City managers in District of Columbia serve communities operating under the council-manager form of government, where the elected council sets policy and the appointed manager handles administration and operations. Not all District of Columbia cities use this structure — some operate under mayor-council or commission forms of government where executive and administrative duties are distributed differently.
Residents of District of Columbia who want to understand how their city is structured should review the city charter, which defines whether the city operates under a mayor-council, council-manager, or another form of government, and what powers are vested in the city manager's office versus elected officials.
Professionals interested in local government administration careers in District of Columbia can find information on municipal job openings, civil service requirements, and city manager internship programs through the District of Columbia City Managers Association and individual city human resources departments.