Energetic visionary, adept manager, good listener. If we were "hiring" a new mayor, here are the skills and talents we'd be searching for.
Position: Mayor of Seattle
Summary:
Seattle seeks visionary go-getter with executive management cred to lead city into the 21st Century. If you like urban planning, budget crunching, union sparring, ordinance signing, ribbon cutting, seeking and weighing public input before making the call on big issues, representing our fair city and all its residents and exercising the many powers the city's statutes and charter provide, this could be the job for you.
Reports to:
Citizens of Seattle
Duties and Responsibilities:
Very, very long list includes budget oversight, pancake breakfast photo ops and everything in between. Highlights:
- Provide strategic leadership in collaboration with the City Council. Set the city’s goals, objectives and administrative policies.
- Review and approve the annual budget and capital improvements programs.
- Solicit and incorporate public input into the decision-making process.
- Appoint all city department heads.
- Preside over Cabinet meetings.
- Represent Seattle before state legislature, federal agencies and other local governments.
Qualifications:
Any serious applicant must possess at least six of the following eight traits:
- Experienced leader with 10-plus years in executive-level management positions at medium- to large-scale enterprises, preferably in both public and private sectors.
- Energetic visionary with “big picture” perspective, who can articulate a compelling strategic path forward for the city.
- Well-organized manager who hires (and fires) well and can assemble the best team and game plan for accomplishing his or her strategic goals.
- Smart, savvy politician, with excellent communication skills, who can create and “sell” a powerful narrative that informs, inspires and motivates the city’s workers and citizens.
- Good listener who can bring opposing sides together to solve vexing problems.
- Quasi nerd who appreciates and grasps how technology is changing government, and is eager to deploy tech innovations in service to the city.
- Bold yet pragmatic risk-taker who telegraphs a balance between urgency and perseverance.
- Shit-happens scrapper adept at managing crises — and aggrieved workers, residents, etc.
- Good looks and speaking voice preferred, but not required.
Don't let us have the last word. Add your own thoughts and suggestions on mayoral qualifications in the Comments area below. And click here for our ongoing coverage of Seattle's 2013 Mayor Games.
