Assistant to the Village Manager

Opportunity at a Glance
The Village of Orland Park is a progressive community of approximately 60,000 residents and a premier destination in Chicago’s south suburbs, ranking #5 in total retail sales among Chicagoland communities (excluding Chicago). Known for its vibrant dining, entertainment, and social scene, the Village blends historic neighborhoods, upscale living, and a growing business base, all supported by more than 700 acres of parks and open space. Orland Park has been recognized as one of the Best Places to Live by Chicago Magazine (2013, 2022) and named the Safest City in Illinois by Safety.com (2021).

The Village Manager’s Office is seeking an Assistant to the Village Manager to perform crucial professional-level collaborative work and support for a variety of programs and initiatives within the Village Manager’s Office and government administration. This role analyzes performance data, identifies opportunities for improvement for related departments, Village programs and activities.

Key Responsibilities
The Assistant to the Village Manager is responsible for assisting the Village Manager in overseeing daily operations, managing interdepartmental coordination, and supporting special projects; preparing meeting agendas, board packets, and communication materials for Village Board meetings; attending Village Board, committee, and other meetings as needed, representing the Village Manager’s Office and/or the Village; conducting research, gathering data, performing analysis, and preparing recommendations for policies, programs, grants, contracts, and operational decisions; planning, administering, analyzing, and reporting on community surveys to support data-driven decision-making; ensuring survey design quality, regulatory compliance, and effective resident communication; coordinating and managing municipal accreditation programs; assisting with the development of short and long-range organizational plans; preparing technical, statistical, and narrative reports to support strategic initiatives; supporting management activities such as reviewing legislation, coordinating departmental system enhancements, and representing department leadership as assigned.

Additional duties include conducting a variety of organizational and operational reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of Village operations, workflows, procedures, and training programs; recommending improvements; collaborating with managers and staff to implement operational changes resulting from studies and analyses; communicating official plans, policies, and procedures to staff and the public; presenting presentations to Village supervisors, boards, committees, civic groups, and residents; assisting in developing and implementing performance measurement frameworks and methodologies across Village departments; strengthening internal capacity by providing technical assistance, training, and support for performance measurement tools and methods; collaborating across teams to develop and maintain KPIs and dashboards that deliver actionable insights; monitoring and evaluating progress of strategic initiatives and delivering regular updates to leadership and key stakeholders; and preparing drafts of speeches, presentations, resolutions, ordinances, contracts, administrative policies, and related documents.

The ideal candidate will have the ability to promote continuous improvement by contributing ideas, facilitating collaborative work, and supporting positive customer service outcomes. In addition, this individual will demonstrate professionalism, cooperation, and courtesy in interactions with staff and the public, contributing to a harmonious and effective work environment.

A bachelor’s degree in public administration, business management, or a related field (graduate degree preferred) is required. Three (3) to five (5) years of professional experience in a similar role, preferably within a fast-paced and dynamic environment, is also required. An equivalent combination of education, training and experience will be considered.

Knowledge of principles and practices of public administration; data sampling and statistical analysis techniques; budgetary practices and terminology; accounting procedures and practices; operational principles and concepts related to the department or functional area to which assigned; project management and analytical technique; principles and practices of contract administration; correct business English, including spelling, grammar and punctuation; applicable codes, regulations and legislation related to duties; data analysis tools and software, such as Excel, SQL, or Tableau; computer applications related to duties; techniques for working collaboratively with a variety of individuals from various socio-economic, ethnic and cultural backgrounds is expected.

Additional skills required include professional – level analytical skills with the ability to collect, organize, and analyze large volumes of data in a variety of areas; problem-solving abilities, with the ability to make decisions and recommendations; attention to detail and a strong commitment to producing accurate and reliable reports; interpreting, applying and explaining applicable laws, codes and regulations; preparing clear and concise reports, correspondence and other written materials; the ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities within tight deadlines; using initiative and independent judgment within established procedural guidelines; organizing own work, setting priorities and meeting critical deadlines; and establishing and maintaining effective working relationships with a variety of individuals contacted in the course of performing work duties, displaying a high level of professionalism and discretion.

Compensation & Benefits
The Village of Orland Park offers a competitive market total rewards package that includes a base salary ranging from $76,672.00 to $107,340.00, depending on experience and qualifications. This position is eligible for the Village of Orland Park’s comprehensive employee benefits program, which includes multiple medical plan designs offered through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, as well as dental, vision, life insurance, and employee wellness program.

Retirement benefits are provided through the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), along with the option to participate in a 457(b) plan with Nationwide Retirement Services.

The Village of Orland Park also provides paid vacation, personal days, sick, and holidays.

Interested candidates are encouraged to apply in a timely manner.