Civic Series: Department Directors

The third in a series on the different roles of government. Today, we explore the positions and challenges of department directors in local governments.

In local governments, departments play a crucial role in the management and administration of various aspects of how the city is run.

Additionally, the department directors oversee the daily operations, manage budgets, implement policies and programs, and ensure that their departments deliver high-quality services to the public.

In this article, we will explore how department heads operate within a local government, their roles and responsibilities, and the challenges they may face in their work.

Roles and Responsibilities of Department Heads

Department heads are typically appointed by the local government’s executive or legislative branch.

Depending on the local government’s organizational structure, they may be called by various titles such as directors, commissioners, or managers.

Regardless of their title, department heads have several core responsibilities:

1. Manage Departmental Budgets — Department heads are responsible for managing their department’s budget, including allocating resources, monitoring expenses, and ensuring that their department operates within budgetary constraints and effectively achieving department objectives.

2. Develop and Implement Policies and Programs — Department heads are responsible for developing department policies and programs to achieve their department’s goals and objectives.

They must ensure their policies and programs align with the local government’s vision and mission.

This may include discussions with other cities’ stakeholders, policymakers, and counterpart departments.

3. Supervise Staff — Department heads supervise staff, including hiring, training, and performance management.

They must ensure their team is well-equipped to carry out their duties and deliver quality services to the public.

They are responsible for developing department leaders and encouraging creative problem-solving within their teams.

4. Ensure Compliance with Laws and Regulations — Department heads must ensure their department complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

They must stay up-to-date with regulation changes and adjust departmental policies and procedures accordingly.

This usually includes the department director traveling to conferences, leaning on the city legal department or in-house lawyer, and taking annual training on regulation compliance.

5. Coordinate with Other Departments — Department heads must coordinate with other departments to ensure that their department’s activities align with the overall goals and objectives of the local government.

This means that lines of communication should be open, honest, and transparent.

This could mean directors have weekly meetings with other departments or some of their staff have continuous check-ins with staff members.

Challenges Faced by Department Heads

Department heads face several challenges in their work, including:

1. Limited Resources — Local governments often have limited resources, making it challenging for department heads to deliver services and achieve their department’s objectives quickly.

This can be due to low staffing, supply chain issues, and private sector competition.

2. Political Pressures — Department heads may face political pressures from elected officials or other stakeholders, which can impact their ability to make independent decisions or implement policies and programs effectively.

Additionally, this can require a department to take different directions in short order.

This forces the director to change the strategy and objectives after those have been set at the start of a year.

3. Staffing Challenges — As mentioned before, department heads may struggle to attract and retain talented staff due to limited budgets or competition from other organizations.

There also can be high staff turnover as talent will find jobs in the private sector, other cities, and other departments.

4. Public Perception — Department heads must manage public perceptions of their department’s activities and services.

Public perceptions can impact their ability to secure funding or implement policies and programs effectively.

The best way a department can have a positive public perception is by publicly highlighting and showcasing their excellent work and those that work within their department.

Conclusively, department heads play a critical role in local governments’ effective management and administration.

They are responsible for managing budgets, developing policies and programs, supervising staff, ensuring compliance with laws and regulations, and coordinating with other departments.

CITATIONS:

1. National League of Cities. “Local Officials Guide to Department Heads.” Accessed April 8, 2023. https://www.nlc.org/sites/default/files/2021-08/Local-Officials-Guide-to-Department-Heads.pdf.
2. International City/County Management Association. “Managing Local Government: Cases in Effectiveness.” ICMA Press, 2016.
3. American Society for Public Administration. “The Role of the Department Head in Local Government.” Public Administration Times, August 15, 2019.