Chief of Staff to the City Manager and Mayor

About the Department

The City of Lake Oswego is seeking a highly experienced, strategic, and detail-oriented Chief of Staff to provide executive-level support to both the City Manager and the Mayor. This role serves as a central hub for coordination, communication, and operational excellence—ensuring the seamless functioning of executive priorities, community engagement, and internal alignment. The Chief of Staff operates with a high degree of discretion, professionalism, and initiative, serving as a trusted advisor and integrator across departments, elected leadership, and the community. Duties include overseeing and driving strategic initiatives for the Council, Mayor and City Manager and communicating with the executive team. Work is generally of a critical, sensitive or confidential nature.  The Chief of Staff to the City Manager and Mayor position is classified as a confidential employee.

Position Duties

• Serve as the main staff communication liaison with city leadership, elected and appointed officials, staff from other jurisdictions and agencies, city staff and the public. Manage difficult, demanding, or sensitive issues, topics, and communications in a timely, efficient and professional manner. 
• Establish and maintain productive and professional working relationships with elected officials, senior staffing government agencies, business executives, and community leaders in a highly complex and politically sensitive environment. Serve as the city’s lead administrative representative in sensitive and confidential meetings and develop important communications on various topics.
• Prepare agendas and schedule meetings for the City Manager and Mayor. Serve as the primary point of contact for visitors and meeting attendees. Exercise sound judgement in the coordination of complex calendars and politically sensitive relationships. Arrange meeting space, supplies and refreshments.
• Prepare for city council meetings including coordinating for food and other preparation as needed. Provides office and administrative support to City Council such as answering questions and travel planning. Serve as backup to the City Recorder as needed.
• Provide Executive Coordination and Scheduling. Manage complex calendars for both the City Manager and Mayor, including prioritization of competing demands and long-range planning. Coordinate internal and external meetings, ensuring alignment with strategic priorities. Anticipate scheduling conflicts and proactively resolve them.
• Prepare briefing materials, agendas, and follow-up items for meetings and events. Coordinate documents requiring City Manager and Mayor signature in a timely, detailed, and confidential manner. Ensure proper processing of confidential and official materials and documents. Handling the City Manager and Mayor’s correspondence by answering questions and directing internal projects alongside department heads.
• Conduct research, prepare reports and presentations, respond to information requests, provide general analysis, and track multiple complex tasks and projects, often with competing deadlines. 
• Prepare and monitor budgets for the City Manager’s Office, which may span multiple programs. Reconcile City Manager financial accounts, credit card statements and other accounts payable/receivable. Plan and coordinate travel logistics for the City Manager and Mayor, and Council including itineraries, lodging, and transportation. Prepare and process expense reimbursements in compliance with city policies. Maintain organized records of travel, expenses, and related documentation.
• Assist in advancing key initiatives and special projects led by the City Manager and Mayor. Collaborating with the company’s leadership team to prioritize strategies. Serve as a liaison between executive leadership and departments to ensure alignment and follow-through. Advises management on appropriate courses of action for resolution of problems within areas of expertise; analyzes problems, determines approach, compiles and analyzes data, and prepares reports/recommendations.
• Support Mayor’s civic outreach and programs. Support the Mayor in developing and executing civic engagement strategies and community outreach initiatives. Coordinate participation and briefings for regional boards, commissions, and community events. Assist in planning public-facing programs, forums, and partnerships that advance city priorities. Aid the Mayor and City Manager in building and maintaining relationships with community organizations, businesses, and regional partners.

Minimum Qualifications

A typical way of obtaining the knowledge, skills and abilities outlined above is to have obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Public Political Science, Business Administration, or a related field, and five years in a related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience enabling the incumbent to perform the essential functions of the position. Master’s degree is preferred. 

For a complete list of the essential duties, knowledge, skills and abilities required, and physical and mental demands please review the complete job description at www.ci.oswego.or.us/hr.

Other Qualifications

Compensation $75,012 - $91,627 / annually

Non-cash compensation includes medical, dental, vision, PERS employee pick up, and VEBA contribution.

Bilingual Pay: Employees who can speak and/or write a language listed in the top five (5) most common languages spoken in the Lake Oswego School District, may be eligible for three percent (3%) bilingual pay.

Application Process: You may visit our web site at www.ci.oswego.or.us/jobs to access the online application process. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of a completed job application. The City application must be submitted by: 5:00 P.M., May 10, 2026