accurate and timely information to support decision-making and policy direction;
- Assists City Administration in the preparation, coordination, review and presentation of a variety of citywide financial and organizational planning documents including the City's Comprehensive Review Plan, Strategic Plan ,and Capital Improvement Plan;
- Assists the Assistant City Managers and Department Heads and staff with special Programs, including planned developments, zoning code updates, and comprehensive planning;
- Researches grant opportunities, provides initial grant review and summary to assess feasibility; prepares grant request and information reports.
- Collaborates with key personnel related to grant administration and compliance; provides regular updates with appropriate parties;
- Program promotes innovation, critical thinking and creativity in developing approaches and solutions to City needs;
- Empowers all levels of staff to be proactive and participatory. Promotes, encourages and leads collaboratively in seeking new ways to share resources, ideas and best practices in order to optimize service delivery organization wide;
- Attends City Council meetings and work sessions, researches, responds, and prepares correspondence; performs as necessary follow up and communication with City management on sensitive and confidential issues and
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM WORK: - Master of Public Administration degree preferred;
- Two years of professional planning or related experience required;
- A valid Driver's License is required;
- Candidate shall have a strong knowledge of South Carolina planning and local government regulations;
- A combination of education and experience totaling five (5) years may be considered.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities - Knowledge of principles, practices and methods of public administration; functions and services of City government and the roles of the City Manager and City Council;
- Knowledge of principles, methodology, practices of research, data collection, program analysis and report preparation;
- Knowledge of effective public relations techniques;
- Knowledge of administration and monitoring of contacts and grants;
- Knowledge of computer programs and applications, which may include Microsoft Office, Internet applications econometric or transportation modeling, and database management;
- Principles of leadership, supervision, training, and performance evaluation;
- Excellent oral and written communication skills for preparing and presenting planning reports and Programs;
- Excellent interpersonal skills for facilitating relationships with peers and decision-makers;
- Creative problem-solving skills to gather relevant information to solve less well- defined planning problems;
- Group facilitation skills for use with community workshops;
- Ability to work on several Programs or issues simultaneously;
- Ability to provide effective supervision and staff management;
- Ability to manage Programs effectively and meet firm deadlines;
- Ability to facilitate in-person and virtual public participation activities;
- Ability to interpret and apply pertinent Federal, State, and local laws, rules and regulations; and
- Ability to exercise effective judgment, tact and diplomacy in policy and personnel matters and consider the needs of all interests and affected parties as well as the long-term impacts on the City.
The City of Columbia is proud to offer a complete benefits package to full-time employees. This package includes health care, dental, vision, retirement, deferred compensation plans, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, long-term disability, holidays, vacation, and sick leave.
Part-time or temporary employees, including interns, are not eligible for City benefits.
To learn more details, visit our benefits page at:
01
Which statement below best describes the highest level of education you have completed?
- Some high school, did not graduate
- High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (GED)
- Some college
- Associate degree
- Bachelor's degree
- Master's degree
- Professional degree
- Doctorate degree
02
How many years of professional planning experience do you have?
- No experience
- Less than 1 year of experience
- 1 year but less than 2 years of experience
- 2 years but less than 3 years experience
- 3 or more years of experience
03
Do you have a valid Driver's License?
04
Do you have a strong knowledge of South Carolina planning and local government regulations?
Required Question
