City managers in Washington 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 Washington cities use this structure — some operate under mayor-council or commission forms of government where executive and administrative duties are distributed differently.
City Manager locations are available in 11 cities across Washington. They are spread across 9 counties.
Cities with the highest concentration include Fife, Moses Lake, Bellevue, which have well-established city manager offices with professional administrative staff managing large departmental workforces and complex service delivery operations.
Residents of Washington 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 Washington can find information on municipal job openings, civil service requirements, and city manager internship programs through the Washington City Managers Association and individual city human resources departments.
Browse City Manager by county across Washington to find the nearest location.