Chief Administrative Officer

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Senior Government Managers and Officials (0012) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Senior Government Managers and Officials (A012) 
• 2011 NOC: Senior government managers and officials (0012) 
• 2016 NOC: Senior government managers and officials (0012) 

Chief administrative officers are the administrative heads of municipalities. In small or sparsely populated municipalities, they may work part time. In larger municipalities, they may manage a sizable staff.

In general, chief administrative officers are responsible for:

• Recommending policies, services, and actions to the municipal council
• Managing the day-to-day operations of the municipality
• Promoting and maintaining good public relations
• Preparing and keeping records including minutes, bylaws and accounts
• Providing input into strategic planning
• Carrying out the council's directives and policies
• Directing the general administrative functions of the municipality, including staff supervision and purchasing procedures
• Preparing budgets and managing finances
• Administering human resources programs
• Ensuring that bylaws are enforced
• Collecting property taxes and other revenues
• Conducting local government elections
• Overseeing the management of community infrastructure such as roads, water lines, and public buildings

Chief administrative officers participate in all meetings of the municipal council and council committees. However, they do not have the right to vote unless put on a committee and authorized to vote by council. Chief administrative officers are the liaison between a municipality’s elected council and administrative staff, and are responsible for carrying out all council directives.

Chief administrative officers usually work in an office environment. They often are required to attend evening meetings and may also attend meetings at municipal locations. Sometimes they may be required to work longer than the usual 40-hour week.

In addition to a strong academic background, chief administrative officers need work experience related to:

• Management
• Public relations
• Finance
• Administration
• Law

Those who are willing to move from one municipality to another over a number of years may acquire more responsibility and experience with each move. This may provide them with an advantage when seeking employment.

Chief administrative officers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0012: Senior government managers and officials. In Alberta, 94% of people employed in this classification work in the Public Administration [pdf] industry.

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the Public Administration industry)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

In Alberta, the 0012: Senior government managers and officials occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 4% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 20 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Alberta Rural Municipal Administrators Association website: www.armaa.ca

Local Government Administration Association of Alberta (LGAA) website: lgaa.ab.ca

Society of Local Government Managers of Alberta website: clgm.net

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