A mayor and town manager have similar duties, but mayors are elected by residents, whereas a town manager is appointed by the local governing body, such as a city council. The town manager oversees the city administration offices and government operations. Job responsibilities include coordinating activities across multiple departments, communicating with the public, and managing internal affairs. Town managers also plan the city’s budget for approval by the city council. Most cities require their town manager to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration or public administration and extensive experience working in municipal government.