In many regards, the role of the ACAO changes from day to day, depending on what the organization and community need at that time. The size and culture of the organization, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the chief administrative officer (CAO), help determine the professional life of an ACAO. 

Some ACAOs aspire to be the CAO, and the deputy perch is a key position on that flight upward. Others treasure the prospect of serving their entire career as the ACAO. One step back from the perch, they can leverage their leadership and management skills to advance the organizations work to serve the community. Wherever you want to be on that management tree, this guide was prepared by the ICMA Assistant and Deputy Task Force to help every deputy or assistant succeed in his or her role, and with his or her career aspirations.

Inside this guide, you’ll find four sections designed to answer some of the questions our focus groups of ACAOs wanted addressed most:

• Roles of an ACAO
• Effective ACAO Skills
• Mentoring for an ACAO
• Managing with Multiple ACAOs.

This guidebook can be helpful to you if you have served in another community as the ACAO, if you aspire to an ACAO role, if you want to check yourself in your current ACAO role, or even if you are a CAO looking to create a new ACAO position or to support your current ACAO(s).

Explore more ICMA Career Guides.