In many regards, the role of the ACAO changes from day
to day, depending on what the organization and community need at that time. The
size and culture of the organization, as well as the strengths and weaknesses
of the chief administrative officer (CAO), help determine the professional life
of an ACAO.
Some ACAOs aspire to be the CAO, and the deputy perch
is a key position on that flight upward. Others treasure the prospect of
serving their entire career as the ACAO. One step back from the perch,
they can leverage their leadership and management skills to advance the
organizations work to serve the community. Wherever you want to be on that
management tree, this guide was prepared by the ICMA Assistant and Deputy
Task Force to help every deputy or assistant succeed in his or her role,
and with his or her career aspirations.
Inside this guide, you’ll find four sections designed
to answer some of the questions our focus groups of ACAOs wanted addressed
most:
- Roles of an
ACAO
- Effective ACAO
Skills
- Mentoring for
an ACAO
- Managing with
Multiple ACAOs.
This guidebook can be helpful to you if you have
served in another community as the ACAO, if you aspire to an ACAO role, if you
want to check yourself in your current ACAO role, or even if you are a CAO
looking to create a new ACAO position or to support your current ACAO(s).
